In July and August 1950, the effort of tlie commercial fleet was more widely 

 dispersed than in 1949 with the maximum effort expended in subarea J and the southern 

 part of subarea G. Limited fishing also occurred in subareas M and O. The distribu- 

 tion of the various age groups as determined from census tows showed that the majority 

 of unmarketable haddock occurred in subareas J and M with limited concentrations being 

 located in the southern part of subarea G and in the northern limits of subarea N . No 

 heavy concentrations of scrod were found anywhere on the bank that year and what 

 limited concentrations did exist were within locations fished by the commercial fleet. 

 The majority of large haddock were found in deeper water in subareas G, H, and J. 

 The greater proportion of all marketable haddock were found in the deep water of 

 subareas G, H, and J with limited numbers also occurring in the shoaler waters of 

 subareas J, M, and N. 



During the summer of 1950 the location of maximum effort of the commercial 

 fleet coincided with the location of 1 and 2-year-old haddock as determined from census 

 tows. The majority of these unmarketable haddock were 2-year -old fish of the strong 

 1948 year class. The concentrated effort on these fish by the commercial fleet is 

 evidenced by the landings for July and August 1950, which consisted of more than 75 

 percent 2-year-old fish. A limited and completely isolated concentration of haddock 

 of all ages found by the Albatross III a t approximately 41° -05' North and 68° -30' West 

 was also discovered by the fishing fleet. Again as in 1949 the older haddock were 

 found principally in deeper water outside the area sampled by the commercial boats . 



The concentration of the fleet in areas where smaller fish are abundant is re- 

 flected in the records of discarded haddock collected regularly in port by interview. 

 These records show that the location of the greatest destruction of unmarketable fish 

 during July and August of 1949 and 1950 was similar to the location of maximum fishing 

 effort (subarea J) . However, when this data is plotted in terms of the effort involved 

 (pounds per -days -fishing) the distribution of these unmarketable haddock is seen to be 

 quite similar to the distribution determined from the census data, being more widely 

 dispersed in 1950 than in 1949 and in general with the greatest concentration of these 

 unmarketable fish lying somewhat south of the areas of maximum effort. It is im- 

 possible to draw more than a general comparison between Ihe 2 sets of data because 

 of the inadequate coverage by the commercial fleet and the fluctuations of the age 

 groups making up the bulk of these discarded fish. It is noteworthy, however, that 

 this destruction drops markedly during the spring months as older fish are more 

 available and also more completely segregated from the immature fish during this 

 season. 



It may be concluded then that during the summer of 1949 and 1950 the commer- 

 cial fleet concentrated their efforts in depths shoaler than 60 fathoms and consequently 

 on younger fish (2 to 4 -year -olds) . As stated previously it appears likely that during 

 these months fishing in deeper water (greater than 90 fathoms) where the majority of 

 older haddock were located and where younger fish occurred only in limited numbers 

 would have proven more profitable and more desirable from a conservation standpoint. 



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