FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA
Biological Station St. John's, Newfoundland
Circular No. 5
Summary report on fishery investigations and roundfish landings in Newfoundland during 1957
by
A. M. Fleming & Marjorie E. Prouse
Confidential No portion of this report may be quoted without permission of the authors.
August, 1958 FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA
Biological Station
St. John's , Newfoundland
Circular No. 5
Su mmary report on fishery investigations and gro undfish landings in Newfoundland during 1957
by
A. M. Fleming & Marjorie E. Prouse
Confidential No portion of this report may be quoted without permission of the authors.
August, 1958 Preface
Investigations of the Fisheries Research Board of Canad a, Biological Station at St. John's are concerned espec ially withgroundfish: cod, haddock, redfish, American plaic e (flounder) and witch flounder (greysole). Two research trawlers are operated out of St. John's, the 8 2-foot Investigator II and the 62-foot Marinus. These ships fish in the Newfoundland area to depths of 400 fathoms, which is 200 fathoms deeper than the commercial trawlers fish at pr esent. In 1957 these vessels were engaged chiefly in explo ratory and other researches on groundfish, especially redfi sh, haddock, and cod. Three ships were operated under charter in 1957, the S andy Point for explorations and researches on giant scall ops, the Fortune Breeze on shrimp, and the Matthew II on he rring, with financial support from the Industrial Devel Dpment Service of the Department of Fisheries. Technicians of the groundfish investigations work at St . John's and Burin throughout the year, at Bonavista throu 1-hout the fishing season, and at other ports which are centr as of a fishery. In addition to accounts of catch, fishing effort and landing statistics in Newfoundland groundfish fisheries, which are the primary concern of the preparers of this report, abstracts of work by Dr. W. Templeman on haddock and redfish, Mr. E. J. Sandeman on redfish, Mr. V. M. Hodder on haddock, Mr. T. K. Pitt on American plaice, and Mr. H. J. Squires on scallops and shrimp have been used. Full accounts of their investigations originally appeared in the Report of the Biological Station, St. John's, Newfoundland, 1957-1958. We have worked closely with the Economics Branch, Department of Fisheries (Newfoundland Area) in the collection and compilation of statistics of landings of groundfish in Newfoundland. The report is compiled primarily for distribution to fishermen, fish plant managers, plant operators, etc. of the Newfoundland fishing industry who have assisted us in our work in many ways throughout the year.
A. M. Fleming Marjorie E. Prouse
The cod- trap fishery in the St. John's area, 1957
Cod are fished by St. John's fishermen generally in the coastal ar ea extending from Torbay Point in the north to North Head of Petty Harbour in the south. That part of the region lying b tween Sugar Loaf Head and North Head makes up the St. John's area and inside these limits are situated the principal cod- :rap berths. These berths must be drawn for annually by th St. John's cod-trap fishermen under the super- vision of a fishermen's cod-trap committee. In addition to these "drawn berths" there are other positions where cod traps may be set and these are generally known as ''pick-up" berths. Many of these are situated in the Torbay to Logy Bay area to the north of St. John's. The map shows the area and the location of the principal trap berths. Traps in the St. John's area are generally set at depths from 10 to 15 fathoms, with depths in parts of some berths as shallow as 7 fathoms- and as deep as 18 fathoms. Generally the traps are set from the shore with the leader extending from shoal water close to shore, but in some localities such as Blackhead Bay and especia lly Cape Spear Bay, suitable depths exist for setting traps farther offshore. By regulation, cod traps must be set at least 80 fathoms apart. In some cases, such as in Cape Spear Bay where this is not possible, some traps are set closer to ether as agreed upon by the local trap-berth committee. A gen eral description of 22 cod traps in use by St. John's fisherme n in the 1957 fishery is set out in Table I. In all approximate ly 40 traps were used during most of the fishery.
52' 46 45' 44' 43' 42' 41' 40' 311' 36' 37' 36' 35'
I 40'
- .3 4: ..•1 ! 1 • f',7!7 ,SP‘'
REOCLIFF e' • p I PRINCIPAL. TRAP BERTHS .■ ST. JOHN'S AREA ■ \ LOGY BAY 43„T DIVERS -64 , • ISLAND ROCK 1 PARLOUR ROBIN HOOD BAY „s. ■ NO.I SUGARLOA I NO 2 SUGARLOA I SUGARLOAF H 37. NO 3 SUGARLOA I NO. 4 SUGARLOA I , • NO. 41/2 SUGAR I .OAF ROBIN HOOD \ , CUCKOLD COVE ; BAY CUCKOLD COVE FRESHWATER BA Y If' GUNNERY POINT SMALL P 1 3 6 SWIL CS HEAD KELPY ROCK PIGEON COVE FRESHWATER P01 NT DEADMAN'S BAY • ISLAND ROCK SLEEPY COVE 35 PEGGY'S LEG STRAWBERRY BLACKHEAD BAY FL/SKOLD COVE NO. 1 CHAPEL NW. CHAPEL ', • WEST CHAPEL 14 , 16 NORTH SLY BOOT S 1+ 0. _ / 34• SLY BOOTS BOTTLE COVE 1 DRIBBLING BROO ct,P TRUE BLUE POIN 1 SPANISH GULCH L BULL COVE CAPE SPEAR BAY TEMPERATURE MURPHY'S GULCH NO. I CAPE BAr 44 ® • a STATION: NO. 2 CAPE BAr ip• NO. 3 CAPE BAr NO 4 CAPE BAr k NO 5 CAPE BAY q A e . #1.! 4_0' ... i ' • ` NO 6 CAPE BAY b I. NO. 7 CAPE BAY b - A;D •7" -- :-; 'CAP E SP''ir cr ',„,4 NO. 8 CAPE 8 Ar 0 1 - . ? ' .4 NO. 9 CAPE BAY l, BL AC' " alp° 1 • " 13 ' '‘.1' NO. 10 CAPE BAY HD. 0-11 , 1 *3 3. / I lot ` 11'' '' NO. 1 I CAPE BAY r NO. 12 CAPE BAY NO. 13 CAPE BAY Coa.t1m0 NO. 14 CAPE BAY 5 loth NO. IS CAPE BAY COE. le BROAD COVE ' 31' 10 loth re te CAPE SPEAR TO NORTH HEAD 5 lath LIGHTHOUSE 20 loth NO. 5 BROAD CO VE 30 Path I NO. 4 BROAD CO VE 50 loth JONES COVE UPPER POINT, BR DAD COVE 90 loth 47. BIG JONES COVE 100 loth 1 •7. fo'I LITTLE JONES COVE -liBULGERS COVE BULGERS i „ 30' COVE ,, NO. 2 BASKET 4 r NO. I BASKET 0BASKET2 COVE MAD COVE 170, l'A. i NAUTICAL MILES -r s, MAD COVE ) tfftff POS TIONS OF TRAP BERTHS , , a-,,„„,„,,,,,...,.....„ a.‘„...... ,—;,..,—ia,a,...... ,,,,...... , ‘ 29 44' 45' •4' 43' 42' 41' 52. 39' 38' 37' 3c' 3f ' 40'
Table 1. A description of a number of cod traps used by St. John's fishermen in 1957.
