Confidential
FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA
REPORT
of the
Newfoundland Fisheries Research St:at:ion
for
1953
by
W. TEMPLEMAN, Director
With Investigators' Summaries as Appendices Confidential
FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA
REPORT
of' the
NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES RESEARCH STATION
· for
1953
by
W. TEMPLEMAN, Director
With Investigatorsr Summaries aa Appendices M.V. Investigator II REPORT FOR l953 OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES RESEARCH STATIONt ST. JOHN'S, NFLD. BY W. TEMPLEMAN, DIRECTOR.
The Newfoundland Station expends its major effort on the various groundfishes and considerable work is also carried out on salmon. Research on marine mammals is important and some technological fisheries research work is done. The ground fish work embraces research on hydrography and its relation to fish abundance, the biology and population abundance and popu lation changes in cod, haddock, Americ&n plaice, redfish, witch flounder and other groundfishes. There is a considerable interest and effort in exploratory fishing for groundfishes by otter- 1 trawl·, long-line and Danish seine.
RESEARCH IN 1953 Groundfish Exploratory Fishing. Otter-Trawling. Investigator II The Investigator II has carried out otter-trawling explorations for redfish in the Laurentian Channel off Cape Breton, and in the northern half of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Deep-water otter-trawling between 200 and 330 fathoms was engaged in on th.e southern part of the Grand Bank and to the north of the Grand Bank to determine the abundance of redfish below 200 fathoms. There were excellent catches of redfish north of .Anticosti on which the information came too late to be incor porated in the main body of this paper. A thorough otter-trawling investigation of Hamilton Inlet Bank off southern Labrador showed excellent supplies of cod and in one part of the bank American plaice. Haddock surveys were carried out over the haddock areas of the Grand Bank and on St. Pierre Bank relating the catch of hadcock to depth and temperature and obtaining special information on the younger year classes not fully represented in the commercial catches.
During the yea~ commercial redfish fishing was suc cessfully begun in the area at the northeast corner of the Grand Bank vfl1ere quantities of large sized redfish had been found by the Investigator II in 1950. In the Gulf of St. Lawrence where good quantities of large redfish had been demonstrated by the Investigator II in explorations from 1947 to 1950 numbers of American with some Nova Scotian and a few Newfoundland trawlers have been working now for several yec:.rs and this year a number of trawlers had successful fishing as far north 2s the Port ;Saunders area which was the first part of the Gulf to be successfully fished for redfish by the Investigator II in 1947. - 8 - Exploratory Fishing. Long-lining. Using the same four 55-foot long-liners which were supplied to the station by the Department of Fisheries as in 1952 experimental fishing for cod w&s continued in southern Labrador,, off Bonavista and the Bacc2lieu area on the e&st coast, in Placentia Bay, Fortune Bay, the Ramea-Burgeo Bank 2.re2 on the south coast and 2.long 2i.lmost the whole of the west coast of Newfoundland. Winter fishing showed some moderate success on the east side of Placentia Be.y in J:::,nuc.ry 2nd e2.rly Febru2ry but none on the eastern side of this bay in February and early March nor in Fortune Bay in Mc:.rch 2.nd June. The best c2.tches made on Burgeo B2nk in Mey c::cnd ecrly June were onlymcderate. In Le.b rador there were some good deep-wnter cc:~tches in July but not in August. At Bonc..vista it wc:.s demonstrated that very success ful long-lining could be begun in May cs soon as the ice dis- 2ppe2red. Good fishing was found in the deep-w2ter Bacc2lieu cirec:' in June and very excellent fishing in this area in October both in deep-water 2nd in the inshore nrea. It became apparent that C2.t2lina w2.s excellently situ8.tod for development cs 2_ long-lining port. On the west coast some long-lining grounds were found offshore from Fcrt 2u Choix which were worthy of further investig2,tion CLnd in the vicinity of the Port 2.u }'ort peninsuln excellent c2tches were obtc.ined offshore but in she.l,low rather thc.n deep w2ter. Danish Seining. A good part of the south co2st of Newfoundland west of the Burin peninsul2, c::nd 2.lso 2,re2s on the Grand Ban.1-c and in the channels between the offshore banks were explored by the Matthew II which w2s 102ned undor nominal ch2rter by the Provinci2l Government of Newfoundland. Over most of the inshore area very little success was attained, the bottom being usually too rough to get the not b2ck. The fish chiefly looked for wc,s the witch flounder. On the southwest slope of the Grc-_nd Bc~nk the bottom w2s usu2lly suitable for Decnish seining 2nd severc..l fo.irly geed cc-~tches of witch flounder were ms.de. Doubtless in the spring when trawlers often mc.ke gocd cc.tches of this flounder, geed ce.tches of witch c~nd e.lso of hG.ddcck could be m2de by Dc_nish seining on the Grc..nd Bank. An attempt by the Investigator II to catch witch flounder on the ccmmerci2l Danish seining grounds in Fortune Buy hC:'.S shown that a Dc.nish seiner cf ccnsider2bly less size nnd power can outfish n trawler for this flatfish. The trawler was more successful for ccd s.nd redfish. Redfish, Americ2n Plcdce, He.ddock and Cod. Redfish c.ge c.nd growth rer.dings :~_:re well under-wc'.y c.nd some differences in growth in v2.ricus 2cre2.s 2re nppurent.
