352 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



to the degree of success of reproduction in 1933 and 1934. Analysis 

 of catch-record data supplied voluntarily by pound-net operators, 

 however, indicates a high yield of scup in 1934 continuing the series 

 of record total catches this particular fishery has experienced each 

 summer since 1929 (for the State of New Jersey the pound-net catch 

 rising from 2,400,000 pounds in 1929 to 3,500,000 pounds in 1933), 

 following a period of scarcitv from 1926 to 1928, inclusive (500.000 

 pounds in 1926 to 300,000 pounds in 1928). The record yields of 

 1929-33 were the result of successful spaAvning each season from 1927 

 to 1932, with the exception of 1929. 



Observations on the southern trawl fishery during the past winter 

 (1933-34) showed that the catch of approximately 2,500,000 pounds 

 of scup landed principally at Virginia ports was the highest in the 

 history of the fishery. As in most previous winters, the size and 

 age composition of the landed catches was similar to that usually 

 observed in the summer pound-net fishery, consisting, in the main, 

 of small and medium-sized fish (7 to 9 inches in length, averaging 

 one-fourth to one-half pound in weight). 



It was disclosed further, in accordance with previous winters' 

 observations, that the catch of this southern winter trawl fishery is 

 not only dependent on abundance but also on the degree of avail- 

 ability, which in turn is affected by changes in the hydrographic 

 conditions of the general fishing region. It is now known that 

 changes in water temperatures affect the movement of the schools, 

 causing changes in the amount and in the size of fish caught. 



Thus, as indicated above, the total yield of scup by the summer 

 and winter fisheries continues at record levels due to a series of suc- 

 cessful spawnings. This condition cannot be expected to continue 

 indefinitely. Sooner or later a series of spawning failures similar to 

 those which caused the natural decline between 1926-28 will occur. 



It is but prudent, therefore, to prepare for this condition by cor- 

 recting existing abuses which may accelerate the inevitable decline 

 or endanger the chances of natural recovery. The most conspicuous 

 abuse is unnecessary destruction of young fish both in the winter 

 trawl fishery and in the summer pound-net fishery. During the })ast 

 winter the southern trawl fishery discarded at sea large quantities 

 of small scup consisting in part of fish below legal limit and in part 

 of small but legally marketable fish for which, under the economic 

 conditions of last winter, no market could be found. 



It is estimated that for a total catch of approximately 2,400.000 

 pound,s of scup landed by vessels at Virginia ports in January, Feb- 

 ruar}^, and March, more than 500,000 pounds or 20 percent were dis- 

 carded at sea. Expressed in numbers of fish it means that of a 

 total catch of approximately 4,700,000 scup, about 1,900,000 fish or 

 40 percent were destroyed and discarded. It is probable that an 

 even larger proportion of the catch of vessels landing at ports in 

 New York and New Jersey was discarded since the smaller sizes of 

 fish are less readily marketable there. 



Less definite figures are available for the pound-net fishery, par- 

 ticularly in recent years, but the waste is known to be great in the 

 summers following the advent of large broods. 



The advantages to be derived from reduction of this waste are as 

 follows: (1) Since the fish now destroyed have no value, a clear 



