14 U. 8S. BURHAU OF FISHERIES 
MACKEREL 
During 1936 the abundance of mackerel remained at a fairly high 
level although the total catch, 40,173,400 pounds, represented a de- 
crease of 24 percent as compared ‘with the previous year. This de- 
crease was due to lowered abundance of mackerel in the areas fished, 
by the fleet as a result of poor survival of young from the spawning 
of 1935. This vear-class furnished so few new recruits that they 
failed to offset more than one-sixth of the losses sustained through 
the ordinary mortality of the previously existing steck. Though the 
abundance has been materially lowered, it still remains well above 
the average for the present decade. 
In order to afford opportunity to prepare for publication results 
of the previous years of mackerel investigations, field work during’ 
1936 was limited to the minimum necessary to provide continuous 
understanding of current changes in the condition of this resource. 
As in previous years, this inv estigation has been under the direction 
of Oscar E. Sette, who was assisted in the field work by Frank 
E. Firth. Statistics on the daily landings of each vessel in the fleet. 
were obtained from 12 ports, principally Cape May, N. J., New York, 
N. Y., New Bedford, Boston, and Gloucester, Mass. Interviews with 
the fishermen covered 1,017 out of 2,188 fishing trips, and 669 samples 
were taken from 647 fares landed. The lengths of 44,843 individuals 
in the samples were recorded and scales were collected from 1,040 
mackerel. 
Early in the season of 1936 there was issued a prediction of the 
probable conditions of abundance during the current year. At that 
time it was evident that the stock of mackerel present in 1935 was 
such as to provide a 1936 level of abundance 20 percent below that 
of the previous year. This estimate was exclusive of any mackerel 
which might be provided by the class of 1985 which was due to 
make its appearance in the commercial fishery in 1936. Actually 
the yield of the fishery in 1936, exclusive of the new-year class, was 
38,000,000 pounds or within 29 percent of the previous year. The 
class of 1935 provided 2,000,000 pounds of mackerel, making the 
net decline 24 percent. 
Continuation of research on the natural history and the fluctua- 
tions in abundance of the mackerel provided more definite informa- 
tion than has been available heretofore on seasonal movements, loca- 
tion of important spawning grounds, rate of growth during larval, 
juvenile, and adult existence, fluctuations in annual birth rate (or 
survival of the young), and the attendant effects on the commercial 
stock available to the fishery. Continued studies have also provided 
additional insight into the migratory, spawning, feeding, and school- 
ing habits of the mackerel. Progress has been made in discovering 
relationship between the southern and northern subdivisions of the 
stock which have been found to have an important bearing on the 
availability to our fishermen. These and related subjects are being 
incorporated in a report intended for publication. 
SHORE FISHES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES 
Responsible leaders of the fishing industry and of angler organiza- 
tions recognize that a comprehensive conservation policy is urgently 