Exs.minc.tion cf redfish stcmachs hc:~s shown tht:.t the percents.ge cf everted stomc~chs increc::.ses with depth 2,nd the.t the m?st im::;ortc::.nt items in the diet were 2mphipods, ccpepods end fish. Euph:::usids nnd the squid Gon2,tus c.lso formed p2rt of the stom2ch contents 2nd the food generc.lly consisted of free swirmning c.nd not bottom org.c:-cnisms. - 3 - The gro·wth rc:.te of plr,.ice is cc:nsider2:bly greeter on the Grc.nd Bc:.nk thc'.n in Nctre D'.::me Be,y $ tho ::mly inshore c.rea so fer ex2minec1. Egg counts on 9 plo.ico r::nged from 156,000 at 45 cm. to l,412,000 2t 74 cm.·
In 1953 2 lsrge proportion ~f haddock, cbout 70~, in the severnl trips when stc.tions observers were present, wa.s disc2.rded 2~t sec.. 2.s too srn.c-,11. On both the Gr::'.nd B8.nk end St. Pierre Bcnk this le.rge 2mount of disc2rding in 1953 was due to the nu.merous 1949 yez:~r clc.ss of which only the very fs.stest growing were nee.r co:m.nJ.erci2.l size s.nd cf which c~ 12.rge number but only c:. po.rt of this yeccr clu.ss, will be cf SFtnll com..n:ierci2l size by the spring of 1954. Some of the five thous2nd ccd tc.gged in 1950 2t St. John's and Fogo Qre still being recaptured. Tho percent2ge returns to the end of October 2;re 1950 - 6.7, 1951 - 12.8, 1952 - 4.5,c.nd 1953 - 1.6. Groundfish Pcpul2tion Studies. .As c. necess:ry expc.nsion v.nd to provide inf1.:'ra2.tion on the trend of the groundfish fishery in the NowfoundlE:nd <:re2. 2 skeleton popu... ls.tion study unit was set up in J2.nuery 1953. .At st. John's 2nd Burin landings of grnunc1fish fror::i the offshore be.nks are being s2.mpled for r:1e2sureEJ.ent and collection c:f sc2,les c.nd otcliths for 2;ge rec.ding. L:- cection of c::~tch c.nd catch per unit effort information 2,re being obt2ined frOJ'l alr1ost the entire trawler fleet. Sir.1il2r infor111ttticn is being obtnined fer Danish seiners and long-linsrs. Marinus. In early November the new research boat, the 62-foot Marinus built at Caraquet, N. B. arrived at st. John's and in late November began her first trip. This boat is equipped to otter-trawl to two hundred fathoms and will also be fitted with long-lining gear. She will be a useful addition to the floating equipment of the Station and will be used in the groundfish investigations.
Hydrography Hydrography at the Newfoundland Station is carried out as an essential background for groundfish research, In 1953 the .April cruises showed higher temperatures than usual in the southwestern edge of the Grand Bank and in the area generally .April temperatures were higher in 1953 as in 1951 and 1952 than in the years 1947 to 1950. Both temperatures on the Grand Bank and also on st. Pierre Bank apart from the shallow plateaus were lower in .,ll~ugust than in April indicating a con siderable post-April flow of cold .Arctic water. Haddock including numerous small haddock of the 1949 year class were especially numerous in the east and southeast coastal areas in the summer of 1953 and since it is apparent that these rather warm water fish compc:.red with the cod did - 4 - not come to the coast through the minus l.o0 c. bottom water it is evident that they come in in the surface layers. They may have been driven into these layers as they advanced northward on the bank, as they were progressively doing in April, May, June and July, by the increasing flow of cold water along the bottom during these months.
Atlantic Salmon Research In 1953 research on Atlantic salmon was concentrated mostly in Bay du Nord River on the south coast of Newfoundland., The total smolt run of almost 9000 was captured and fin clipped or tagged. Smolts run to sea from May 6 to June 30 with the peak run during the last two weeks of May and especially on May 24-25 after a heavy rainfall beginning the afternoon of May 23. Only 53 salmon and 98 grilse entered the river. Fif teen percent of these were caught by anglers after passing through the fence. A survey was made of the lower 9 miles of the river extending to .Smoky Falls about 56 feot high which has a fishway that salmon do not enter readily. The survey was extended also for a few miles beyond this fall. Sea tagging was carried on at Bay de Verde in Con ception Bay between May 18 and July 11. Eighty-seven salmon and eighty grilse wore tagged. Only two, one salmon and one grilse taken in Quebec,, were recaptured in the mainland area, the remaining 30 rec2_ptures being in NE:wfoundland. From 64 salmon taggod in Novombor 2nd December 1951 and 1952 at Twillingato on the northec.st coast of N0wfoundlcnd there have been six returns, one from tho southwest cocst of Nowfoundlund, two from Quebec, two from the Gulf area of Now Brunswick c:~nd one from the St. John River,, N. B. A preliminc::.ry investigation has boon made of tho Little Codroy River in order to be ready to begin a long-torm salmon rese2.rch in this river in 1954 •
.Arctic Char A study h[',S been begun of the sec:-trout or Arctic char of northern L2brador. Considor2ble matcrinl and date h2VG been collected from five northern Labrador stations, which pro gressing northward 2-re Adl2tok, Nain, Okak Bay,, Hebron 2"nd Ramah. The collection is now being studied. - 5 - Marine Mammals Seals. During a voyage to the seal-fishery on the sealer Algerine from March 6 to April 23 young harp seals were tagged and much information and material were collected on harp and hood seals.. There have been several returns from the west coast of Greenland in the suw..mer of 1953 of tags from the harp seal whitecoat tagging of 1952. Samples of 750 jaws from harp seals were obtained from the fall .fishery of 1952 in northern Labrador and the ages read .fro-Jn tooth sections.also ages have been read of 230 harp seals taken at the ice.fields in 1953& The examination of 940 seal jaws .for the harbour seal bounty shows that over eighty percent are young of the year mostly killed .from June to August. Most harbour seals, 706!,t- are being killed in Labrador. Some grey seal jaws were sent in- 2 .from Newfoundland 2nd 7 .from Labrador.
lrfual.es& Studies were continued on the pilot or pot head whales at Dildo,, Trinity Bay where over three thousand potheads were captured in 1953, p2rtially by harpooning but mostly by driving ashore.. It h2.s been possible to study ages of these whales from tooth sections. The mean length at birth is about six feet. Females mature at about twelve .feet and .five years and male·s not until a length of sixteen feet and an age of approximately fifteen years. The maximum indicated age in both sexes is about twenty-five years.
