Drift Bottle Records for Gudf of Maine 

 and Georges Bank, I93I-56 



The drift-bottle data tabulated here are the resxolt of 

 extended studies by the United States Bureau of Fisheries and more 

 recently by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the region 

 of Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine (fig. 1). 



The apparent decline of the cod and haddock in this area 

 has demanded attention over a period of years. Fishery biologists 

 and oceanographers have been making concerted efforts to understand 

 better the many complex, interrelated factors which influence the 

 productivity of these fisheries. 



One aspect of these studies has been an attempt by means 

 of drift bottles to learn the nontidal moven»nt of the waters bearing 

 the planktonic eggs and larvae of comnercially impoirtant fish which 

 spawn in the region. 



By the end of June 1956, 1? drift-bottle seedings had been 

 made, representing the years 1931, 1932, 1933> 193^, 1953, 1955, and 

 1956. Walfojnd (1938) discussed the bottle returns from the 1931 and 

 1932 cznises. Day (in press) made comparisons on a seasonal and 

 year-to-year basis of all 17 cruises and considered surface-wind 

 values for a period of 60 days following each bottle seeding. 