TRAP LEADER Size Size of Mesh Mesh Size Depth around Front Sides Back Length Depth size of twine fath. fath. in. in. in. fath. fath. in. cotton 10 66 10 8-10 4 85 5-9 10 18 thread 12 72 10 8-10 4 90 6-12 10 18 thread
10 64 10 10 4 45 10 10 18 thread
7 66 10 5-10 4 72 6-7 10 18 thread 11 66 10 5-10 4 30 6-11 10 18 thread 102 65 10 10 4 90 10A 10 18 thread 12 70 10 10 4 60 12 10 18 thread 14 65 10 10 4 60 14 10 18 thread 12 63 10 10 4 40 10-11 1 10 18 thread
12 63 10 10 4 40 8-11A 10 18 thread
14 80 10 6-8-10 4 45 10 10 18 thread 14 70 10 4-7-10 4 70 14 10 18 thread
94 60 10 4-7-10 4 75 q- 10 18 thread 104 55 8 4 4 80 8-10 8 15 thread 11 60 8 4 4 50 11 8 15 thread 10 60 8-10 5-8 4 60 10 9 18 thread
8 45 8 5-8 4 60 8 10 18 thread 9 60 9i 4i 4 80 P 9 18 thread 10 70 9 4 -4 4i 50 9 9 18 thread 132 78 10 10 4 35 13 10 18 thread 12 64 10 5-8 4 78 6-12 10 18 thread
10 64 10 5-8 4 49 6-10 10 18 thread Average 11 65 9 72 4 61 10 92 18 thread Range 7-14 45-80 8-10 4-10 4-41-- 30-90 5-14 8-10 15-18 • -3 -
The fishery for cod in the St. John's area in 1957 began in early June and lasted until about the middle of December. Cod traps were used from late in June up till the end of August. During this period about eight million pounds (head-on, gutted weight) of cod were landed, half of which was caught by the cod traps set in "drawn berths", the remainder by cod traps in ''pick- up" berths, by handlines, and line trawls (See Figure I). A large proportion of the fish landed was sold head-on, gutted to a fresh fish filleting plant, some was sold fresh, split to a salt fish plant, and some to fresh fish stores and householders. Information on the catches made in particular trap berths was obtained through the co-operation of trap fishermen who consented to keep records of their catches. The trap fishery during 1957 was not considered to be generally successful in the St. John's area and many crews landed very small quantities of fish. Catches were low in June, averag- ing about 1,200 to 1,300 lb. in a haul but improved in the first half of July with average hauls being around 4,000 lb., and traps yielding on the average about 6,500 lb. per day. During the latter two weeks in July average catches decreased considerably to around 3,000 lb. per haul, with traps averaging only about 4,700 to 4,800 lb. per day. Some berths yielded such poor results that traps were removed from them altogether and by the middle of August considerably fewer traps were fishing. In this period, though the total landed was not great, traps still fishing aver- aged much larger hauls than earlier in the season (Figure I).
4.
2--
Total quantity of cod landed by shore fishery, and quantity land d from cod traps in drawl .' berths. (Lb., head-On, putted) St. John's, June-August, 1957.
1 NS IO iL MIL
0
ti 764.0 6 64.75 Average cat ch of cod per trap per day fis hed. (Lb., headon, gutted) Cr) 4820 4.675 2 0 H 1 1465
480. Average catch of cod per hau 4165 ( Lb., head-km, gutted)
2980129501
12 75 June June July July Aug. Aug. Sept.Sept. Oct. Oct. Nov. Nov. 1-15 16.-30 1-15 16-30 1-15 16-30 1-15 16-30 1-15 16-30 1-15 16-30 Figure 1. Total quantity of cod landed by the shore fishery for half- monthly periods, June to November, 1957, and amount landed from cod traps in drawn berths during half-monthly periods, June to August, 1957 at St. John's. Also, the average amount of cod caught by trap per day fished and per haul during half-monthly periods, June to August, 1957. -5-
Cod-trap crews consisted mostly of 5 men though one crew had only 2 and some 6 and 7 men.. The general practice was to haul traps twice a day; sometimes traps were hauled three times a day. Most hauls were made in the morning between 5 and 7 A.M., Daylight Saving Time. Again, in the afternoon between 1 and 4 P.M. (D.S.T.) most traps were hauled. Few hauls were made at other periods in the day as is shown in Figure 2. In the period from 6 to 10 A.M. the best average catches were made (Figure 2 ) averaging about 4,300 lb. for a haul. At other periods average c atches were lower, with the average after 6 P.M. being very low, 1,300 lb. Measurements were obtained throughout the trapping season of the length of fish when they were landed.. Lengths recorded were from the tip of the nose to the middle of the fork of the to il. In Figure 3 is shown a comparison of numbers of various s izes of cod caught in traps in the St. John's area at half-mont hly periods throughout the season. In the July 1-15 period we have calculated that about 326,000 cod weighing a total of about 1,357,000 lb. (head-on, gutted weight) were landed from the "drawn berths". Of these, about 15% were of the smaller sizes 15 to 21 inches in length, 7017 were 23 to 28 inches long, and about 15% were 29 inches and larger..
From July 16 - 31 it is estimated that 283,000 fish weighing 1,037,000 lb. were landed from "drawn berths". Of these about 35% were small, 15 to 21 inches in length, indicating that smaller f ish were more abundant in trapping areas during this period th an earlier in July. Fish from 23 to 28 inches in length made up 5 7% of the landings, and 8% were 29 inches and larger.
- 6 -
Ft I 11111111 1
- 30 29 PERCENT OF HAULS MADE AT DIFFERL7T TIAES OF DAY -25
NT 20 E
15 PERC l3. 10
- 5 2 2 • / 1 1 1 -i--- 1 1 - 456 7 8 9 16 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A.M. P.M. DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
AVERAGE CA TCH OF COD PER HAUL AT DIFFERENT TRIES OF DAY
3200 4300 3600 3500 LB. LB. LB. 1300 LB. LB.
UP To 6 TO 10 A.A. 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. TO AFTER 6 A.M. 2 P.M. 6 P.M. 6 P.M.
Figure 2. Number of hauls and average catch of cod per haul at different times of day for drawn berths St. John's, June to August, 1957. Figure 3. A comparison of numbers of various sizes of cod caught by traps in drawn berths in half-monthly periods, July to August, 1257 at St. John's
THOUSANDS OF FISH . 1 20 L fiD Ft0 20 40 60 FO 20 JULY ;JULY: fl AUG. f AUG. 1-15 1.6 3 1 1-1 5 16-31 I
7-1 L _J
Ll rm 1
-1 24 4 ...... t 27-1-
29 I 1
30-2-- ......
THONI Total 32 c;:t. ...... Total Ii Total (SE 326,000 fih 23,00Q fish h [1 Total 215,000 ft sh 91,000 ,7_ ) cy 4_, weighing weighing t, 33 • ...... weighinc, i fish t 1,037,000 lb. 0 P0 1 ”7,000 lb. ,000 lb • Iveipthin ...... 7.77777.1 311,000 . 1 41 ii lb. LENGTH ii • - 8 -
Percent of fish. at each length 14. 8 12 16 4 8 12 16
1612""-44 iii
18 4 ".4
191 •
3 ......
...... ,...... -1_,.. _... .....,... 32 -,.-,--....,...... ,...:„....-.,,,...:5- „...3 10 FATHOM 17 FATHOM DEPTH DEPTH
. ; ...... . ---:.":7;•
5
Figure 4. A comparison of the percent of cod of different lengths caught by traps in 10-fathom and 17-fathom depths, June to August, 1957 at St. John's.