Jellied Plaice Analytical work on the jellied and normal plaice has indicated that the large water and low protein content of jellied as compared with normal plaice is a characteristic of the living animal. Protein fractionation has shown rnv evidence of protein breakdown which has been reported for other fishes infected with sporozoan parasites., The myosin or muscle protein nitrogen forms a lower proportion of the total nitrogen in jellied than in normal fillets. Comp&rison of plaice from the same general northeast Grand Bank are.a but from various depths has shown that at the slightly (1 to 1~0 c.) higher temperatures at 122-124 .fathoms there wcs a considerably higher percentage of normal and a correspondingly lower percentage of jellied fish than at the lower temperatures at 6l to 82 fathoms.. Studies of the :percent age weigh-back .for jellied from commercial tre.wlers fishing o.n the southec.stern p0,rt crf the Grc;,nd Bank show that at depths be tween 48 and 101 fathoms the smallest average sizes are at the smallest depths and the rni.'11.ber of large flounder and correspond ingly the percentage of jellied increases with depth between fifty and a hundred fathoms& - 6 - It is indicated by 211 2.nalytical end observ2.tional work to date,. by examination of jellied fillets Ui.'1der fluor escent light and by microscope ex2min2tion of sections of jellied and of norm2l fillets tho:t tho jellied condition of the A.m.ericc.n plnice is not caused by a sporozoc.n pare.site but rather by emaciation.
Bruised Condition of Ar:ieriean Plaice Experiments using three types of blood-letting cuts ns ags.inst lc.ndings of whole flounder have shown that the whole fish have by far the greatest 2.rea of bruises and the fish with the throats cut 2nd the guts out the smallest 2Jnount of bruising. The cut used by the fishermen gave intermediate results al though the bruising was much less than in the ease of landings of whole fish. - 7 -
PUBLICATIONS 1953
Sergeant, D. E. The.Pothead Whaling Industry of Newfound le.nd. Trade News, Vol. 5, No .. 9, pp. 3-4, March 1953. Wh2li.l'.lg in Newfoundland. Submitted. to Norwegian vvnaling Gazette • . Squires, H. J .. :tjecorsts of" Mar.ine Turtles in the New- .d:ounetland Area. / Acde.J?ted by Go:~ta·~
Templeman, w. Migrations of ~.piny Dogfish Tagged in Newfoundland Waters. Submitted to Journal Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Knowledge of Divisions of Stocks of Cod, Haddock and American Plaice of Sub-areas / 3 and 2 of the Northwest Atlantic Con vention Area. Accepted for I~C.N.A.F. Annual Proceedings for 1952..-53... Summary of Canadian Groundfish Rese2rch in the Convention Area during 1952, Sub areas 2 c..nd 3 of the International Com mission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries. Accepted for I.C.N.A.F. Annual Proceedings for 1952-53. ·
Templeman, w. and A .. M. Fleming. European Ling. First Record from North American ~·Jaters. Journal Fisheries Research Board of Canada. In Press. Long-term Changes in Hydrographic Con ditions and Corresponding Chang~s in the Abundance of Marine Animals. Accepted for I.C.N.A.F. Annual Proceedings for 1952-53. - 8 -
STAFF
NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES RESEARCH STATION
(To December 1, 1953)
Scientific
W. Templeman, O.B.E., Ph.D. (Toronto), F.R,S.C. Director ' A. A. Blair, Ph.D. (Tor on to ) Senior Scientist A, M. Fleming, M.A. (Toronto) Associate Scientist R. w. Ellis, B.Sc. (Edinburgh) Assistant Scientist (from Aug. 27) 'R. P. Hunt, B.E. (Nova Scotia Tech.) Assistant Scientist B. G. H. Johnson, M.Sc. (Western Ontario) Assistant Scientist A. R. Murray, B.A. (Saskatchewan) Assistant Scientist (from July 7) "' T. K. Pitt, B.Sc. (Dalhousie) Assistant Scientist "D• E. Sergeant, M.A. (Cambridge) Assistant Scientist ,: H. J. Squires, B.Sc. (McGill) Assistant Scientist Gertrude L. Andrews, B.Sc. (McGill) Junior Scientist R. s. Keir, B.Sc. (Glasgow) Junior Scientist .. · R. c. Knapp-Fisher, B. A. (Oxford) Junior Scientist j D. G. Lambert, B.A. (Oxford) Junior Scientist (from July 13) H. D. Macpherson, B.Sc. (Glasgow) Junior Scientist E. J. Sandeman, B.Sc. (St. Andrews) Junior Scientist (from July 24) "" T. N. Stew~rt, B.Sc. (Glasgow) Junior Scientist A. D. Traylen, B.Sc. (Belfast) Junior Scientist (from July 22) "
Technical
Wm. Barbour Technician Grade 2 F. A. Day Technician Grade l A. G, Kell and Tecr..nician Grade 1 B. w. Andrews Assistant Techo' Grade 3 (resigned April 30) c. r. Barbour Assistant Tech. Grade 3 w. B. Blackmore Assistant Tech. Grade 3 s. H. Butler Assistant Tech. Grade 3 L. N. Cluett Assistant Tech. Grade 3 A. P. Cowan Assistant Tech. Grade 3 v. M. Hodder Assistant Tech. Grade 3 E. L. Rowe .Assistant Tech. Grade 3 F, A. Winsor Assistant Tech. Grade 3 R. F. Burfitt Assistant Tech. Grade 2 (from March 6) E. Frost Assistant '.fech. Grade 2 (from Nov. 30) E. M. LeGrow Ass is tan t Tech. Grade 2 E. LeMessurier Assistant Tech. Grade 2 (from July 14) H" R. Mullett Assistant Tech. Grade 2 c. A. Rose Assistant Tech. Grade 2 - 9 - o~ 1. Elizabeth Scott, B.A. Assistant Tech. Grade 2 A. E. Stack Assistant Tech. Grade 2 Marie T. Whelan, B.A. Assistant Tech. Grade 2 Shirley J. Woolridge Assistant Tech. Grade 2 (from Aug •. 3) Peggy I. Burry Assistant Tech. Grade 1 P.- C. Collins Assistant Tech. Grade l (from Aug. 10)
Administrative and Clerical o. E. Wheel er Admin. Officer Grade 1 Ann M. House Stenographer Grade 2A Sheila T. M. Keough Stenographer Grade 2A
M/V Investig~tor II mu .. Barbour Captain (see Technical) E •. M. Mullett Mate c. R. JBarbour Chief Engineer R.. E•. Inkpen Second Engineer R. R. Tu.ck er Cook (resigned July 6) s. H. Cooze Cook (from July 23-0ct. 18) G. s. Tippett Cook (from Oct. 19) c •. Roberts Boatswain A. Best Twinehand c. Kean Twin eh and H. J. Wiseman Twinehand
M/V Marinus
