Eh: . William F . Royce and Howard A . Schuck planned the sampling program . 

 Numerous persons assisted in the collection of data at sea. I am indebted to Captain 

 John T. Collins and the crew of the Albatross III f or their willing assistance and co- 

 operation and to biologists E. D. Premetz, R. E. Sayles, E. L. Arnold, J. R. 

 Webster, R. J.Buller, E. L. Miles, J. R. Clark, and R. E Kirkpatrick, who took 

 part in many cruises. 



Age determinations from scales were made by E. L^-Arnold; R. E. Sayles 

 and R. R. Marak assisted in compilation of catch records; and C. C. Taylor offered 

 valuable suggestions and advice in the analysis of the data. 



METHODS 



Sampling Techniques 



Adequate representation of all areas and depths was accomplished in the 

 following manner: 



1. The total area of Georges Bank within a limiting depth of 150 fathoms 

 was computed and, using 8iie statistical divisions of Rounsefell (1948), the total square 

 mileage of subareas, G, H, J, M, N, and O were likewise determined. 



2. The region to be sampled was further subdivided into unit areas of 10 

 minutes latitude by 10 minutes longitude. These unit areas represented potential trawl- 

 ing stations . The percentage which the number of unit areas in each subarea 

 represented of the total number of unit areas in the region of sampling was then 

 computed. 



3. The number of samples that could be taken within a definite time limit, 

 approximately one month, was estimated and this number was prorated to each of the 

 subareas on the basis of their area. 



4. Three depth zones were established as follows: 



(a) Depth zone I: 0-30 fathoms. 



(b) Depth zone II: 31 -60 fathoms. 



(c) Depth zone III: 61-150 fathoms. 



The percentage of each subarea lying within each of the three depth zones was 

 then determined and the total number of samples to be taken in each subarea was pro- 

 rated to each depth zone on the basis of these percentages . 