- 9 -
From August 1-15 about 215,000 fish weighing 809,000 lb. were landed from "drawn berths". Of these fish, 40'70 were 15 to 21 inches in length, 504 were 23 to 2E inches in length, and 10% were larger. Finally, in the latter half of August about 91,000 fish weighing 311,000 lb. were landed from 'drawn berths' with about 47% bein ? 15 to 21 inches long, 45' 23 to 28 inches, and 84 larger. If we consider actual numbers of fish, the measurements obtained show that most small fish were landed during the latter half of July and the first half of August. It seemsthat although many of he larger fish move away from shore after the capelin leave th smaller ones remain inshore for a longer period. In Figure 4 a comparison is made of the percent of cod of diffe rent lengths caught by trap in 10-fathom and 17-fathom depths f rom June to August, 1957. Many more fish of smaller sizes we re taken from the shallow-water berths than in the deeper-w ater berths. Over 40% of the fish in 10 fathoms were under 22 inches, while in 17 fathoms only 30(70 were less than 22 inche s, This again shows that the younger and smaller fish are gene rally closer to shore in shallow water in greater numbers than the large fish. The general water temperature picture off the east coast of Newfoundland has been widely discussed during the past few year s, and is fairly well known. In spring, summer and autumn t he landward portion of the cold Labrador current flowing southwar I along the east coast is present as a cold, middle layer - 10 - of water with temperatures below 00C. (320F.) which are too cold for cod. Near shore, at shallow depths, the surface waters are warmer and temperatures are suitable for cod. It is in this warmer, shallow water that the inshore fishery is carried on using cod traps, handlines and line trawls hauled by hand, To obtain a year-round temperature picture in the St. John's area, temperatures are taken monthly at various depths from surface to bottom at a temperature station off Cape Spear
(see accompanying map). In Figure 5 the average year-round picture is shown, based on observations between 1947 and 1953. Most of the inshore fishery occurs in water of temperatures above zero degrees on the Centigrade scale, and possibly the best fishing at temperatures between 00 and 2 0 C. In Figure 5 the temperatures most suitable for success- ful cod fishing have been pointed out so that the change in depth with season can be seen. In the winter, and up to March, temperatures right from surface to bottom are mainly below 00C. and are too cold for cod. At this time cod have retreated to warmer, deeper water off the northern part of the Grand. Bank, the nearest deep water to the St. John's area remaining warm throughout the winter. There they spend the winter and early spring and spawn in April and May. After this large numbers of cod, particularly the smaller sizes, pass up through the cold, middle layer of water to the surface layer which is now being warmed by the sun. At this time capelin are moving in across the northwestern Grand Bank area in the surface layers, moving toward shore where they spawn on the beaches or in shallow water. • • • • • • . 5-4 0 0 P4 0) C.> 03 0 ;7-4 ;
10
2 • Cn 0 3 °1 0. 4-) L.0 qj
50 ...... 0• ' e-C 6 Below 4-) -10 -1°C. -a. 70 CI) go ?ot
- Bottom (96) Figure 5. Average monthly water temperatures at various depths at the station off Cape Spear. Averages are for the years 1947 to 1953, temperatures in degrees Centigrade. (Figure copied from "The Bonavista Longlining Experiment, 1950-1953" by Wilfred Templeman and A. M. Fleming, 1956.)
The cod begin feeding on capelin and pursue them right to shore in the surface layer which since April and May has become warmed by the sun. These cod make up the schools or stocks which are fished by the cod traps, handlines and line trawls inshore. By June and July suitable temperatures for cod may be found usually in the 10- to 20-fathom range in which the traps are set. As summer warming continues the surface waters become warmer and warmer, and suitable cod temperatures are found deeper and deeper. By August, usually, temperatures in the inshore trapping areas are too warm for cod, and as a result the cod move deeper, out of the range of the traps. - 12 -
Naturally, the temperature conditions are not exactly the same year after year. The warming of the water below the surface layer is a slow process. Waves and tides mix the sur- face waters wi .th the underlying water and as the surface layers become warmer and more stable, heavier storms are needed to mix the surface layers with those below. In occassional years, when no spring and summer storms occur to mix the water, temperatures suitable for cod remain close to the surface for a longer period. This occurred in 1957, and temperatures where cod could be caught were very close to the surface with extremely cold water under- neath. This cold water, resulting from the previous cold winter, covered even shallow depths close to shore so that many of the traps set in d eeper berths were in this ice-cold water, where very few cod could be expected to stay for any length of time. Because of thi s only those cod which came close to shore in the very shallow, surface layer were available to traps and many berths, especi ally the deeper ones, did not yield good results throughout: the fishery. By the middle of August, however, sufficient mixing had occurred to warm the water down to the depths of even the deepest trap berths and for a short period in August traps which were still operating obtained some fairly large catches. Usually, by August, temperatures which are best for successful cod fishing are found around 20 to 30 fathoms and following, this with the more severe autumn storms mixing the water deeply the temperatures most suited to cod are deeper, from 40 to 50, then 50 to 60 fathoms. Cod at these depths are then avail able on the trawling grounds. In colder years, as in 1957, the water does not become warmed at these depths until much later , so that, in September, when good line trawling is to be expe cted on the 40 to 50 fathom grounds, catches are poor. - 14 -
The cod fishery at Bonavista, 1957 Inshore fishery by traps, handlines and line trawls
The cod fishery at Bonavista in 1957 began in the first week in June with the handliners contributing the bulk of the landings (Fig. 1). At this time the cod are moving in to the coast in the surface layers in pursuit of the capelin, which come to the beaches and spawn in late June in the area. Handlining yields good results for a period until, when the cod are close to shore gorging themselves on capelin, they do not take bait readily but usually lie close to the bottom in shallower water for several days until the large amounts of capelin in their stomachs are digested. This occurred in the first part of July and resulted in a drop in the handline catch. Following the digestion of the capelin the cod apparently move again in search of food and are once again available to the handline fishery which reached its peak in Augus t . While the cod are close inshore in shallow water the schools are available to the traps which are set in depths down to about 15 fathoms. Thus, during July the trap fishery reached its maximum production, with average daily catches per boat around 4,000 lb. Following this the trap fishery decreased rapidly as fish moved out of the range of depths where trap fishery is possible. The handlining boats averaged close to 1,900 lb. per day from the beginning of the fishery up to September. By September usually the colder water below the warm surface layer has been warmed sufficiently for cod to move deeper, beyond the depths of the handlining grounds around the shoals, and handline fishery declines. In 1957, because of the large volume of cold water below the warm surface layer, cod remained available in quantity on the handlining grounds somewhat later than usual and were apparently not able to reach the deeper (50 to 70 fathom) line-trawling grounds in quantity before autumn storms had forced many boats to discontinue the fishery. As a result the fall fishery using line trawls contributed little to the total landings, actually only about 2%, whereas the handline fishery landed about 50% of the cod, and the trap and longline fishery each about 24%. Since the fresh- fish plant has not the capacity to handle each daily total landing by all boats, during the peak of the fishery a large portion of the catch is salted by the fishermen (Fig. 1). Analysis of the effort by different gears shows that longlining gives the greatest average yield per day's fishing, from 6,000 to 8,000 lb. per boat on the offshore grounds until early September and a decrease to about 2,000 to 3,000 lb. per boat in the autumn trips to the inshore
- 1 5 -
Catch per boat per day
Longline ,/ Trap
Handline
I L- "-j." "."*" j
Catch by different gears (inshore) H
015 ro Handline z 0 410
0 0 Q) 5r Linetrawl
N Total catch all boats and - 3 catch by longliners
Salted ---
ns Fresh lio l Mi
--L 1 2 3 4- 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
Fi mur 1. The catch of cod (head-on, gutted weight) in the commercial fishery at Bonavista, 1957 (fortnightly). - 16 -
grounds. (The lower yield on offshore grounds in July was apparently due to a period when only poor quality squid bait was available for use.)
Longlining Following the successful longlining experiments at Bonavista in 1950 and 1951 conducted by the Fisheries Research Board of Canada through its Biological Station at St. John's, a commercial longline fishery was established at Bonavista in 1952 and has continued year after year. Figure 2 ! summarizes results of the Bonavista commercial longlir le fishery since 1952. Changes have taken place in the fleet , through the years. In the beginning many of the boats were schooner-type and not entirely suitable for longlining wit ,h a mechanical hauler. These have been retired finally fr 'om the fishery in the area and the 13 boats comprising the 195 ;7 fleet are much more suitable and better equipped for longllining than most boats in previous years.