F. A. Winsor Captain (see Technical) E.. c. Blackwood Engineer (from June 4) c. H. Andrews Boatswain (from Oct. 19) 1. Baker Twinehand (from Nov. 6) M.. Walbourne Twinehand (from Oct. 19)
M/B Parr
R. F. Burfi tt' Skipper (see Technical) V. Davidge Cook-Deckhand (March 19-0ct. 31)
Seasonal and Term c. W. Andrews, Ph.D. (Toronto) Assistant Scientist (June 17-Sept. 19) E. Lear, B.Sc. (Acadia) Junior Scientist (June 25-Sept. 19) F. Brett Student Assistant (June 3-Sept. 19) F. K. Spencer Assistant Tech •. Grade 3 (May 15-Sept. 18) - 10 -
R. v. Hodder Assistant Tech. Grade 2 (July 20-Sept. 15) J. G. Mullins Assistant Tech. Grade 2 (July 14-Sept. 19) E. Davidge Assistant Tech. Grade 1 (June 1-0ct. 15) v. Dominic Assistant Tech. Grade 1 (March 19-0ct. Jl) L,. Farrell Assistant Tech. Grade 1 (March 19-0ct. Jl) w. Hayward Assistant Tech. Grade 1 (March 19-0ct. Jl) F. H. Samson Assistant Tech. Grade 1 (May 2-0ct. 31) Total full time staff on December 1 was 56. - 11 -
ORGllNIZATION
Assignment of Staff by project and investigation for the period April 1 to December 1, 1953.
-1. Administrative - Office & Library
Director W. Templeman, Ph.D. Admin. Officer Grade 1 O. E. Wheeler Stenographer Grade 2A Sheila T. M. Keough Stenographer Grade 2A Ann M. House
l' 2. Groundfish
'"{ l ! A. Scientific and Investigational Staff o .e.€., Director W. Templeman, ,,Ph.D.({..-.,,_fo /, r f..s. C · Associate Scientist 'I'. A. M. Fleming, M.A. ('f. ,,., .-..f-.J Assistant Scientist 1• H. J. Squires, B.Sc•(""1<-"':i11tJ Assistant Scientist 3 B, G. H. Johnson, M.Sc. ( wt:i+-en. O .. htrro) Assistant Scientist T. K. Pitt, B.Sc. C.D B. Crew M/V Investigator II Technician Grade 2 - Captain Wm. Barbour Mate E, M. Mullett Chief Engineer c. R. Barbour Second Engineer R. E. Inkpen .• 12 - Cook G. s. Tippett Boatswain c. Roberts Twin eh and A. Best Twinehand c. Ker.n Twinehand H. J. Wiseman c. Crew M/V Marinus Assistant Tech. Grade 3 - Captain F. A. Winsor Engineer E. c. Blackwood Boatswain c. H. Andrews Twinehand 1. Baker Twine hand M. Walbourne 4. Arctic Char Assistant Scientist-Seasonal C. W. Andrews, Ph .• D.\% l"ofJ+oJ Junior Scientist-Seasonal ~ E. Lear, B.Sc.(,qct.reft 5. Marine Mammals Assistant Sci en ti st D. B. Sergeant (c,u1 t46.J 6. Hydrography Assistant Scientist 7• Fish ChEmistry ,; Junior Scientist Gertrude L. Andrews, B.Sc. (Jvr c. ~' fl) Assistant Tech, Grade 1 Peggy I. Burry Appendix No. 1 EXPLORATORY AND OTHER OTTER-TRAWL FISHING BY THE INVESTIGATOR II, NOV~ 1952-0CT. 1953 Introduction In 1952 in early November the depth range of the redfish between 60 and 200 fathoms was investigated in the Laurentian Channel to the northeast and east of Cape Breton Island. During late November and early December investigations were carried out on the witch grounds used by Danish seiners in Fortune Bay to try various modifications of gear and of towing · 1. methods to find whether witch flounder could be caught as effec tively by otter-trawling as by the Danish seine. In 1953 during the latter part of March and early April the Investigator II was kept in port for three weeks by the Arctic ice which blocked St. John's harbour and its approaches. The remainder of April was spent in taking the usual lines of hydro graphic stations on the Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank. In May and early June the haddock distribution in the Newfoundland area was studied by means of dragging at stations I well distributed over St. Pierre Bank and the southern half of i the Grand Bank •.. This dragging in the same locations and at approximately the same time of year is carried out annually and gives information on the appearance and distribution of young and not yet commercial year classes of haddock which cannot be obtained from the commercial vessels. Thus information is obtain ed on futwe additions to the haddock supplies three or four years be.fore the haddock are of commercial size. In June also the benefits of fast or slow dragging and of the use of a tickler chain in front of the footrope of the otter-trawl were studied in relation to the catching of American plaice on the northeastern edge of the Grand Bank. In the first part of July a deep-water exploratory trip was undertaken on the southwestern slope of the Grand Bank and in.early October another deep-water exploration was carried out on the slope north of the Grand Bank. In these two trips an attempt was made to study the distribution of redfish between two hundred and four hundred fathoms. In addition to redfish many very in- teresting deep-sea fishes were obtained. · In the latter part of July and in August six hydrographic sections were taken across the Labrador Current and the banks from southern Labrador to the southern edge of the Grand Bank~ During September a thorough exploration was carried out of the Hamilton Inlet Bank where good cod catches were obtained in many areas of the bank particularly on the bank itself and on the . east.ern edge. During the latter part of October and in Nove::.:rcber the 1£vestigator was 8ng2ePd in exploratton in relation to ... 