in other squid species. Spawning probably takes place near and off the edge 

 of the continental slope (Wigley 1982); Fedulov and Froerman 1980). 



Shortfin squid prey upon crustaceans, fishes and other squids. Illex are 

 preyed upon by marine mammals, numerous pelagic and demersal fish species as 

 well as other squid. 



Trawl survey indices remained high through 1980 (Lange 1980). 



Bottom Trawl Survey Results 



The cumulative spring and autumn distributions over the time series are 

 shown in Figures 21.1 and 21.2. During winter and early spring most shortfin 

 squid were distributed in deepwater areas well east of the 100 m contour. 

 Many, in fact, are east of shelf waters to the Gulf Stream boundary. In the 

 autumn, the movement inshore to mid-shelf areas is apparent in the 

 distribution plot (Figure 21.2). 



Graphs of mean weight and number per tow are shown in Figures 21.3- 

 21.6. These figures support NMFS assessments which show increases in illex 

 abundance in the Mid-Atlantic since the mid-197u's (Lange 1980). 



Length frequencies for six strata sets, arranged by season, are shown in 

 Figures 21.7-21.17. Since so few Illex were caught in the spring and autumn 

 inshore strata sets (Figures 21.7-21.3 and 21.12-21.14), no interpretation can 

 be made. As they moved offshore in the autumn, an increase in their size as 

 well as their widespread distribution is obvious (Figures 21.2,21.15-21.17). 

 There is no plot for spring strata set 3 (North Carolina inshore) because no 

 squid were caught in that area. 



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