Station RouUrte 



The trawl was towed for i/2-t:iOur at a towing speed of approximately 4.5 

 knots with each tow being made within the unit area boundary and in the same depth 

 (^ 10 fathoms) wherever possible. 



At each station the following additional observations and collections were 

 made: 



1 . Bathythermograph and stirface temperature readings . 



2. Bottom samples by means of a scoop-fish bottom sampler 

 attached to the nose of the bathythermograph. 



3 . Lor an fixes at the beginning and end of each tow . 



4. Fathometer records. 



5. Counts or accurate estimates of the number of fish and the 

 number of bushels of fish of all species. 



6. Length measurements of all haddock and of other species 

 as time permitted. 



7. Scale samples of as many haddock as possible. 



RESULTS 



Abundance and Age Composition for Georges Bank 



Summer 



Since most of the surveys were conducted during the summer months the 

 results obtained during this season will be discussed first. The total catch per tow 

 of haddock and the catch per tow by ages for ail of Georges Bank for each of the three 

 survey years are presented in figure 2 and table A-1 . The total catch per tow varied 

 markedly during the 3 years, with a maximum of 134 in 1949 and a minimum of 37 in 

 1948 . These differences in the total catch per tow were due mainly to differences in 

 numbers of younger fish (0 to 3-year-olds) or more specifically to the abundance of 

 the 1948 year class > 



TTie zero -ring group was not adequately sampled for it will be noted that the 

 abundance of one-year-old haddock in 1949 and 1950 was greater than the abundance 

 of zero -ring fish m the respective fsreceding year. The catch per tow of zero-^ing 

 fish does, however, serve as an indication of year class strength as seen in the catch - 

 per -tow data of subsequent years. Part of this inadequate sampling may be attributed 

 to the escape of tSie smallest haddock through the 1-1/2 -inch Imer. However, there 

 is evidence that some Georges Bank haddock inhabit during their first year of life areas 

 outside ot Georges Bank and thus outside the area sampled. 



