86 U.S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



The analysis of material on the relative abundance and distribution 

 of the haddock population, handled principally by J. R. Webster, has 

 shown that from many aspects the year 1932 has been the most inter- 

 esting in the recent history of the New England haddock fishery. Fol- 

 lowing a continuous decrease since 1927 in the stock of haddock of 

 commercial size (total abundance of haddock was greatest in 1927 

 although the greatest landings were in 1929 due to increased fishing 

 effort), the winter of 1931-32 and summer of 1932 finally witnessed an 

 increase in the abundance of marketable fish. Observations on the 

 statistical and biological mechanics of this increase have provided some 

 of the most important of our results for the past year both in respect 

 to increasing our understanding of fluctuations of the fishery in the past 

 and in more definitely determining a basis for our future expectations. 



The bulk of the New England haddock landings during the past 

 few years have come from Georges Bank (including South Channel 

 and Nantucket Shoals). In 1932 this area accounted for about three 

 quarters of the total New England catch. The principal efforts of 

 the present investigation have consequently been concentrated in 

 this region. 



The annual report for 1931 considered the relatively poor condition 

 of the fishery on Georges Bank during that year due primarily to 

 intensive fishing combined with the failure of the reproductive cycle 

 to produce any considerable number of young haddock over a period 

 of several years (probably 4 or 5) . Field observations during the 

 fall of 1930 and during 1931 had shown that a group of young fish 

 had finally appeared in considerable numbers and had reached a 

 sufficient size in the fall of 1931 so that the larger ones were of com- 

 mercial value. During the fall and early winter of 1931 the catch 

 of large haddock continued to decline but the catch of scrod increased 

 about 19 times over the same period of the previous year. At that 

 time, however, we had few data to indicate how much this group of 

 young fish would influence the catch during the next few years. 



In 1932 the extensive population of young fish on Georges Bank 

 increased in average size through growth from about 41 to 42 centi- 

 meters (1.5 pounds) to 47 to 48 centimeters (2.2 to 2.5 pounds). As 

 a result during the summer of 1932 practically the entire group 

 had reached scrod size and toward the latter part of the year a con- 

 siderable part of them were sufficiently large to be sold as market 

 haddock. Consequently, the catch per unit of fishing time, during 

 the summer of 1932, experienced a sharp increase to the highest level 

 since 1929 and averaged for the entire year about 35 to 40 percent 

 better than during 1931 (though not approaching the record year of 

 1927). 



The course of the fishery on Georges Bank during 1933 will depend 

 on the effect of the abundant group of young haddock which have 

 come into the commercial fishery during 1932. Length-frequency 

 measurements indicate that very nearly all of this year class were of 

 scrod size by the spring and summer of 1932. Since that time, no 

 new group of young haddock has appeared which will affect the 

 commercial fishery on Georges before the winter or late fall of 1933. 

 Consequently, the only conclusion to be reached is that unless new 

 conditions develop which differ markedly from those experienced 

 during the past 2 years, the catch per day, all sizes considered, will 

 not be appreciably better in 1933 than in 1932, and probably it will 



