602 



Fishery Bulletin 90(3). 1992 



temperature observed between age-groups were within 

 0.5°C, except for age-0 cod in the autumn (Table 2). 

 In general, distribution patterns were delineated more 

 by differences in depth than temperature. 



No age-0 cod were captured during spring surveys 

 due to their pelagic larval existence at this time (early 

 April-early May). Age-1 and age-2 cod were found at 





-V^f 





NUMBER OF FISH 



Figure 2 



Geographic distribution (number/tow) of juvenile cod Gains 

 morhua <37cm in length collected during NEFSC spring(A) 

 and autumn (B) bottom-trawl surveys, 1968-86, in the Georges 

 Bank-Southern New England region. 



significantly shallower mean depths than age-3 and age 

 4+ cod (57.0 and 58.0m vs. 68.4 and 86.3 m, respec- 

 tively; Table 2). The difference between mean depths 

 of age-3 and age 4 + cod was also significant (Kruskal- 

 Wallis ANOVA, p<0.01; Table 3). In the autumn sur- 

 veys (corresponding to late September-late October), 

 age-3 cod were observed at a mean depth similar to 

 those for ages 1-2 (85.8 m vs. 86.8 and 85.2 m, respec- 

 tively; Table 2) and significantly different (Kruskal- 

 Wallis ANOVA, p<0.01; Table 3) from that for age 4 -i- 

 cod (116.0m; Table 2). Additionally, age-0 cod were cap- 

 tured in the autumn and observed to be distinct from 

 all other age-groups with respect to both temperature 

 and depth (Table 2). 



Spatial and temporal distribution 



Statistical Area 521 accounted for 49% of total pro- 

 rated scrod landings during the sampling period 

 1982-86, from a high of 57% in 1983 to a low of 29% 

 in 1986, while SAR 523 and 522 contributed 14% and 

 13%, respectively; landings from Southern New Eng- 

 land (SAR 537-539) accounted for only about 2% of 

 total scrod landings (Table 4). Interviewed coverage 

 was obtained for a high percentage of scrod landings 



