1-year-olds (IP^I year class) were extremely scarce and only a few were 

 captured, 



SlZ'i ccnposition curves were also prepared for each of the three 

 seasons, (figures 6 to 8) , 



Cull by fishermen 



Of the total catch, about 12 percent by namber (7 percent by 

 weight) was discarded, while 88 percent by namber (93 percent by weight) 

 was landed. Call curves are presented in figures 9 to 11, Fifty percent 

 points fcr each trip and for average trips are givei in table 6, 



Considerable variation in the 50-percent points may be noted on 

 the individual trips, ranging from 0.6 pounds to 1 pound (12 to iS inches). 

 The size at which fishermen cull depends in part upon the abundance of 

 fish (Premets, 1953) o If catch is poor, fishermen cull at a Icwer level 

 saving many smaller sizes normally discarded when catch is good. This 

 lowers the 50=percent pcint. Conversely, if catch is very good, fishermen 

 discard many of the borderline scrod, raising the $0-percent point. 



Although individual trip variation is great, the 50 percent 

 points on the seasonal cull curves are similar, ranging from about Oo8 to 

 0„9 pounds (13,3 to 13,5 inches). 



The 50"percent point for all observed trips in 19^2 was lower 

 (0,86 pounds) than in 1951 when it was 0,9U pounds. This was due to a 

 dominance of large fish in 1951 j three-year-olds as compared with two-year- 

 olds in 1952, Fishermen cull at a high level when larger fish are more 

 abundant. 



Age composition 



The age composition of haddock on the average Georges Bank trip 

 observed during each season of 1952 are presented in table 7« The percent 

 of each age discarded is presented in table 8, 



In ly52, ths 1950 year class (2-year-olds) dominated the 

 fishery. Over 62 percent of the haddock caught were from this particular 

 year class. The 19U8 year class (U-year-olds) and 19U9 year class 

 (3-year-old3) were the next m^st important contributing ik and 19 percent, 

 respectively, Ths other year class contributed only 5 percent of the 

 catch. 



17 



