Table 7. --Length frequencies of scup In random samples from calch by pound nets nenr Wlldwood, N.J., 1929-33^ 



[NumtKHor tiih) 



Exclusive of catches by pound nets located on Five Fathom Bank. 

 ^ Individual samples weighted to base of 100 fish, 

 ^ Observations discontinued in May. 



Beginning in 1929 and subsequent years, 

 most of the samples were taken from the 

 catches after small and unmarketable fish 

 had been sorted out and discarded. Conse- 

 quently, the 1928 year class is not fully 

 represented in the 1929 samples. The May 

 mode of 18 cm. in 1929 is identified as fish 

 in their second year of life and, therefore, 

 of the 1927 brood. This year class comprised 

 most of the catch of the inshore summer 

 pound net fishery at Long Branch in 1929. 

 It was present also at other localities in 

 New Jersey, as shown by observations at 



Wildwood In the same year (fig. 6, table 7). 

 It is evident that the major increase in yield 

 from the pound nets in 1929 resulted from 

 the successful survival of fish spawned in 

 1927, The 1927 brood was especially abundant 

 in the Inshore pound net fishery in northern 

 New Jersey, but being below legal size or 

 too small for market, the majority were culled 

 out of the catches and discarded. It will be 

 recalled that the catch per trap for these areas 

 (fig. 4) showed a remarkable increase between 

 1928 and 1929 as a result of the successful 

 spawning and survival of the 1927 brood. 



19 