Fishing began in 1957 on June 18 and continued through till Octot ■ er. Trips were of one day's duration. However, from Octc )ber 21 up to October 28, when the last trip was made, stc ■ rmy weather kept most boats from fishing and brought the SE ason to a close somewhat earlier than was anticipated. Dun i ng the peak of the inshore fishery landings by longliners werE ! somewhat restricted in order for the fish plant to accommod ate as many as possible of the small-boat men fishing with t raps, handlines, and line trawls hauled by hand. Most of the fishing up to the end of August is on the deep-water gro unds 15 to 20 miles offshore, where the yield is considera bly higher than inshore. In the autumn period, when fish are found in quantity on suitable longlining inshore grounds, and when uncertain weather reduces the number of days when offsh ore fishing is possible, the longliners fish closer to sho re.
From 195 2 to 1955 for trips made to the offshore grounds the averag e catch of cod (head-on, gutted weight) per 50-fathom line (op proximately 50 hooks) amounted to just over 100 lb., with a so mewhat smaller average in 1956. In 1957 the average catch of cod per line, amounting to only 84 lb., was the lowest sin ce longline fishing began in the area. Catches from inshore grounds are invariably smaller than from offshore with average catches of cod per line between 50 and 70 lb. The 1957 average catch per line for inshore fishing tr ips was the lowest since the beginning of the fishery in 195 2 .
- 17-
20 L- Number of boats
10
Number of trips
Catch per line (lb.)
75 'Offshore 50 " Inshore 2 5
Catch per trip - (thousands of pounds) 8 I- • \ Offshore 6 -
4 - 2 - Inshore
Total catch (millions of pounds) 2
1
i I 1 1 1 1 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 Year Fi-nre 2. Catch and effort in the com- mercial longline fishery for cod (head-on, gutted weight), Bonavista. A comparison of yearly average catches per trip on inshore and offshore grounds indicates clearly the higher yield from t he offshore grounds. The offshore average shows a steady inc rease from just over 6,000 lb. of cod per trip in 1952 to o ver 8,000 lb. in 1956; in 1957 the average dropped to 6,600 lb. The yearly average for inshore trips has always been 3,000 o r 4,000 lb. less than for the offshore trips. The inshore average increased to nearly 5,000 lb. in 1955 from only 2, 200 lb. in 1952, but showed a decrease again in 1956 and 195 7. It is as yet too early to say whether or not the longline fis hery has passed the peak of production, though there are so ne inducations that this may be so. When the fishery bega n in 1952 the deep-water stocks were of fish which had no t been exploited previously by a fishery and the only boats f ishing them until 1956 were the longliners from Bonavista. In 1956 a few large otter-trawlers of European nations fish ing the northwest Atlantic area began fishing the deep-wat sr longlining grounds. In 1957 a large number of these traI Arlers were fishing the deep-water grounds and, in addition, a fleet of large longliners from the Faroe Islands fished in th 9 area, and another fleet of longliners from Norway fishe grounds just to the north. As a result, whereas, up until 195 5, practically the only fish caught on these grounds were landed by the Bonavista longlining fleet, in 1957 the Bon, avista landings certainly were only a small fraction of the total cod taken. Th a 1956-57 winter was extremely cold and the stratificatic )n of the water in the Bonavista area was extremely pr( )nounced, with temperatures below 00G. at shallow depths even : Ln August. Because of this, inshore fish remained in the shall( )11. water longer and were not available in quantity on the inshol -e grounds used by the longliners in September and October. This apparently accounts for the low 1957 inshore aver, age. - 19 -
Researches on species caught primarily offshore Haddock Haddock survey. During the otter trawling survey for haddock by the Investigator II in May and June, 1957, it was found that the haddock had spread northward from their winter concentrations in the deeper waters of the southwest slope of the Grand Bank and were over most of the southern half of the bank. They were not plentiful in any one area. On the Grand Bank, as a whole, fair quantities of haddock appeared to be present. Eight-year-old fish (the 1949 year- class) still made up a large part of the catch, and 4-year- old fish, some 5-year-olds, and others over A years old made up the remainder of the haddock of commercial size. There were very few fish of 3, 6, and 7 years of age, but there was evidence of moderate numbers of 1- and 2-year-old fish. On St. Pierre Bank there were very few of the once very large 1949 year-class (8-year-old fish in 1957). There was evidence of only a few 2-year-old fish, and scarcely any fish from 3 to 7 years old. There has been no movement to St. Pierre Bank of 4- and 5-year-old fish from the Grand Bank where they were found in fairly large numbers. From the numbers of 1-year-old fish taken in deep water at the western edge of St. Pierre Bank, it would seem that this group may be abundant, but this will be more definitely known after they have grown another year. If there is no movement of haddock to St. Pierre Bank from the Grand Bank, there is at present no evidence that there will be a haddock population available for sustained commercial fishing on St. Pierre Bank for at least three years. Sound-producing muscles in the haddock swim-bladder. In the haddock the swim-bladder or "sound" is located in the gut cavity of the fish, covering the back bone ("sound bone") in this area. The sound-producing muscles are long, somewhat kidney-shaped, and situated partially underneath and at the front of the swim-bladder. The size of these muscles in mature male haddock at spawning time in May and June is nearly twice as great as in October and November, but in the mature females and immature males and females these muscles are much smaller and do not differ in size with season. It is thought that these muscles are used by the male haddock for making sounds mainly during spawning season, and may provide a rallying sound to bring together spawning schools. It is possible that, with suitable electronic equipment, the sounds produced by these male haddock at spawning time could be an aid in locating and identifying schools of adult haddock. Sizes of haddock landed in Newfoundland by commercial otter trawlers. During 1957 the main fishery for haddock by Newfoundland otter trawlers was on the southwestern edge of - 20 -
the Grand Bank (ICNAF Subdivision 30); a smaller amount of fishing was fu rther south and around the Southeast Shoal (ICNAF Subdivi sion 3N). There was scarcely any fishing in the St. Pierre Bank area (ICNAF Subdivision 3P). Proc essing plants accepted fish down to about 13 inches in leng th; the majority of the fish were landed in the round cond ition. On the southwest edge of the Grand Bank fishing was mainly in 45 to 65 fathoms. Lengths of fish landed from this area were mostly between 13 and 20 inches in length (Fig. 1). In the period January to March the length distri- bution shows one group of fish with greatest numbers around 15 in. in length, another group with greatest numbers around 162 in. in length. In the April-June period these two major length groups can still be distinguished, but during the October-December period, when most of the landed fish were from 14 to 20 in. in length, only one group can be seen, with the greatest numbers 17 in. long. Evidence of a group of smaller fish with greatest numbers about 10 in. long can be seen in the landings from January to June. In 1956 most of the fish landed were from 13 to 20 in. in length also. However, there is only one major length group obvious, with greatest numbers about 162 to 17 in. long. In 1957, from January to June, there were far more fish 15 in. in length in the landings than in 1956. Fishing in Subdivision 3N was generally in shallow water. Fish landed in the July-September period were mostly between 13 and 20 in. long, with two major length groups obvious, one with greatest numbers 15 in. long, another with greatest numbers 18 in. long. From October to December a single group of fish can be seen, with greatest numbers around 16 in. in length. Relatively more haddock larger than 15 in. were landed in 1957 than in the previous year. Weights of haddock. The average round weights of fish at various lengths from Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank are shown in Table I. To find out if there was any variation in the weight from season to season, the periods February- April, May-July, August-October, November-January were chosen since the May-July period would include the time when spawning takes place, and also the time when fish are recovering from the effects of spawning. Information for 1955, 1956, and 1957 has been combined. It c an be seen that the changes in weight at any size from seas on to season are not large. The Grand Bank
- 21 -
Oct.-Dec. 1,814 fish, 2,055 fish
Ja n. r. 9, 834 fish, 1956 19, 099 fish, 1957
9.5
os. .1. A.. 1. 'I •••
e- - April-June 5,652 fish, 1956 12,348 fish, 1957 5 957
0 --- .4,41k4; Oct.-Dec. 10 1957 4,084 fish, 1956 788 fish, 1957 5
1 0 12 14 16 18 20 22 2L 26 Length (inches) Figure 1. Sizes of haddock landed by commercial trawlers, 1956 and 1957. - 22 -
Table I. Average weight of haddock in various periods in the year. (No average for less than 5 fish at any size.)
