PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1935 3g7 



It is to be regretted that a more complete survey of the condition 

 of the fishery resources is not possible. Limitations of funds and 

 personnel are sucli that only a few of the important species can be 

 studied. The cod fishery is beino- more thoroughly fished as the had- 

 dock supply has diminished, and during the last several years the 

 portion of the population south of Cape Cod has become notably 

 sparce. Whether this is oAving to natural causes or to undue exploita- 

 tion is unknown. The yield of flounders is diminishing year by year 

 in spite of greater utilization of those that formerly were considered 

 ''trash." It is unknown whether this decline in productivity might 

 not have been avoided or might not still be halted; nor is it known 

 wliether restrictive legislation on flounder fishing now in force in 

 some States is beneficial. What should be done to halt the declining- 

 lobster catch is a further question. In fact, each major fishery is in 

 need of study. 



Even the species that are being studied cannot be given the atten- 

 tion that they deserve. There are pressing needs for more adequate 

 treatment in each field. In tlie Middle Atlantic section there should 

 be experiments to devise methods of fishing that would save young 

 fish from destruction. The mackerel investigation needs facilities for 

 work at sea to fiu-ther unravel the mystery of spawning failures so 

 as to foresee the crop of yearling mackerel (tinkers). The haddock 

 WT)rk also needs sea-going equipment and, further, should have cleri- 

 cal assistance to keep the statistical analyses up to date, for it is by 

 these means only that the conditions of the resource may be known. 



It is obvious from the nature of the problems facing the fish- 

 ery investigator, that accurate and detailed statistical information 

 is essential. For the most part, it is necessary to collect special series 

 for each biological study, but the regularly collected, total-yield sta- 

 tistics are also needed. To render them more suitable for biological 

 purposes, a revision of the method of reporting landings at the 

 })rincipal New England ports, wnth special reference to area of origin, 

 was worked out in conjunction wdth the Division of Fishery Indus- 

 tries and will be put into effect in the ensuing year. The areas were 

 delineated in collaboration with members of the North American 

 Cf)uncil on Fishery Investigations, and it is antici]:)ated that eventu- 

 ally the statistics of all countries participating in the American 

 North Atlantic fisheries may be reported according to a uniform 

 scheme of statistical areas. 



Before passing on to the details of results, it is appropriate to 

 acknowledge gratefully the courtesy of Harvard University in pro- 

 viding the staff with quarters in its Biological Laboratories; the co- 

 operation of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, especially 

 in assigning its research vessel Atlantis to certain haddock trawling 

 cruises; and the personal interest of Prof. Henry B. Bigelow in 

 advising the staff on many phases of the work. It is a pleasure also 

 to acknowledge the kindness of fishermen and fish dealers in permit- 

 ting the use of their records and in other ways cooperating in the 

 work. 



Tw^o subjects, cod and flounder, considered in separate sections in 

 previous annual reports, are not so treated herein. In both instances 

 the material consists of returns from laggings done in years prior 

 to 1933. Although a few returns continue to be reported, they do 



151363—37 2 



