CONTENTS 



Page 



Comparison of abundance, age^ and size composition of the catch 



in various localities .......... .o ..... o .. .„,„...........„ ..o.. ., 2 



Catch records . oo„„ - „. .... .o ............ = . = . c ..,.,... ..o o .» o o. „ 2 



Biological observations „ o ............«...<,.... • 9 



Age composition of catches ..................... «... 12 



A hypothesis ..... .o„ ... ....................... « ..,<,. .o. ........ . 52 



First period^ from the first to second autumn c ..... ..o. . 52 



Second periodc, from the second to third autumn. ,. ............ . 52 



Third period and subsequent periods 52 



Test of hypothesis 53 



Tagging experiments . , 53 



Evidence from the scales ..................................... 6); 



Origin of northern juveniles ...... ............................... . 75 



Summary and conclusions ... 77 



Literature cited. ................................................. 79 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

 Figures Page 



1. Weighted length frequencies of weakfish taken at V/ildwood, N.J„ 13 



2. Weighted length frequencies of weakfish taken at NorthernjN. J. . lU 



3. Weighted length frequencies of weakfish taken at Fire Island, 



h. Weighted length frequencies of weakfish taken at Montauk,N.Y. . . . l6 



5. Length frequency distribution of weakfish from certain locations 17 



6. Length frequency distributions, age groups to 11.............. 3U 



7. Length frequency distributions, age groups III and IV............ Ul 



8. Length frequency distributions, age group V. ................... . hi 



9. Location of recoveries from 1932 tagging experiment at Montauk, 



N.Y. 511 



10. Location of recoveries from 1933 tagging experiment off Exmore, 



Virginia. .................................. „.<,.............. . 55 



11. Rates of decline in numbers of tags returned. .................. . 63 



12. Scale of juvenile weakfish. .. ...... ............ ..... o ... ....... . 65 



13 . Scale of adult weal:f ish ......................................... 66 