Average round weight Grand Bank St. Pierre Bank Area Feb.- May- Aug.- Nov.- Feb.- May- Aug.- Nov.- Length Apr. Jul. Oct. Jan. Apr. Jul. Oct. Jan. in. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. 12.6 0.72 13.0 0.63 0.76 0.77 13.4 0.80 0.80 0.83 13.8 0.87 0.85 0.88 0.91 14.2 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.98 14.6 1.01 1.01 1.08 1.04 1.05 15.0 1.09 1.09 1.13 1.14 1.23 15.3 1.17 1.17 1.23 1.22 1.26 15.7 1.26 1.28 1.35 1.30 1.34 1.47 16.1 1.36 1.31 1.44 1.41 1.45 1.51 1.52 16.5 1.46 1.45 1.53 1.51 1.53 1.60 1.54 16.9 1.55 1.58 1.60 1.63 1.63 1.79 1.77 1.71 17.3 1.68 1.66 1.67 1.73 1.77 1.95 1.91 1.73 17.7 1.78 1.80 1.85 1.84 1.89 2.03 2.17 II,* 18.1 1.92 1.94 1.98 1,96 2.01 2.04 2.15 2.00 18.5 2.05 2.05 2.08 2.10 2.14 2.32 2.30 18.9 2.20 2.18 2.17 2.27 2.30 2.49 2.54 19.3 2.31 2.30 2.27 2.40 2.53 2.64 19.7 2.44 2.50 2.51 2.59 2.58 20.1 2.71 2.72 2.71 2.75 2.85 20.5 2.84 2.93 2.93 3.02 20.9 3.07 2.98 3.16 3.20 21.3 3.35 3.13 3.36 3.48 21.7 3.30 ... 4.00 3 0 82 22.0 3.51 3.38 3.96 3.80 22.4 ... 3.65 ... 3.88 22.8 3.79 ... 4.33 4.30 23.2 ...... 23.6 ...... 24.0 ...... 24.4 5.25 4.97 No. of fish 2,413 1,034 260 1,983 1,315 53 129 41 - 2 3 haddock were, on the average, slightly heavier in the August- October and November-January periods than earlier in the year. For St. Pierre Bank it seems likely that the fish are heaviest in the August-October period. St. Pierre Bank haddock are somewhat heavier than Grand Bank haddock of the same size.
Redfish Deep- 1 qater surveys and distribution of the two types of redfisl a. The Investigator II carried out deep- water exploratic )ns for redfish between 100 to 150 and 400 fathoms northea! 3t of the Grand Bank and south of Green Bank. In each of thes( D areas a few marinus-type redfish, yellowish, small-eyed, rou/ ad-chinned, were found at the shallower depths but almost all the redfish, including all at the greatest depths were of I the deep-water mentella type, bright red, large- eyed, and point(ed-chinned. The greatest redfish abundance was at 200 fath( )ms northeast of the Grand Bank and at 170 to 200 fathoms soul :h. of Green Bank. Occasional redfish were recorded to 380 fathoms. From a small commercial catch of 3,000 lb. of rec 'fish during a cod trip by the otter trawler Blue Spray in tl le southern part of the Halibut Channel between St. Pierre Bank and Green Bank in 88 to 92 fathoms, 543 redfish were exe mined,m of which 14% were of the marinus type and the remaind( Dr of the mentella type. In an exploratory otter-trawling (cruise between 100 and 180 fathoms, in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence off Port Saunders at the northern part of the Newl 'oundland west coast and off Cape St. George farther south, r ao marinus-type redfish were found; all were mentella type. On a later cruise off Cape Anguille at the Cabot Strait enI ;ranee to the Gulf in redfish drags in depths from 100 to 250 fathoms, of 1,900 redfish only 2 at 120 fathoms were marinus ty )e, the remainder were mentella type. Redfi 3h were examined from various depths east of Hamilton Inlet EBank. At 158 fathoms, of 12 redfish 9 were marinus type, oron doubtful, and 2 mentella type. At 170 to 172 fathoms 3 VE:ry large redfish were marinus type and 17 smaller redfish were mentella type, at 182 to 186 fathoms all 49 redfish vwere mentella type. At 200, 250, and 300 fathoms all were mentella type. Redfish were most abundant at 250 to 300 fe Ithoms. Attempts at tagging redfish from deep water. During a trip of the research vessel Marinus to Hermitage Bay in June, 1957, a further attempt was made at tagging redfish. The same cage was used to release the fish near the bottom as was used in 1956 (See Circular No. 4, August, 1957). - 24 -
Two hundred and seventy-one fish were tagged in Hermitage Bay. These were caught in 130 to 150 fathoms, a coloured disc tag attached just in front of the first spine of the back fin, and then released at a depth of 110 to 115 fathoms. Two of these tagged fish have been recovered to date. One was caught by a commercial dragger fishing adjacent to the Marinus; this fish was captured about three hours after being tagged and in the words of the skipper of the dragger was "alive and lustyl. The second was caught by the same dragger, but we have no definite information with regard to the date of recapture. It seems likely that this fish had spent at least a week between tagging and recapture. Thirty-two fish were tagged in the shallower water of the neighbouring 3onnaigre Bay (99 to 103 fath.), and were released at about 80 fathoms. Two of these tagged fish were recovered by M.V. Ma rinus. One, which was recovered about three hours after to 7ging, was alive and appeared to have suffered no ill effe cts due to its ordeal. The other, how- ever, was dead. Red flesh in redfish. The occurrence of occasional redfish having red-coloured flesh has received some attention during 1957. In June we received from Mr. C. M. Blackwood of the Department of Fisheries, Fish Inspection Laboratory at St. John's the fillets of a redfish which, instead of the normal whitish colour, possessed ''red" flesh. This fish had been brought to the laboratory from Ramea by the Fisheries Officer in the area. The fillet was salmon pink in colour and resembled that of a salmon or sea trout. The colour was not in any one particular part of the fillet, but was evenly spread throughout the entire flesh. In August, 1957, a further four salmon-pink fillets were received from the fresh fish plant at Isle aux Morts. These had been landed by the trawler Zebu and had been taken in the eastern part of the Channel north of Anticosti Island at 165 fathoms. From the appearance of the skin it was concluded that the redfish were of the mentella type. The fillets were similar to the previous fillets from Ramea both in colour and textur e. A questionnaire to Fisheries Officers stationed at the various fresh fish plants around Newfoundland has revealed that it is only very occasionally that such red-coloured fillets are found in redfish. At the same time, it was revealed that cod and haddock with red flesh have been observed on one or two occasions. This unusual occurrence of red flesh in redfish, haddock, and cod is likely due to a pinkish pigment called astaxanthin, which gives the pinkish colour to the flesh of salmon and trout. This pigment also gives the pink colour
- 25 - to shrimp-like animal s which form an important part of the food of marine fishes • When these animals are eaten by the fish the pink pigment normally is deposited in the skin of the fish, and in the redfish, for example, it gives the characteristic red co lour. On some occasions, however, some of this pigment is re tamed in the oils of the flesh and it is then that the red flesh occurs in fish such as redfish, cod, and haddock whic h normally have white flesh. This con- dition does not make the fish less edible.
