FISHERIES OF PAMLICO AND CORE SOUNDS 47 
TapiE 11.—Length frequencies of 1,303 croakers taken in catches of long-haul seines, 
1925, all localities. (In per cent of total number) 







| | | 
Length, centimeters | July | Aug.| Sept.) Oct.! Length, centimeters July | Aug. | Sept.| Oct.! 
a fate | | Fei 
SAS Se ee ee eee ee ee OYO1G || OLE eS eile sare ans caer. 4.94)) 4,29) §:50|-2---— 
(DOL e Yas Gi SOE RE Ea ele RRS nt | hey ee Sl ie A NOES 3.30) 1.58] 4.40 91 
jij 5235 NEON ED CORE Ere EEO een OE RO Te ao eem ens ont PIERS 1.92) 106) “2: 35|---2 2 
18 SIE RT 275 ERTS MCG 122705 | SY et a a aan Oa A SAL) SRA an 
jb: See ees Oita RONG 72308 tah ewe el a 725 |somem ie 846 
EN 2 ee ee OE eae PTS 7 RON2O Ie ah PIG aon sone ee ares ore ee 56 | Sees Ges ee 
Ep Tep acy en ee 8 SH COP TESA eGo hit (0 |S ae a RSI VSN | Fl (to oe 
olen ey Maw A SURAT e STS TROFSo ML GOUT EaB tee nets oe es ek eee eae ee wet 59] ae 
paar = He ET RUBIO DO eS DOM ISS 60) PaO eee ene Se ea sivas See | ~ . 29] 
OF ee eh Ee PAD Ue Ol aSeSOlNS: ie || 40b wees eee 26 s29] 
2h oe be a oe ae POQUS4 eT PREG eth 87 eons i Nidltee eae oe ee ENT EN bee A | pn20|beeeee 
zs See ee | 12.60] 17.94) 7.92] 4.10 meal =— 
2 (Baa bed ee ee Se | 18. 94) 11.87; 8.80) . 91 Potala sens tees | 99. 91| 99. 98}100. 00) 99. 96 
2S eR Ae | 11.00] 8.18} 5.57| .46 | | | | 
ZC a i ae ee ae 9.05] 9.50] 12.60} . 46 Number of fish_.-.| 364] 379) 341) 219 
| ae ae | 5.76| 7.39 
4.99 .91 | | | 
1 Includes collections on Nov. 2. 
These data are all presented graphically in Figures 8 to 13, and for 
the benefit of the average practical reader, unfamiliar with graphical 
methods of analysis, Figure 7 is given to illustrate the method of 
construction of these curves and to make more complete the mental 
picture they are intended to convey. 
SELECTIVE ACTION OF FISHING GEAR 
It will be noted above that the size of fish taken in pound nets 
differs materially from those taken in the long-haul seines. Not 
only do pound nets catch the smaller fish, such as butterfish and 
starfish, which seldom appear in the catches of the long-haul seines, 
but the long-haul seines catch spotted trout, drum, rockfish, and 
other large species not frequently taken in pound nets. The sizes of 
fish of the same species are uniformly larger in long hauls than in 
pound nets. Thus, the maximum size of gray trout taken in long- 
haul seines is 2 inches greater than those taken in pound nets. The 
maximum size of spots is 1.1 inches greater, and the maximum size 
of croakers is 0.4 inch greater. The same disparity in sizes is shown 
in the minimum sizes taken, pound nets taking smaller fish of all 
species than are ever caught in quantities by long-haul seines. There 
is, therefore, a very evident selection of different sizes of fish by the 
two types of gear, which is more clearly illustrated by Figures 8, 11, 
and 12, showing the length frequencies of fish of the three species 
caught most abundantly by the two methods. Figure 8 shows the 
size composition of gray trout, and while the curve for the long-haul 
seine catch is quite irregular, due to the relatively small numbers it 
represents, it is quite apparent that fish under 25 centimeters in 
length seldom are caught by this gear. If we assume that the 
abundant size group found at 24 centimeters in August represents 
the 2-year-old fish, it is apparent that only fish 3 years and more of 
age are caught by long hauls. As the 2-year-old fish grow through 
the summer, the number of this group taken by the long hauls in- 
creases; but in all months of the season the older fish are taken in 