2 - locality and depth.of redfish populations in the northern half of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The results of this trip are not yet available. In all this dragging the Investigator II used a no. 36 net made of manila and with a 60 foot head-rope, 80 foot foot-rope with 6 inch diameter rubber rollers. Comparison of Otter-trawl Catches of the Investigator II with the Matthew II Danish-seining Catches in Fortune Bay Investigator II Catches on Fortune Bay Grounds. From ·November 23 to December 6, 1952 the Investigator II was dragging in the same area in Fortune Bay using an otter-trawl on which the lengths of the bridles were varied from 20 to 30 fathoms, the speed of towing was varied and ti.ckler chains used on some of the sets. The overall average catch per one hour drag.was 378 lb. witch flounder. There was no significant difference in the catches at different towing speeds. The use of a tickler chain with 20-fathom bridles showed no increase in catch, neither did the 30-fathom bridles with no tickler. The use of 30-fathom bridles with tickler however gave an average catch per hour of 528 lb. Matthew II Catches in Commercial Fishing_. · The Danish seine boat Matthew II made a commercial trip from November 26 to December 7, 1952 and landed 24,400 lb. witch flounder. From December 9 to 19, 20,700 lb. were caught. The effort to obtain these yields is unknown. From January 16 to 21, 1953 nine drags were made; the catch was 20,000 lb. witch flounder. Average 2222 lb. per drag. On January 30 four drags produced 3000 lb., and nine drags on February 6 and 7 brought in 27,000 lb. witch· flounder. The average per drag for January 30 and February 6 and 7 was 2307 lb. The average catch per drag for the period January 16 to February 7 was 2273 lb. · Comparison. During the period January 16 to February 7 the Danish seine boat Matthew II produced an average of 2273 lb. per drag. Each drag would take roughly two hours to make and in good weather in summer nine or ten drags each day would be possible. In winter the number of drags would be reduced to four or five. The Investigator II using 30-fathom bridles and a tickler chain averaged 528 lb. witch flounder per one hour's fishing. While the weather was favourable it is likely that the Matthew II would obtain considerably greater catches of witch flounder for each day's fishing. The catch on the Matthew II was composed of'. witch floun der with very few of other species-;-but that of the Investiga tor II contained small cod and redfish and, when tickler chains were used, a considerable amount of debris. - 3 - Exploratory Haddock Fishing Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank, 1953 Relation of Bottom Temperature to Catches of Haddock a:nd Cod. During trips 2 and 3 of the Investigator II in May, 1953, a survey was made of the southern half of the Grand Bank primarily with a study of haddock distribution in view. Incidentally' considerable information was gathered on cod distri- . bution. The survey took the form of half-hour drags at stations in lines extending from northeast to southwest. Line A was near Whale Deep and line G near the eastern edge of the Grand Bank. The results of the exploratory fishing are shown.in table 1. Line A did not extend far enough northward to provide great temperature contrast. On lines B, C, and D there was a definite and highly contrasting pattern to both haddock and cod distribution. In the area through which each of these lines passed there was at depths of 39 to 45 fathoms a well marked contrast in bottom temperat~re between adjacent sets only a few miles apart from north to south. The large concentrations of haddock were on the southern high temperature side of the tem perature break and the cod on the low temperature northern side of the break in temperature. The reasons for the pattern in fish distribution were not so clear for the more eastern lines E, F, and G, where a tongue of cold water from the eastern edge had pushed into the southern warm water areas. In these areas the only high tempera tures corresponding to those inhabited by haddock in the western lines A, B, C; and D were in deep water and haddock were not pre sent in numbers in this deep water. It is evident that by May the haddock are moving toward shallower water, and depth as well as temperature is a factor. Table L Catches per Hour's Dragging of Haddock and Cod on Grand Bank - May, 1953 Depth Temperature Haddock Cod Latitude Longi tu.de Fathoms cc. Lb. Lb. North West Line A 49 5.10 2800 30 44° 52 1 52° 54 1 50 2.. 08 130 230 44° 47 1 53° 04 1 63 8.32 150 0 44 ° 30' 53° 21 1 81 8.79 10 0 44° 28 1 53° 18 I 106 8.60 0 10 44° 26 1 53° 23 1 Line B 44 0.95 0 440 45° 41' 51° 00 1 38 0.91 20 840 45° 27' 5lc 201 40 1.19 12 600 45° 09 1 51° 45 1 40 1 .. 45 900 150 44° 48 1 52°. 14 1 44 6.42 1440 32 44° 38 1 52" 28 1 50 7.59 2800 0 44° 34 1 52°. 42 1 65 8.45 350 2 44° 22 1 52° 51 1 83 8 .. 20 80 0 44° 20 1 52° 50 1 102 8.37 18 0 44° 16 1 52° 52 1 - 4 - Depth Temperature Haddock Cod Latitude Longitud~ Fathoms oc. Lb. Lb. North West Line C 40 0.71 50 720 45° 31 1 50° 28 1 40 1.05 60 400 45° 13 1 50° 54 1 38 1.46 90 800 44° 56 1 51° 18 1 41 2.01 2000 1860 44° 37·1 51"' 40 1 45 5~58 7600 36 44 ° 27 1 51° 58 1 49 6,30 7200 0 44° 16 1 52° 12 1 65 4.26 0 10 44° 06J 52° 25 1 83 5.25 16 120 44° 021 52° 35 1 92 5.91 0 0 44° 00 1 52" 34 1 Line D 32 0.93 24 JOO 45° 19' 50° 021 33 L64 8 30 44° 55 1 50° 35 1 39 LBO 32 320 44 ° 35' 51° 08 1 43 4.63 1080 130 44° 2lf 51° 28i 46 5.89 2800 4 44° 10 1 51° 41' 51 6~40 2800 8 43° 59' 51° 56 1 65 1.81 4 40 43° 561 52° 021 80 5~49 8 160 43° 50 1 52° 08 1 102 6·~44 20 12 43° 48 1 52° 10' Line E 32 0.31 0 240 45° 07 ! 49° 35' 30 1~91 50 120 44° 06 1 50° 091 36 2.61 2500 200 44° 17' 50° 48 1 36 3~29 110 220 . 44 ° 03 1 51° 02 1 44 0~91 3200 80 43° 49' 51° 261 50 L81 30 60 43° 36 1 51° 39 1 64 1~91 0 200 43° 33 1 51° 421 80 2~10 0 100 43° 34' 51° 48 ! 106 4~30 0 0 43° 32' 51° 46 1 Line F 30 o.5o 0 200 44° 43' 49° 251 32 3~00 2000 250 44° 18' 49° 58 1 35 2:61 150 40 44<> 03! 50° 19 1 . 