ANNEX C . 

 BIOLOGICAL FIELD REPORT 

 by 

 Mr. William Z. Lidicker 



Biological Investigations were carried out in so far as possible in conjunction 

 with the major work of physical oceanography and sounding. Primary emphasis was placed 

 on the collection of marine and fresh-water fishes „ Secondary was the collection of 

 marine invertebrates, including plankton. Especially intensive work was done in areas 

 little worked or not visited by the Blue Dolphin in previous years. 



Forty-three collections of fish were made on the Labrador coast from just south of 

 Hamilton Inlet to Hebron. These represent thirty-two marine and eleven fresh-water col- 

 lections. Two additional collections were made at Port Saunders, Newfoundland. Methods 

 of collection included gill nets, jig, fly rod, twenty-one inch bottom dredge, and var- 

 ious sizes of seines, but the most useful and widely used collecting gear was the beam 

 and otter trawls. 



The eleven fresh-water collections were made at points distributed along the coast, 

 within the range of operation. Included were collections from the lower reaches of the 

 Hamilton, Kenamu, Naskaupi, and Goose Rivers. An effort was made to investigate land- 

 locked lakes, especially in the north. 



The success with the gill net reaffirms the observations of its extreme value made 

 in preceding years. These nets, which were set overnight whenever feasible, supplied 

 valuable specimens as well as some welcome additions to shipboard fare. 



Data and material were gathered for continuing the life history study of the Arctic 

 Char (Salvelinus alpinus ) begun in 1951 . Heads and measurements were obtained. Also 

 stomach content and condition of gonads were noted. Most of this Information came from 

 the Hebron and Nutak areas which were not visited in 1951- An effort was also made to 

 procure individuals of this species living their whole lives in fresh water. Because of 

 the possibility of the increasing commercial importance of the Arctic Char, studies of 

 this species are especially worthwhile, and may lead to a firm foundation on which to base 

 Intelligent management of this valuable resource. 



A tentative total of forty species of marine and fresh-water fish, representing 

 eighteen families, was caught on the Labrador this summer. Again new range extensions 

 were obtained, and at least one fish new to Labrador waters was taken. 



Seventeen marine invertebrate collections were made. 



Thirty-eight plankton samples were obtained with the Clarke-Bumpus sampler and with 

 a one-meter Stramin net. These samples were principally taken at oceanographic stations 

 so that oceanographic data are available with most of the samples. Geographically, sam- 

 ples were taken from the Hamilton Inlet-Lake Melville Region to Saglek Bay. An effort was 

 made to sample both the deep, cold water of Labrabor Current origin and the surface 

 water. Several samples were taken at night so that diurnal and nocturnal fluctuations in 

 planktonic layers might be indicated. For comparative purposes, some of the same places 

 were sampled in early summer and again at the end of the summer. 



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