progressively larger percentages were discarded, until at sizes below 

 0.5 pound (11 inches) all were discarded. Conversely, going from the 

 50 percent point upward toward larger sizes of fish, the percentage of 

 discard decreased, until at the size of 2.3 pounds (19 inches) none were 

 discarded. 



This culling by the fishermen is shown more clearly by the "cull 

 curve" (fig. 10) in which the size of fish is plotted against the per- 

 centage of catch landed. 



The sizes discarded and landed varied from trip to trip as indicated 

 previously. The cull curves for each applicable trip are presented in 

 figure 11; the data are given in table.?. 



Age composition 



The age composition of haddock on the average Georges Bank trip 

 observed in 19^1 is presented in table 8. The percentage of each age 

 discarded is given in table 9. 



In 193il, the I9U8 year class (3-year*olds) dominated the fishery; 

 over 70 percent of the haddock caught were from this one year class. 

 Next in importance was the 19h9 year class (2-year-olds), which con- 

 tributed about 18 percent to the total catch. All other year classes 

 were relatively lesfs important. 



Most of the discarded haddock (66 percent) were from the I9U9 year 

 class (2-year-olds) . The 19^0 year class (1-year-olds) was next in 

 importance, contributing about 2? percent of the numbers discarded. 

 The rest of the discarded fish (about 7 percent) were from the I9I4.8 year 

 class (3-year-olds). 



Of the landed fish, about 83 percent were from the I9I48 year class 

 (3-year-olds), 9 percent from the 19h9 year class (2-year-olds), and the 

 rest (8 percent) from other year classes. 



23 