39 2~18 1600 700 43° 48 I 50° 38 1 43 0:78 800 600 43° 40 1 50" 50 1 50 0~64 400 400 43° 251 .51° lll Bo 7~92 300 70 43° 22 1 51° 14 1 80 6~40 0 110 43° 201 51° 181 lOO 6:28 0 6 43 ° 17 t 51" 20 1 Line G 33 0.78 30 500 43° 22 1 50° 29 1 52 4~00 730 2400 43 ° 11' 50° 45 1 65 7~70 10 20 43° 0$/t 50° 47 1 80 1~95 60 10 43° 09 1 50° 501 100 7~70 0 30 43° 08 1 50° 54 1 - 5 - Sizes and Catches of Haddock. On the Grand Bank an estimatedl3'0'% by weight and a much greater proportion by number of the total haddock catch was scrod and baby (under 2i lb,.i). ' . Commercial dragging for haddock by Newfoundland vessels had already ended when the survey was done, most of the large fish having dispersed to the north. This, and the small-meshed net used by the Investigator II accounted f'or the large numbers of small haddock taken. The haddock consisted mainly of the 1949 year class having a peak length of 36 to 37 cm. (13.5 to 14 i~.). Catches of up to 7600 lb. per hour's dragging were made but the maximum catch of large haddock (over 2! lb.) was only 900 lb. per hour. Haddock were scattered over most of the area surveyed except where bottom temperatures were below 1°0. or depths exceeded 80 fathoms. Biggest catches were in an area rou5hly 0 between latitudes 44 00' and 44° 45'N. and longitudes 51 15 1 and 52° 15'W. · On the St. Pierre Bank survey made at the beginning of June, 1953,· small haddock of the 1949 year class predominated in nearly all catches, but not in as great quantities as in 1952 when a number of' catches of 10,000 to 30,000 lb. per hour of scrod and baby haddock were made. This year the largest catches were of 9000 lb. per hour's dragging and as in the previous year, haddock were most plentiful on the north and south shallow areas with depths less than 30 fathoms. Two good catches of large haddock (over 2! lb.) yielding 7000 and 1600 lb. per hour were made on the southern area but no other commercially useful con centrations were found. These findings were borne out by New foundland commercial trawlers which discarded a greater proportion of their catch on St. Pierre Bank than on the Grand Bank. There does not appear to have been a good survival of recent St. Pierre Bank haddock year-classes apart from those of 1942 and 1949, and since only the faster growing of this 1949 year-class, which is very numerous on both banks but especially on St. Pierre Bank, will be of marketable size in the spring of 1954 it is important on this bank as also on the Grand Bank · that these presently small fish survive for the next two years. This is only possible if they are not fished at all or if they are fished with large meshed nets which will allow the numerous small haddock to escape. Since neither of these possibilities is likely in 1954 there.will doubtless be a very great destruc tion and discarding of small haddock and a reduction in the average size landed as the very numerous five year olds will be partly at the minimum corrimercial size and in large part below this size in 1954. On the Grand Bank the 1946 year-class, 8 years old in 1954 are now of excellent commercial size and will probably provide the greatest weight of the landings but the small five year olds are the only numerous group of haddock on St. Pierre Bank at the present time with small residues of older year classes of larger fish. i I i I J - 6 - Pragging for American Plaice Some evidence (published in the An.nual Report of the Newfoundland Fisheries Research Station 1951) had indicated that slow dragging at 250-270 revs. (about 2 knots) gave a greater catch of American plaice than dragging at the normal speed for the Investigator II, i.e. 310-315 revs .. (3.5 knots). The net used was a No. 36 Westerbeke type with 60 foot head-rope, 80 foot wire foot-rope, weighted but not heavily and with 611 rubber rol lers. Otter-doors weighed about 800 lb. each and a three to one ratio of length of warp to depth was used. This evidence had also indicated that the use of a tickler chain slung in front of the net and dragging on the bottom, increased the catch of plaice. An experiment was therefore carried out between June 18 and June 26, 1953 to test these hypothese~. The area chosen was on the northeast Grand Bank about Lat. 46 03'N., Long. 48° 10 1W., in a depth of 60-64 fathom~. The bottom temperature varied between -o,40°c. and -0.73 c. The net used was similar to the one described above. The experiment was based on a 4 x 4 Latin square made up of - four i hour fast drags with tickler chain four i hour fast drags without tickler chain four f hour slow drags with tickler chain four t hour slow drags without tickler chain i.e. a total of sixteen drags per series. Only one such series was completed. Another was partially completed (12 drags), making a total of 28 drags. Table 2 gives a summary of all these drags. It is clear that no increase in the catch of any of the fish species was obtained by slow dragging or by use of the tickler chain. The catch of benthos was increased by four times when a tickler chain was used. As the behaviour of the plaice may vary with locality and time of year these conclusions cannot with confidence be applied generally, particularly as they contradict the earlier observations. Table 2. Average Catch per ~ Hour Drag According to Method of Dragging No.of Plaice Cod Th.Skate Benthos Method of Dragging Drags No. lb~. lb. Number gal.. Fast drags with tickler chain 7 143 340 105 il B.o Fast drags without tickler chain 7 167 400 165 10 1.9 Slow drags with tickler chain 8 150 360 105 9 8.3 Slow drags without tickler chain 6 133 320 150 10 2.8 - 7 - Deep-water Exploration for Redfish In 1953 the Investigator carried out during two trips an exploration for redfish in deep water from 200 to 330 fathoms. Attempts were made to drag to 400 fathoms but the net was appar ently not on the bottom at this greater depth. A smaller net was used and the net was used with both otter-boards on a single wire, the warps from both dr'Ums being joined to give almost nine hundred fathoms of warp. In previous fishing with two warps only depths down to 200 fathoms had been explored and good fishing had often been obtained at depths of 180 and 200 fathoms. The first trip was in July to the southwest edge of the Grand Bank and the results of the dragging are shown in table 3. The