TABLE 3. --Length-frequency distributions and mean lengths of Atlantic menhaden in samples ta<en from the bottom 



middle, and top layers of the catch in the hold from four purse seine sets in which the fish 



were electrically shocked prior to being pumped into the hold, 1958 



TABLE 4. --Age composition (in percent) and calculated number of Atlantic menhaden 

 (in millions) at each age in purse seine catches, 1955-58. 



[Most numerous age group underscored] 



< 0.01 percent 



numbers of fish in the different age groups 

 are given in table 6. Data for previous seasons 

 are included for comparative purposes. 



In the South Atlantic Area, the distribution 

 in ages in the summer fishery was essentially 

 the same as in the previous 3 seasons, except 



for the greater contributions of fish of ages 2 

 and 3. Age-1 fish (1957 year class) accounted 

 for more than two-thirds of the catch with a 

 contribution of approximately 300 million fish. 

 This was only one-quarter the number fur- 

 nished by the 1955 year class at age 1 in 1956, 

 but represented the second largest contribution 



10 



