tne Mid-Atlantic and also northward movement during the summer months. In 

 Figure 3.3 spring cruises in the time series prior to 1976 have been deleted 

 (see "Methods") resulting in a changed distribution pattern. 



The graphs of mean weight and number per tow (Figures 3.4-3.7) yield no 

 conclusive information. 



Length frequencies arranged by season and strata set are shown in Figures 

 3.8-3.17. Since there were no little skates taken in strata set 3 (North 

 Carolina inshore), there are no length-frequency plots for this area. These 

 graphs indicate that there are no significant changes in distribution by 

 size. The little skate occurred more frequently in the central and northern 

 strata sets. ■ 



Figures 3.18 and 3.19 show the percentage occurrence by stratum of young- 

 of-the-year (YOY); the cutoff size was 16 cm for both seasons. The relative 

 occurrence of YOY was low during both seasons, perhaps due to the low sampling 

 efficiency of the roller rigged trawl for YOY and the possibility that YOY 

 remain in northern areas all year. 



68 



