PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 193 4 339 



tively small quantity at minor ports) readied al)out 135,000,000 

 pounds compared to 130,0()(),000 in 1933. However, for the first 

 time in the history of the fishery the jrreater part of the catch came 

 from tlie banks off the Nova Scotian coast (Sable Island, Banque- 

 reau). Browns, and La Have. The catch on Georges Bank (includ- 

 ing South Channel and Nantucket Shoals), which in past years has 

 averaged nearly 80 percent of the total United States landings, in 

 1934 declined to 40.000,000 pounds, the lowest in the history of the 

 modern fishery, and but 30 percent of the total. The catcli on the 

 Nova Scotian banks by United States vessels reached 88,000,000 

 pounds. 



The sharp decline in the Georges Bank fishery was the result of 

 the continued poor fishing in this area, which caused practically all 

 of the large trawlers and many of the large draggers to spend most 

 of their time on the Nova Scotian banks. The great increase in 

 running time to and from these more distant banks (Banquereau is 

 about G25 miles from Boston, while Georges averages 180 miles) 

 was more than compensated for by the greater catch per day's 

 fishing. 



The actual changes in the haddock population have been studied 

 during 1934 along the lines described in previous annual reports. 

 Investigation has continued under the direction of W. C. Herring- 

 ton, assisted by J. R. Webster. Owing to a reduced staff and funds, 

 field work has been confined almost entirely to the Boston Fish Pier 

 where vessel interviews have provided information as to fishing time, 

 fishing position, and other relevant data for practically all haddock 

 trips landed. Extensive length-frequency data and scale samples 

 were also obtained throughout the year from commercial catches 

 made in each of the principal areas fished. F. E. Firth handled 

 most of the work at the fish pier during the winter, and J. R. Web- 

 ster or W. C. Neville during the summer, while Mr. Firth was 

 assisting in the mackerel investigations. 



Georges Bank and adjacent areas. — The haddock population in 

 this area has been at a low level of abundance since 1929 and has 

 shown little indication of recovery. In 1932 there was some im- 

 provement in the marketable stock caused by the growth to com- 

 mercial size of the relatively numerous 1929 class. The gain was 

 short-lived, however, for 1933 saw the level of abundance, as indi- 

 cated by catch per day, again decline. This decline was caused by 

 reduction in the stock through catch mortality (mortality due to the 

 fishermen's catch) and natural mortality. The 1930 year class, 

 which reached commercial size during 1933, was much too scanty 

 to furnish sufficient contributions to the marketable stock to com- 

 pensate for this mortality. 



It has been mentioned that the 1934 haddock landings from 

 Georges Bank amounted to only about one-half the quantity 

 landed in 1933. However, this was due to the shift of a large jiart of 

 the fishing effort to the Nova Scotian banks rather than to a decline 

 in abundance on Georges. In fact, the catch per day for the first 8 

 months of 1934. as shown by our catch analysis, was some 15 to 20 

 percent higher than in 1933. (Figures for the balance of the year 

 are not yet available.) There is some probability that this improve- 

 ment in catch per day does not represent a proportional increase in 



