PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1938 V7 
yellowtail about 4,000,000; lemon sole, 2,500,000; dabs, 2,500,000; and 
winter flounders slightly over 1,000,000 pounds. These figures, how- 
ever, are not indicative of the total amounts landed by the entire 
fishery, or even of the proportions of the catch contributed by each 
species in New England and New York. Contrary to the situation 
prevailing north of Cape Cod, the bulk of the flounder catch south 
of the Cape is composed of winter flounders. Annual canvass 
figures for this area showed a decided decline, the landings having 
dropped about 37 percent from 1930 to 1935. Fishermen and dealers 
report a definite decrease in the average size of the fish. During 
the past 5 years an enormous sports fishery for winter flounders has 
developed south and west of Cape Cod, and particularly in Long 
Island. In some places the catch equals or even exceeds that of the 
commercial gear. In view of the decline of commercial catches of 
the winter flounder and the rising importance of the sports fishery, 
the work of the flounder investigation has been concentrated on this 
species. 
Detailed and accurate statistics of the catch of winter flounders 
are not available for past years, owing to the fact that all species 
landed were lumped together, with no record of seasonal occurrence 
or grounds fished. In 1938, however, the Market News Service, with 
offices in Gloucester, Portland, Boston, New Bedford, Province- 
town, and New York City, was able to furnish more complete and 
detailed statistics than could be procured formerly. In addition, the 
State of New York, through its Long Island Survey, collected much 
needed and detailed information on its fisheries. The State of Maine 
will adopt a statistical system in the early part of 1939, and other 
New England coastal States are expected to undertake a like pro- 
gram. With cooperation from these States, it will be possible to 
obtain more satisfactory data in the future. 
Tagging—In cooperation with the States of New York and Con- 
necticut, about 2,000 flounders were tagged in Long Island Sound 
and in a number of localities on Long Island. Fish were tagged in 
Great South Bay, Great Peconic Bay, Gardiners Island Sound, Port 
Jefferson, and Huntington Harbor in New York waters. In Con- 
necticut, tagging of the local stock was conducted in the Mystic 
River and of the breeding stock at the Noank Hatchery. As in 
previous experiments, the twin disk celluloid tag was used. ‘These 
were fastened just posterior to the head and below the dorsal fin 
of the fish by means of nickel pins. 
These experiments yielded valuable information on the movements 
of flounders and the relative intensity of the commercial and sport 
fisheries. The peaks of returns occurred from April to May and 
from October to November, indicating either that the fish were more 
available at that time or that fishing was more intensive. In general, 
an offshore movement in the spring and an inshore movement in the 
fall occurred. Summering concentrations in the Block Island region 
were composed of individuals from Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode 
Island, and the south shore of Cape Cod. Recoveries from Nan- 
tucket Shoals suggest that the offshore banks may be partially popu- 
lated with fish from inshore grounds. Although a general disper- 
sion of fish was indicated, evidences of directional migrations also 
occur, since it was found that in a number of cases minimum speeds 
of over 4 miles a day were recorded. The recovery of a large num- 