redfish were most numerous between 150 and 200 fathoms with no commercial numbers below 200 fathoms but with some redfish at least as deep as 250 to 300 fathoms. There was a general increase of size with depth. and the sex distribution differed little from shallower to greater depths. In October another similar exploration was attempted to the north of the Grand Bank in an area about 150 miles N.E. of Cape Bonavista. Preliminary work with the echo-sounder showed the bottom to be fairly good. Due to bad weather, however, only nine sets were made and of these seven were in water of depth greater than 200 fathoms. By far the best catch was in 188 to 195 fathoms. Of the sets below 200 fathoms four resulted in no catch either because the net was not fishing on the bottom or because the net was lost. In each of the remaining three sets the net was damaged to some degree and the catches of redfish were small, being 50, 75 and 150 lb. Table 4 gives details of all nine sets. Size differences at the different depths are not significantly apparent and the sex ratios fluctuate. However most of these figures can be seen to be dependent on small samples the origin of which must be considered doubtful. All temperatures were normal for redfish occurrence. The sea bed did ne>t prove to be as suitable as. the echo-sounder had forecast. Although of a flat, muddy nature it was not ideal for dragging owing to the presence of many loose rocks which tore the nets and may have been responsible for some loss of catch. Another factor noted in the deep catches of both trips was that on nearly all occasions the numbers of redfish were exceeded by the numbers of grenadiers, three species of which were abundant. The grenadiers are true demersal fish and do not, at first sight, appear to exert any direct competition against the semi-demersal redfish. Possibly the latter are living above the grenadiers but it seems likely that some would have been caught on those occasions when the net was being towed in mid water if this is the case. From the few sets that were success fully fishing the redfish catch was negligible and the fact that bottom fish were taken in greater numbers than the redf ish tends to indicate a paucity of this latter species in water of over 200 fathom depth in the two areas surveyed. Table 3. Catches of Redfish per Half-hour Deep-water Otter-trawling Sets Southwest Edge Grand Bank, July"· 1953 Req.fish No. Average Average Catch lb. Sexed Length Length No. of Depth ! hr. & Mea- Males Females % Bottom Fish Fath. Temp .• °C. Drag sured cm .• cm .. Males Operation of Gear Grenadiers Skates 48-46 J.48 ·o Good Two wires 22 60~56 3.40 0 ..., Good n II 8 75-76 3.50 500 208 20.6 21.2 40.4 Good 11 21 4. 76-76 50 Good II" lT 7 138-150 4.75 175 232 22·. 7 23.l 47.0 Good One wire 21 160-150 5.76 850 285 23.6 25.3 52.3 Good ti tt 132 2 155·-160 3.65 1200 318 22.9 24.5 49.7 Good 25 lb. 180-156 3.02 175 230 23.7 26.5 48 .• 7 Good "It "It 10 176-170-176 J.43 700 387 24 .• 9 Belly torn out ll fl lb. 27 .4 49.4 5 co 200-170-208 4.58 1600 356 25.0 27.4 48.o Difficult to II n 64 hold bottom I 194~210 4.50 3 Belly torn out 230-164 3.80 20 Strap torn "II "ti 26 1 from door Belly torn out 360-230-300 100 Wing torn 11 H 1S6 3 250-260 3. 75 75 58 33.07 33.27 48.3 Belly torn out ti ti 1 286-280-380 3 Belly torn II 350~290 3 •. 80 3 Good n II" 400-300 Hooked up !l ll Could not hold depth 360-420-390 Could not hold II 3 depth " Table 4. Catches of Redfish in Half-hour Deep-water Otter-trawling Sets N. E. of Bonavista and North of the Grand Bank, October, 1953 Redf ish No. Average Average Catch Sexed Size Size No. of Depth lb.t hr. & Mea- Males Females % Bottom Fish Fath. Temp. °C. Drag sured cm. cm. Males Operation of Gear Grenadiers Skates 164•166 2.59 150 79 30.35 33.43 32.9 Good 3 8 'O 188'-195 3.41 2400 282 32.43 33.82 41.8 Net badly torn, headline parted ·2 1 I 254:...256 Net lost I 284-284 J.50 75 36 35.36 33.12 30.6 Port wings lost 95 300-302 3.55 50 27 32.17 36.89 66.7 Wings & belly torn 20 ... 324'-328 3.51 150 105 32.84 33~67 47.6 Wing torn 109 5 360-392 - ·- ·- Doors locked 384'-382 3.53 ·- Net not on bottom 400-394 4.. 12 Net not on bottom - 10 - Commercial Redfish Exploitation Commercial fishing has been proceeding on much of the redfish area discovered or explored by the Investigator II. Since the fishery has been satisfactory in more southern areas, however, some of the n0rthern areas are still not exploited com mercially.. During July, 1953 commercial develo_pment began of the plentiful stocks of large redfish found by the Investigator II in 1950 in 160 to 200 fathoms· off the northeast corner of the Grand Bank. Commercial vessels had previously made only sporadic and largely unsuccessful attempts to _follow up the Investig_ator findings. Captain Blackwood of the Blue Spray and formerly captain of the Investigator II obtained the Investigator positions and depths and fishing in the same area caught three hundred and fifty thousand pounds of large redfish in less than a week. In two succeeding trips he obtained similarly· large catches with a total of over three-quarters of a million pounds in three short trips. Other local boats also engaged in redfish fishing in this area. For several years now trawlers mostly American but with some Nova Scotian and a few Newfoundland trawlers have been en gaging in successful commercial fishing for large redfish in deep water of the Gulf of St. Lawrence where general redfish abundance was indicated by the explorations of the Investigato~ from 1947 to 1950. On the southwest edge of the Grand Bank which had been successfully explored for redfish down to 200 fathoms by tho Investigator II between 1946 and 1951 the larger vessels of the American redfish fleet have been carrying out a good deal of fishing while the east