American plaice (flou nder). Age, growth , and maturity. Age and growth studies have been continued. Male plaice from both St. Mary's Bay and the southern Gran d Bank areas mature sexually at 5 to 11 years and females fro m 11 to 17 years. Male plaice are much slower growing than t he females, and in St. Mary's Bay take 19 to 20 years to rea ch 16 in. in length, whereas the females take only 15 years. Plaice from the southern part of the Grand Bank are much larger than fish of the same age from St. Mary's Bay. Plaice from St. Pierre Bank are somewhat smaller than plaice of the same ag e from the southern Grand Bank, but are larger than plaice of the same age from St. Mary's Bay. On both the southern Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank, 5- and 6-year-old fis h were most plentiful in 1957. This is interesting because f or haddock very few 5 - or 6-year-old fish were found on St . Pierre Bank in 1957, and on the southern Grand Bank, though th ere were fairly large numbers of 5-year- old haddock, there we re very few 6 - year - olds. Plaice spawn earlier than haddock and their eggs and very young stages are distributed more wide ly in the Newfoundland area than the haddock. It is unlik ely that unfavourable surface currents could sweep a complet e year's brood of plaice over depths too great for them to sur vive at the time when they are settling on bottom. -.26-
x 2 5'
S. Grand Bank 20 Cr-
7) 15 w 4 Mary's Bay
FeMale
10
0 , 9 12 15 18 21 24 Age (years) Figure 2. Age-length relationship of plaice from the southern part of the Grand Bank and St. Mary's Bay: - 27 -
Exploratory fishing for scallops and shrimp
Giant scallops Explo/ -atory fishing for scallops was done in the coastal areas 1'1 '0171 Current Island in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence to Trepassey Bay on the south coast of Newfoundland from June to Oci :ober, 1957. The M.V. Sandy Point, 59 feet in length, used a I Agby rig with 5 metal scallop drags for dragging and tried most c )f the probable areas along the coast.. (Fig. 1). On the Newfoundland west coast scallop beds were located at CurrE nat Island, Squid Cove, Hawke Harbour, La Fontaine Point; Wigwam Point and South Arm (Bonne Bay); North Arm, Goose Arm, Penguin Arm, Middle Arm, Frenchman's Head, York Hr. and La/ -k Hr. (Bay of Islands); and East Bay to Fox Island (Port au Port Bay). Areas fished commercially in previous years are York I ir., Lark Hr., and Port au Port Bay. On the southwest coast scallop beds were located at Grey River; Ticl cle Head and Schooner Brook Pt. (Long Hr., Fortune Bay); 131inn Bay Arm, inside Ship Island, north of Bar Haven Island, Come-by-Chance and Ship Hr. (Placentia Bay); and Haricot Point to) Admiral's Beach (St. Mary's Bay). Areas fished or explored pre riously were Schooner Brook Pt., Burin Bay Arm, and North of Bar - Haven Island. Avera4 )_,e meat counts per pound varied from 20 to 37 in the northern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence; from 15 to 63 in Bay of Is Lands, but here the high counts were related to the lateness of development of gonads although it remains to be proven wh(ether the meats would have become heavier when the gonads matu/ -ed in a particular area. Average meat count for Port au Port Bay was 16 per pound; Grey River, 21; Tickle Hd., Long Hr., I 1.2; Burin Bay Arm, 11; inside Ship Island, and north of Bar Hal ren Island, 20; Mussel Pond Cove, 14; and Admiral's Beach, , 10. (Table I).
Limp Exploratory fishing by the Investigator II in the Newfoundland fishing area has shown that catches of the shrimp, Pandalus borealis, of possibly commercial size were available in depths greater than 100 fathoms. In 1957, from July to September, the Danish seiner, Fortune Breeze, was chartered by the Industrial Development Service to fish with a deep-sea shrimp net in Newfoundland waters. (Fig. 2). The area covered, northern Gulf of St. Lawrence to St. Mary's Bay, showed promising quantities of shrimp. Off Port aux Choix to Bay of Islands at depths of 110 to 170 fathoms - 2$ -
56 55 54 52
GIANT SCALLOP PLACOPECTEN MAGELLANICUS CURRENT 1 . MV SANDY POINT, 1957
51 Q 2 TO 10 BUSHELS PER 15 MIN TONING SQUID COVE
At COUNT PER LB. NO. SETS MADE HAWKE BAY (36) ( ONE SAMPLE NO. SETS WITH SCALLOPS g.g LAFONTAINE PT(21)
50
WIGWAM PT.(21) a Current I. Cape St. George s Pt May b Ferrol* Pt. Bonk Hd. t John The Bat HA c Pt. Riche Cope Roy u Grandy Pt SOUTH ARM (I6) d Coasts Hr. m Rose Blanche v Bold Ha NORTH ARM (50 e Martin Pt Burge° w Cope St Maya f North Hd. 0 Francois ■ Cape Pine MIDDLE ARM (45) Port Pass I. Roca •FREOCHMANS 141/ 09) 9 Lithe p y Cope It Bluff Hd. Bari Pt. 49 i Long Pt. Pt. Rosie
NEWFOUNDLAND
COME BY 48 (39) LONG BAR ( 19) • HR HAVEN I. ,SHIP I.
O
(20)— 5 BURIN BAY ARM —47
1 141 3
0 ly 57 56 55 54 53
Giant scallop exploratory fishing by the Sandy Point, June to October, 1957. Divisions of coastline are arbitrary. Number of sets made and the number of sets in which scallops were taken.are shown for each division; and the number of "meats" per pound in each sample is given in parentheses. Table I. Scallops taken in exploratory fishing in Newfoundland coastal areas by the M.V. Sandy Point, June to October, 1957. North Gulf of St. Lawrence to St. Mary's Bay.
Largest Meat amt. of count scallops Date Bottom per taken Area 1957 Depth conditions in 15 min. fath. number bushels W. Current Island July 10 15-28 Coral rock 20 2 Squid Cove July 6 6 - 10 Kelp 37 9 Turr Island July 5 20 Sand & mud 20 1 Port Saunders July 3 5 Rock 36 10 Wigwam Pt. and South Arm June 28 10-20 Sand & shell 19 5 York Harbour June 22 10 Rock 17 8 Lark Harbour June 22 5 Rock & kelp 15 4 Goose Arm North June 21 4-16 Rock 25 2 Goose Arm South June 21 10-15 Sand 42 6 Penguin Arm June 21 20-25 Kelp 51 7 Middle Arm June 21 10-15 Rock 56 3 Bottom North Arm June 26 12 Kelp 3.8 2 North Arm Cove June 26 10 Kelp 63 1/4 Frenchman's Head June 20 12-19 Rock 19 2 Port au Port Bay June 13- 6-10 Sand & mud 16 4 15, 18, July 19 Table I. (cont.)
