PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1938 9 
highest practical level. Although good progress is being made on the 
species now under study (haddock, flounders, and mackerel), no 
biological work has been possible on the highly important fisheries for 
cod, redfish, pollock, and swordfish. 
Pressing problems are developing in the inshore fisheries which 
support the small-boat fishing fleet and coastal population on long 
stretches of the North Atlantic coast. The most important problems 
here involve the improvement or maintenance of fisheries for floun- 
ders and lobsters, and the development of the fishery for shrimps. 
Several important changes in the personnel of the North Atlantic 
staff were made during the year. J. R. Webster was assigned to con- 
tinue the mackerel investigations, following the transfer of O. FE. 
Sette to the West coast in October 1937, to assume charge of the Bu- 
reau’s South Pacific Investigations. In January 1938, M. J. Lobell 
was transferred to this staff to carry on an investigation of the im- 
portant flounder fishery; and in March 1938, Dr. G. A. Rounsefell 
also was transferred to carry on a comprehensive study of fluctuations 
in the abundance of North Atlantic groundfish, a problem which has 
demanded attention for some time. 
The headquarters of the North Atlantic Fishery Investigations has 
remained in Cambridge and Boston, Mass. Harvard University has 
enerously provided the staff with space and facilities in its biological 
aboratories. The cooperation of the Woods Hole Oceanographic 
Institution is gratefully acknowledged, as is the personal advice and 
interest of Prof. Henry B. Bigelow. The assistance and cooperation 
of fishermen and dealers in providing the use of their records, and in 
other ways, is also acknowledged with pleasure. 
HADDOCK 
The past year witnessed the continuation of several trends discussed 
in previous reports, but no noteworthy innovations or developments. 
Catch records for the first 11 months of 1938 (the only months yet 
available), show that the total amount of haddock landed at Boston, 
Gloucester, and Portland reached 138,000,000 pounds, a decrease of 
about 3 percent from the previous year; while the value was a little 
over $3,000,000, a decrease of 15 percent from the previous year. 
This is the third successive year of decline in catch and the second 
successive year of decline in value since 1935. 
The replacement of the old steam trawler fleet with new Diesel- 
powered boats continued during 1938, but at a slower pace than in 
1936 and 1937. Two new trawlers launched late in 1937 began fishing 
in 1938, and three others were launched and placed in operation 
during the late fall and winter. However, these additions to the 
fleet do not necessarily mean a greater fishing intensity since they 
were probably more than counterbalanced by the decommissioning of 
old steam trawlers. The total number of trawler days at sea was 
somewhat less than in 1937, but the increased effectiveness of the 
new units probably compensated for much of the decline and it is 
likely that more detailed analysis will show that there was little 
change in absolute fishing intensity between 1937 and 1938. 
The trend toward the increased utilization of species other than 
haddock continued, but at a much lowered tempo. These species, 
which in 1929 made up 84 percent of the landings of groundfish, in 
