SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 



1 . The purpose of this study was to analyze the total and age distribution 

 of haddock on Georges Bank by statistical subarea, depth and bottom type, and the 

 variation of this distribution between seasons and years. 



2. The total catch per tow of haddock for the bank as a whole varied markedly 

 during the 3 years and these fluctuations resulted mainly from the fluctuation in 

 numbers of younger fish. 



3. Althou^ the sampling of zero-ring fish was not adequate due to the size of 

 the gear used, it did serve as an indication of year-class strength as evidenced from 

 subsequent samplings and the catch of the commercial fleet. 



4. Although relatively large quantities of zero-ring haddock were found in 

 subareas N and O which long have been considered the principal nursery grounds 



for the Georges Bank stock of haddock, relatively high concentrations of these recently 

 spawned fish were found outside of this area (subareas E, F, Q, and area XXIII). This 

 occurrence of large numbers cf zero -ring haddock in the Gulf of Maine and off southern 

 New England and Long Island coincide with the occurrence of the strong 1948 and 1950 

 year classes and indicates that the recruitment of the Georges Bank stock is dependent 

 upon fish spawned in or inhabiting, during their first year of life, areas outside the 

 limits of Georges Bank, as well as those fish spending their complete life cycle on the 

 bank proper. 



5. The distribution by subarea was similar to that indicated by the commercial 

 catch. EXiring the summer the major portion of the haddock were found in subareas J 

 and M and during the spring in subarea N . 



6. In all three years, not only the percentage, but also actual numbers of 

 older haddock (5 years and older) was greater in subareas G and H than over the rest 

 of the bank . 



7 . EXiring the summer months the catch and weight per tow of marketable 

 haddock was greatest and that of unmarketable haddock least in depths greater than 90 

 fathoms, and thus it appears that it would have been both more profitable and expedient 

 to have fished at these depths . 



8 . During the summer months few haddock of any age were found in the zone 

 bounded by the 60 and 90 fathom lines . The scarcity of fisji during this season in this 

 depth zone could be due to the lack of suitable food. 



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