Largest meat amt. of count scallops Date Bottom per taken Area 1957 Depth conditions lb. in 15 min. fath. number bushels Bay St. George July 22 24 10-15 Sand & mud 38 1/2 Grey River Aug. 10 10 Mud 21 4 Chaleur Bay Aug. 12. 10 Rock & kelp 35 1/2 Great Bay de l'Eau Aug. 21 7-18 Rock & gravel 36 3/16 Tickle Hd., Long Harbour Aug. 20 Sand & mud 42 Schooner Bk. Pt., Long. Hr. Aug. 20 4 Mud 35 3/4 Burin Bay Arm Sept. 2 10-15 Mud & sand 11 2 N. E. Nonsuch Sept. 13 5-8 Mud & kelp 18 1 C. Roger Bay Sept. 11 6-8 Sand & stones 15 1/4 Paradise Sound Sept. 14 4-6 Mud & rock 28 1/2 N. Bar Haven Island Sept, 19 10-26 Coral rock 19 3A Inside Ship Island Sept. 19 7-20 Coral rock 20 3 Come-by-Chance Sept. 21 4-12. Coral rock 15 2 N. Ship Harbour Sept. 26 6-10 Mud & kelp 20 2 Mussel Pond Cove Oct. 14 10-12 Coral rock 14 2 Admiral's Beach and Oct. 14,16 12-15 Sand & coral 10 1 Salmonier Arm rock
- 31 -
56 55 54 53 1 I- T
52
IGOT,R,A1, COMMERCIAL SHRIMP PAAVALUS BOREALIS MV FORTUNE BREEZE, 1957 CATCH IN POUNDS PER ONE HOUR TOWING
O (10
(3 i0 - 39
40 - 79 51
• 80.- 139
O 140 - 205 • NET TORN
NAR3EFIS ARE COtAtri PEP POUND UNSORTED)
53 4
SO
r,NE ear
49
NEWFOUNDLAND
! ST. GrORCES lay 43 0 103 •
.pcsLess s e NORTH 9 r4CHEUX
rt:TRF„f_ 8,1 IA ...... , ARSE '. etA t ,10 '• --...1^ '. SLIM ------;;IG' :' 7:Z' 414:-.1-545 ' A ' . .4 ....*A7V. .' ::"1 '....,. BA1'... 0, 0 () 64.5x IST'ALA.41. sel,...- - e z4
ST PIERRE BANK
_A __ 46 60 59 58 56 55 54 53
Figu re 2. Exploratory fishing for commercial shrimp Pandalus borealis, July to September, 1957. Numbers are counts per pound of whole shrimp unsorted, averaged from a random sample of the catch. - 32 - catches were fr om 100 to 150 lb. per hour towing and with counts per poun d of 50 to 70 shrimp, whole unsorted. Off the southwest coast , particularly near Ramea Islands in depths of 115 to 160 fath oms, somewhat larger shrimp, 40 to 50 to the pound, were tak en. The largest catch, 205 lb. per hour towing, was taken just east of Ramea. In Fortune Bay depths of 110 to 160 fathoms yielded catches of 20 to 130 lb. per hour towing and with counts per pound of 78 to 103. In Bay d'Espoir fair quantities of medium-sized shrimp (92 to the pound) were taken in two se ts. In the Placentia Bay trough catches were poor. Sets nade experimentally in depths less than 100 fathomsyielded small catches of small shrimp (Pandalus borealis) often mixed with other shrimp species. Fish also caught in fair quantities were mostly redfish and greysole in the depths where most of the commercial species of shrimp were taken. -33 -
Groundfish landings in Newfoundland Landings Figure 1 compares the landings of the main commercial species of groundfish in Newfoundland, 1952-1957. Cod have always constituted by far the largest portion of the Newfoundland groundfish landings with the largest production coming from the inshore fisheries of the east and south coasts of Newfoundland (ICNAF Subarea 3). Landings of cod in 1957 totalled approximately the same as in the previous year. Fluctuations in the cod landings are influenced mainly by changes in the inshore cod fishery. Although the early part of the trap fishery in many sections of the coast was poor, it improved with advance of the season and lasted later in August than the previous year. This, together with an extremely successful handline fishery, brought the level of the total inshore fishery up to that of 1956. Whereas the inshore fishery is almost entirely for cod the offshore fishery by otter-trawlers and Danish seiners contributes only a relatively small amount to the cod fishery and is largely a fishery for other species. One of the main species caught is haddock. Haddock are practically all taken in Subarea 3, and landings of this species showed a considerable increase between 1952 and 1956. In 1956 the extremely high total landing resulted from an abundance of small haddock both on St. Pierre and Grand Banks, these being accepted in an ungutted condition by processing plants. In 1957 there was a large drop in landings caused mainly by the disappearance of haddock from St. Pierre Bank and lack of abundance of haddock throughout parts of the year on the Grand Bank. A change in the area of the main redfish fishery since 1952 is obvious. In 1952 and 1953 the greatest portion of the redfish came from the southern edge of the Grand Bank and southwest coast grounds (Subarea 3), with a small portion from the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Subarea 4). From 1954 to 1956 greater amounts were landed from the Gulf area and the Grand Bank fishery declined. The 1957 redfish fishery was much below the fishery for 1956 due to poor fishing in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Landings of plaice were only slightly below those of 1956. Except for 1954, when the total landing of plaice was relatively low, the landings have remained fairly stable from year to year. The total witch flounder landing in 1957 was greater than in 1956. This is due to larger landings by the otter trawlers from the southwest Grand Bank area (Subarea 3). Much of the witch flounder catch by Danish seiners in St. George's
- 34 -
45° 60° 55° 50° 1 1 I r I I \ I ...
60°
1. OUIRPON 2. ST. ANTHONY 2G 3. ENGLEE 4. LA SCIE 5. TWILLINGATE 6. CHANGE ISLANDS 7. JOE BATTS ARM B. SELDOM- COME -Ely 9. VALLEYFIELD 0. GREENSPOND 11. EIONAVISTA 2. CATALINA 3. DILDO 4, HARBOUR GRACE 2 5. HOLYROOD 6. ST. JOHN'S 7. FERMEUSE 2H 8. TREPASSEY 9. ST. MARY'S 20. MERASHEEN 1. BURIN ./ 22. FORTUNE . 2 3. GRAND BANK 24. GAULTOIS 25. RAMEA 55° 26. BURGEO 27, ISLE AUG MOATS \ )HAMILTON, 2B. PORT AUX BASQUES ( INLET 29. PORT AU CHOIX '18ANK/ 30. FORTE Au LABRADOR 2J
Coastline 30 Foth 50 Nth. 100 Foth
1000 Foth. Boundary of ICNAF area Boundary of sub areas BATTLE HR. Boundary of subdivisions c d, (BELLE ISLE" \ BANK ,
QUEBEC 3K / 29
50° 50° 4S , e BONNE - -GULF • --/./ /BAY OF • OF _ANDS ST LAWRENCE 1 4 R NEWFOUNDLAND .• • I ' S1. GEOR
ORPHAN i ' 000 -e BANK', Ii 4T BRADLZ • L/MAGDALbf‘ /0\4 c‘ IS. fj t/0:0. 7ip BANK, BURGEO--$4,E-- ,- 1,\G'i,kt 5 .." •-• ss ! BANK , , c097. .. • ,0V: .23 (FLEMISH CAP( "... ,_.\, `,'MIOUELONI‘ 4 . . „.
,;,-, 1,(•'' IS-- "•ST!PIERRE le • -‘.. / EDWARD IS. ‘ 1 17 E RACE( SYDNEY ' \ '1, ‘:: \ \ I ,S T. PPIERRE I E WE ) T' /1'47 GRAND BANK A_I,N. :, ::::::6‘4.‘,.. ‘ ` .. 1‘ s3 A N K :•; GFIEEN117 11 f C..? 3M , s. 4,4\\ 1 (34; ,•-• : ',...\,,, 1 1 \ ,.. :I...... N K1•...4 !, ....:: ...... ' ELPE -nni i' E. - '... -.-:!/DilEA -\ ‘;\ :.:-.„.._:l -- ..4....N,_,11 . (...•..., 'Oh i ! 45° e,t0 ,fir \ t • ! i ..) ' r""- '•I \ '
' HALIFAX ys. / 7 -, 7 . .., ( SE. ,) 3N ' •' f•-•.:',2‘,..)....' / - \ \ 3 p SHOAL •,(•• 1 -' ...,... L..1 ,...... • 0 A. \ 4 :7 t1,;Y.,) \ \ (... l ‘1X; /1,' - , 4W 5,k,.3,---...:._-....-...), 4V \ . I i ! I _.-- ... \ • 'S . y • • I I I 1 I ‘ N I I 1 I - II I ....r I 45° 65° 60° 55° 50°
- 35 -
Plaice "45 25 )
04 4. • 20 (lb.
