The average weights of individual fish taken on each of the seven 

 trips are shoivn in table 5. The average weight of haddock caught on these 

 trips was I.80 pounds, with individual trips ranging from l.Ii6 to 2.37 

 pounds. The average weight of fish discarded for all trips was 0.75 

 pounds, while on individual trips it varied from 0.ii7 to 1.13 pounds. 

 The average weight per fish landed was 2.02 pounds, while on individual 

 trips it ranged from 1.82 to 2.37 pounds. 



Size composition 



The size composition of haddock on the average Georges Bank trip 

 observed in 19^1 is shown in table 6 and figure 9. 



The size of haddock caught on these trips ranged from 0.1 to 8.U 

 pounds (6 to 30 inches) with over 90 oercent from 0.5 to 3.1 pounds in 

 weight (11 to 21 inches in length) . 



The size of fish discarded ranged from 0.1 to 2.2 pounds (6 to 

 18 1/2 inches), with about 90 percent from 0.3 to 1.0 pound in weight 

 (9 1/2 to lU inches in length). 



The sizes in the landed portion ranged from 0.6 to 8.1i pounds 

 (11 1/2 to 30 inches), with about 90 percent from 1.1 to 2.7 pounds in 

 weight (lU 1/2 to 20 inches in length). 



Cull by fishermen 



Of the total catch, about I6 percent by number (7 percent by weight) 

 was discarded, while 8I4. percent by number (93 percent by weight) was 

 landed. 



A major consideration in selecting a mesh size for regulation of the 

 Georges Bank fishery has been the selection of a mesh which would release 

 most of the sizes of haddock at present discarded at sea. Therefore, it 

 was of considerable importance to determine the numbers of each size dis- 

 carded, relative to the total numbers of that size caught. 



The data pertinent to these determinations are included in table 6. 

 The numbers caught, as well as the numbers landed and discarded of each 

 size, also are shovm in figure 9. From this figure certain percentage 

 discard points can be determined. The 50 percent point, that is, that 

 size at which the same number are discarded as are landed, is O.9U pounds 

 (about 13 3/U inches). This is the point where the line representing dis- 

 cards crosses the line representing landings. From this point downward. 



18 



