12 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
It seems probable that the activities of the New England fleet will 
be concentrated in Area X XII—South to a somewhat greater extent 
in 1937 than in 1936, resulting in an increase in the first factor, “total 
mortality.” The second factor—contribution of young fish to the 
commercial stock—will be supplied by the 1934 and 1935 year classes. 
Results of the Atlantis trips in 1935 and 1936 indicate that in Area 
XXIi—South the 1934 class is somewhat less abundant than that of 
1933, while the 1935 class is better than that of 1934. Conclusions from 
the Ad/antis trips must be used with caution, however, until later evi- 
dence from the commercial fishery demonstrates that this relatively 
limited data constitutes a representative sample of the Georges Bank 
population. 
If, however, we assume that the year-class rating from the Atlantis 
trawling is correct and that the fishing strain will be somewhat greater 
than in 1936, then on the New England Banks the catch per unit of 
effort of large haddock should be considerably less in 1937 than in 
1936, while the scrod catch should be considerably less during the 
spring and early summer and equal or greater during the fall and 
winter of 1937 than during corresponding periods of 1936. Combined, 
these results will give an average catch of all haddock per unit of 
effort somewhat lower than in 1936, while, owing to the expected 
increase in fishing activity, the total landings should be somewhat 
greater. The validity of these conclusions is, of course, dependent 
on the valuation given the 1935 year class, which admittedly is subject 
to some question. 
Nova Scotian Banks—On the Nova Scotian Banks (Area XXT), 
the average catch per unit of effort declined about 5 percent under the 
previous year. This decline was characterized by a rapid falling off 
in the catch of scrod and an increase in that of large haddock. Al- 
though the average for 1936 was but 10 percent below the peak year 
of 1934, there is some evidence to indicate that the actual abundance 
has declined more drastically. These data have not yet been suffi- 
ciently examined to be considered at this time. 
As a result of the decline in average yield and shift of fishing effort 
to the New England Banks and the rosefish fishery, the total haddock 
catch from Area X XI declined from 91 million pounds in 1935 to 65 
million in 1936. 
Because of limited material, predictions for the 1937 season for this 
area can be but tentative. Figures for catch per unit of effort include 
data from the whole area although more detailed analysis has indi- 
cated that the trends in abundance in the eastern and western parts 
of the area are dissimilar. The catch per unit (omitting Browns and 
La Have) has been declining around 10 percent annually since 1984. 
It seems probable that this decline will be continued or accelerated in 
1937 unless the 1933 class proves to have been relatively successful in 
this region. At the present time no data are available on this ques- 
tion. The 1933 class was abundant in Area XXII—South, but so 
also were those of 1931 and 1932, and neither of the latter were of 
any importance in Area X XI except possibly on Browns Bank. 
Browns Bank apparently must be considered independently from 
the remainder of Area X XJ. Changes in catch per unit in this region 
do not appear to show any particular correlation with the abundance 
of scrod, as on the other banks, or with the population changes either 