H 3 15 n
3 3 io
2 10 ll Mi 1 5
Ti 4 -4- 17i 4 Haddock Witch ;80 t 60 z 6 ,140 14- 20 2
• Redfish Halibut, Wolffish, H 30 Pollock P 7. 02 0 P pi al V ri 3 3 3 3 H iw 3 Fil la' 10 3J —4 1 1 H 4 4 4 4 i Hi Hi i H 52 53 54 55 56 57 53' 54 55 56 57 Figure 1. Landings of principal com- mercial species (round weight) in Newfoundland, 1952-1957. Figures in columns denote portions from ICNAF Subareas 2, 3, and 4.
- 36 - Table I. Otter trawlers and Danish seiners operating from Newfoundland ports (number, crew and gross tonnage).
No. No. Total ships men gross tons
1954
Otter trawlers - 0-50 gross tons 2 10 87 51-150 9r St 6 60 625 151-400 " 11 22 358 5,368
Danish seiners - 0-50 gross tons 4 17 129 51-150 " er 5 24 451
1955
Otter trawlers - 0-50 gross tons 3 16 132 51-150 91 9? 9 75 803 151-400 23 361 5,422
Danish seiners - 0-50 gross tons 5 20 182 51-150 " tt 1 3 60
1956
Otter trawlers - 0-50 gross tons 3 16 132 51-150 ft ft 8 63 677 9? 151 -400 " 22 345 5,203
Danish seiners - 0-50 gross tons 4 18 162 51-150 " tt 1 4 60
1957
Otter trawlers - 0-50 gross tons __ -- -- 51-150 PP ?? 3 26 275 151-400 9? 21 329 5,022
Danish seiners - 0-50 gross tons 3 14 119 51-150 ft it 2 8 114 - 37 -
Bay (Subarea 4) was landed in Nova Scotia and is thus not accounted in figures. Landings of other species such as halibut, wolffish and pollock are small since they are generally caught incidentally during fishing for other, more important species.
Number of fishing boat ;s Each year he number of small boats used in the inshore cod fishery de crease, though there are many hundreds of them still in use all around the coast. In contrast there is a slight increase eachE year in the number of longliners operating on the grow r Lds fairly close to shore. Only a small number of Danish seine , rs (5) operated from Newfoundland ports in 1957. The otter tr awaer fleet was greatest in 1955 but has since decreased, e specially in the smaller tonnage classes, due principally to the , loss or sale of several ships, and the conversion of the smal ler ships to Danish seining (Table 1). Total landings of groundfish in Newfoundland, 1957 (species by ICNAF Subarea)
ICNAF Subarea 2 3 4 Total Cod Light salted, dried (qt1s.-112 lb.) 292,509 74,726 367,235 Heavy salted,_ , green (cwts, _ _ _ _ -112 lb_) A5 , 070 ?II / 1 2F, 510, 250 Fresh, head-on, gutted (lb.) 10 8,998,2 5 4 1,776,206 110,812,011 Fresh, round (lb.) 704,481 704,481 Haddock Fresh, head-on, gutted (lb.) 1,734,669 195,115 1,929,784 Fresh, whole (lb.) 52,362,549 16,196 52,378,745 Redfish cx Fresh, whole (1h.) 7,545,132 8,443,010 15,988,142 Plaice (flounder) Fresh, whole (lb.) 16,659,217 50,973 16,710,190 Witch (greysole) Fresh, whole (lb.) 5,378,347 919,148 6,297,495 Halibut Fresh, head-off, gutted (lb.) 256,235 4,382 260,617 Fresh, head-on, gutted (lb.) 298,025 70,840 368,65 Wolffish (catfish) Fresh, head-on, gutted (lb.) 384,970 5 , 196 390,166 Pollock Fresh, head-on, gutted (lb.) 176,093 3,910 180,003 Hake Fresh, head-on, gutted (lb.) 12,775 2,435 15,210 Total landings of groundfish in Newfoundland, 1957 (Species by months in thousands of pounds)
Month Cod Haddock Redfish Plaice Witch Halibut Wolffish Pollock Hake
Jan. 596 7,826 147 34 613 25 2 6 Feb. 3,578 9,823 225 980 531 18 4 + Mar. 5,902 10,630 496 991 275 75 18 9 Apr. 5,729 11,298 180 11 1,070 223 31 13 May 8,000 7,994 767 475 1,496 157 23 81 -- June 28,577 1,551 1,869 3,278 314 19 43 49 July 155,745 216 2,922 1,972 249 6 77 12 Aug. 125,414 68 3,174 1,703 75 1 99 3 Sept: 36,475 1,013 3,004 : 4.3.455 264 9 65 Oct. 23,747 613 2,149 501 55 21 + Nov. 5,408 1,713 480 1,445 416 18 6 2 5 Dec. 2,466 1,833 575 1,241 493 6 1 4 10 Total 401,637 54,578 15,988 16,710 6,297 612 390 180 15
Weights expressed as follows: Cod, wolffish, pollock, hake - head-on, gutted Haddock, redfish, plaice, witch - whole Halibut - head-off, gutted + indicates amounts less than 1,000 lb. Landings of groundfish in Newfoundland, 1957 (species by ICNAF Subdivision in thousands of pounds)
Subdivision Cod Haddock Redfish Plaice Witch Halibut Wolffish Pollock Hake
2G 1 2H 1,731 2J 19,267
Total 20,999
3K 121,819 3 3 -- 3L 149,009 2 112 8,683 _ 47 1 238 3M 1 -- 2 -- + -- -- 3N 694 3,152 2,699 5,584 660 13 8 + 3 30 6,939 48,064 176 323 4,363 299 15 5 5 3P 56,712 3,122 4,556 2,066 308 224 124 171 5 Total 335,174 54,340 7,545 16,659 5,378 540 385 176 13
4R 45,387 63 3,477 20 900 69 4 1 43 44 a 4,202 + 12 1 + 3 2 4T 27 1 754 6 1 1
4V 6 169 10 30 1 + + -- 4W + 3 + + + + +
Total 45,464 238 8,443 51 919 72 5 4 2 Total All Subareas 401,637 54,578 15,988 16,710 6,297 612 390 180 15
Weights expressed as follows: Cod, wolffish, pollock, hake - head-on, gutted Haddock, redfish, plaice, witch - whole Halibut - head-off, gutted + indicates amounts less than 1,000 lb.
Landings of groundfish in Newfoundland, 1957 (by species, by type of boat, by ICNAF Subarea, in thousands of pounds)
Cod Haddock Redfish Plaice Witch Halibut Wolffish Pollock Hake Inshore boats* Subarea 2 20,999 Subarea 3 322.816 332 72 422 1 191 308 164 ••• - , Subarea 4 45,123 67 Total 388,938 332 72 422 1 258 308 164 Otter trawlers Subarea 2 -- __ Subarea 3 12,356 54,008 7,473 16,217 5,321 349 77 12 13 -P-. Subarea 4 290 220 8,443 32 66 5 4 4 2 I-.
Total 12,646 54,228 15,916 16,249 5,387 354 81 16 15 Danish seiners Subarea 2 VON. .1=1.•••• Subarea 3 2 2.0 56 Subarea 451 18 -- +19 853 1 --
Total 53 18 39 909 + 1
Total All Boats 401,637 54,578 15,988 16,710 6,297 612 390 180 15 * Inshore boats include boats fishing with cod-traps, handlines, longlines hauled by hand, and longlines hauled using a mechanical hauler. Weights expressed as follows: Cod, wolffish, pollock, hake - head-on, gutted Haddock, redfish, plaice, witch - whole Halibut - head-off, gutted + indicates amounts less than 1,000 lb.
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