POLLOCK IX BAT OF FUMtV 113 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



Three hauls were taken at the next low water on the morning of August 17, yield- 

 ing the following small gadoids: — 



Haul No. 1.- — -Numerous hake. 



Haul No. 2. — Five pollock, four cod, and four hake. 



Haul No. S. — Four hake. 



The length frequencies of the twenty-seven small pollock obtained in catches 19 

 and 29 to 32 are given in table I. 



The length frequencies of the fish caught in the seine catches 19 and 29-32 form 

 rather even curves with a mode at 8 cm. and 9 cm. The mean standard length of 

 these fish, as calculated from measurements made to the nearest millimeter, is 8-7 cm., 

 and the mean total length, as calculated in the same way is 9-7 cm. 



The scales of these fish show a series of rings of plates corresponding to the 

 centres of the scales of longer pollock. The number of these rings is from 4 to 10'. 

 In no case were the rings of plates close together, indicating winter growth. 



In 19*13 five small pollock were caught in the shore seine at Sandy Cove, N.S. 

 Their length frequencies were as follows : — 



The measurements were made to the nearest millimeter, and the mean total length 

 was 8-2 cm. and the mean standard length 7-4 cm. 



Seven other small pollock were obtained, five from weirs, which had been seined 

 for herring and two caught on hook and line from the station wharf. The length fre- 

 quencies of these fish are given in table 2, and show that these fish were larger than 

 those caught in the shore seine. Their mean standard length was 12-2 cm. and their 

 mean total length was 13-3 cm. Their scales corresponding to their larger size show 

 a greater number of rings of plates but do not show any winter rings. So far as any 

 importance can be attached to the occurrence of these seven fish, it would seem to 

 indicate that the young, after they attain a certain length, about 11 cm., move into 

 slightly deeper water where they are not caught by the shore seine. 



rV" — THE SECOND YEAr's GROWTH. 



Among the pollock caught in the shore seine at Wilson's beach on August 4, as 

 described in the previous section and grouped together as catch No. 19, eighteen we're 

 between 29 and 45 cm. total length. Two of these, specimens No. 660 and No. 661, 

 29 and 32 cm. total length, show only a single winter ring in their scales. The lengths 

 of these fish at the end of their first winter as calculated from the positions of the 

 winter rings in the scales is shown in table 3. 



It is to be noted that these fish are probably large for their age being caught in 

 a shoal with large fish. They constitute, however, the only data the writer has been 

 able to obtain on pollock in their second year's growth. It is hoped in future work 

 to fill this unfortunate gap in the investigations. 



v. THE THIRD YEAr's GROWTH. 



In all seventy-three pollock in their third year were caught. They were all caught 

 in the shore seine near Wilson's beach, C'ampobello island, and are included in catches 

 17 and 19. 



