PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1934 343 



in the otter trawls. A minimum cod-end mesh size of 4% inches 

 (about 4I/S inches after use) will capture only about one-fifth as many 

 undersized haddock as the 3-inch nicsh that generally has been used 

 in the connnercial trawls in the past. At the same time tliis mesh will 

 lose less than one-tenth of the haddock between 1.5 and 2.0 pounds, 

 and none above that size. The rei)ort recommends that tlie industry 

 adopt a mininunn mesh size of not less than 4% inches to be used in 

 any part of the otter trawls except certain portions of the cod-end; 

 e. g., belly and after end. 



It is important that the recommendations of this report be followed 

 by delinite action. The trawler operators in general have recorded 

 themselves in favor of the adoption of large-meshed nets, but for 

 various reasons there has not been nuich consistent progress toward 

 the use of such gear. A move for definite Federal or international 

 regulation appears necessary for real progress. It is not a matter 

 that can be postponed indefinitely, for already there has been a trend 

 toward marketing the smaller sizes of haddock and once this practice 

 becomes established it will be very difficult to obtain the adoption of 

 large-meshed gear that will reduce the catch of such fish. The cap- 

 ture of small haddock, even though marketable, is a very short-sighted 

 and irrational practice, for on Georges Bank 1 year's ojrowth will 

 cause a 1-pound haddock to nearly double and a half-pound haddock to 

 nearly treble in weight ; thus not only reaching a size that is of more 

 value per pound but also increasing the actual poundage of fish in the 

 ocean available to the fishermen. 



In the light of present knowledge of the species the most practica- 

 ble action that can be taken for the conservation of the haddock fish- 

 ery is to leave the fish in the ocean during their early years of rapid 

 growth and concentrate the fishery on the larger sizes where natural 

 mortality approximately neutralizes the increase in the Aveight of the 

 stock through growth. Such action would increase materially the 

 catch that might be taken annually from the fishing banks. The use 

 of mesh with a minimum size of 4% inches, as recommended, will 

 protect most of the young haddock on Georges Bank until the end of 

 their third year. This by no means is the ultimate to be desired, for 

 a fourth year on the bank would cause a weight increase in these fish 

 of about 70 percent, an amount that is much greater than the loss in 

 poundage due to natural mortality. However, the recommended 

 mesh size of 4:% inches appears to be immediately practicable, and if 

 acted upon would constitute a very considerable contribution to the 

 future of the fishery. 



The results of the United States and Canadian haddock investiga- 

 tions were presented at the 1934 meeting of the North American 

 Council on Fishery Investigations. After a discussion of these re- 

 sults the council approved the report of the Committee on Haddock 

 Investigations. Following are some of the more important recom- 

 mendations: 



The committee endorses the opinion expressed at the general meeting of the 

 council that the haddock problem has become of major importance to Canada 

 and the United States (on the Atlantic coast) ; that immediate steps should be 

 taken to adopt a common plan of investigation, which would adequatelj' keep the 

 situation under review and lead to the adoption of remedial measures. 



Further, the conimitttx^ urges the adoption of a joint program of intensified 

 research into the biology of the haddock, * * *. 