coast Newfoundland redfish vessels concen trate on the larger redfish of the eastern edge of the Grand Bank. It is evident that over-exploitation of redfish in one favourable area can occur. We are assured by the manager of Penny & Sons plant at Ramea that the formerly abundant redfi sh population within a few miles of the plant at Ramea and from which many millions of pounds of redfish were taken is not at present worth fishing. The Sca.tari population on the southern border of the Laurentian Channel off Scatari formerly heavily fished by American and Canadian fishermen now apparently does not yield dependable catches. Fishing for red.fish has not been intensive enough yet in the Gulf of St. Lawrence or the imraense Grand Bank area to show much general ev~dehce of decline per unit of effort. Abundance of Swordfish on the s.w. Edge of Grand Bank · For the five days July 12-16 the Investigator_Jl was en- gaged in fishing in deep water of 200-400 fathoms on the south western edge of the Grand Bank in an area stretching from Vi/hale Deep to the extreme southern tip of the bank. Large nurn.bers of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) were noted all along the S.W • . slope of the Grand Bank and they appeared to be more numerous towards the southern tip of the bank. All swordfish observed were¥ without exception basking in characteristic attitude at th~ surface with the high dorsal and tip of the caudal breaking the water, Captain Barbour of the Investigator II stated that they were far more numerous than he had ever seen before in his con siderable experience in these waters. - 11 - Weather conditions were ideal for observation. The sea was calm and smooth, the weather hot and sunny. There was no p~ssible doubt about identification as it was possible to steam right up to the basking fish which would be motionless until the bow of the vessel was almost on them before gliding away. 0 0 Su~face temperatures were suitably high being 14 .. 6 C .- 16. 7 C. { 58 '"F. -62 F.). This is well above the low limit of be low • 500F. that Bigelow reports. Some very profitable swordfish ca!tches both by Newfoundland and Nova Scotian vessels have been reported from the above mentioned Grand Bank area in 1953. Exploration of Hamilton Inlet Bank, Labrador Between September 7 and 18, 1953 following up the work of 1952,, 1951 and earlier years in this area, Hamilton Inlet Bank off southern Labrador was thoroughly explored in six lines of drags extending from the deep water, fringing the· western side of the bank, across the bank to the deep water on the eastern side of the bank. The parallel lines of sets extended from the northern part of the bank to the south. Fishing was carried out by half-hour 9-.:rags of a no. 36 otter trawl. In general the bot tom on the bank and on the slope of the bank to the east was found very favourable for trawling but was very rough in most of the deep water to the west of the bank. From .the Loran bearings and the depths it was indicated that Hamilton Inlet Bank is cons.iderably smaller than appears on the charts and that while the eastern border coincides approximately with the charted picture the western hundred fathom line edge of the bank is as much as ten nautical miles further offshore in the south and twenty or thirty miles further offshore in the north than is , shown on existing charts. In table 5 is shown the results of the dragging omitting the several sets mostly on the western slope of the bank when the net was torn so badly th~t little or no catch was obtained. The dragging was in half hour sets but the results have been calculated for one hour's dragging. The poundages are of round fish as judged by measuring in tubs. Considering the small size of net, no. 36 with 80-foot foot-rope and 60-foot head-rope and the relati velK slow speed of the Investigator when dragging, about 3! to 34 knots, catches of cod were surprisingly good. Cod. On the western slope of the bank facing toward the shore, catches were usually low and the net was often more or less badly torn. The low catches were doubtless often due to the rough bottom and the holes in the net. Cod fishing on the bank itself and at depths between 83 and 100 fathoms was good in many areas. The best cod catches were at the rate of about ten thousand pounds of cod per hour at the extreme northern tip of the bank and at the rate of about eight thousand pounds per hour at the extreme southern tip but in some of the· other areas on the bank there were fair to good catches of three to four thousand pounds of cod per hour's dragging. - 12 - Table 5. A = Deep Inshore Channel B = On the Bank C = Slope of Bank Of !shore :&;s.ults of Exploratory Fishing Investigator II, Hamil ton Inlet Bank, Sept. 1953 Fish Catch per Houris Date Depth Dragging ~n Pounds _1953- Latitude Longitude Fath. Temp. °C. Cod Plaice Red fish A.. Sept. 10 55<0 02' 00"N 55° 25 1 00 11W 140-141 1.11 1940 90 10 It 11 54° 48 1 OOllN 55° 42' oonw 139-140 0.82 1410 42. 10 54° 51 1 OOllN 55° 32' oonw 144-147 0.71 510 140 "tt 11 54° 47 1 OOttN 55° 25' oonw 105;..112 -0.52 1790 126 I! 10 54° 471 OOt1N 55° ll' 0011w 106-107 0.30 1790 780 n 11 54° 36 1 00"N 55° 44' oonw 152-158 l.10 570 32 n 14 54° 24 1 30 11 N 55° 40 1 00 11W 140 o.4o . 3000 130 IJ 18 53° 51 1 OOUN 55° 32' oonw ll5-107 0.22 1260 2 n 7 53° 39' OOUN 55° 05 1 oonw 125-138 -0.10 620 12 B. Sept. 10 54° 48t QOllN 55° 02 1· oonw 92- 94 0.12 10650 soo n ll 54° 37 1 OOllN 55° 25 1 oonw 98- 92 -0 .. 30 4220 840 IJ 13 54° 35t 00"N 55° 10' oonw 98 o.66 4520 60 1 It 14 54° 23 t OOllN 55° 27 oonw a4... 92 -0.50 3870 ·750 ll 14 54° 23 1 3011N 55° 071 oonw 96- 95 0.97 1620 1000 u 14 54° 22 1 0011N 54° 48t 00"W 98-100 o .. 41 920 7400 It 15 54° 08 1 OOllN 55° 24 1 00 1'W 83 -0.49 1700 130 n 15 54° 10 1 00"N 54° 55' oonw 94- 90 1.14 2430 106 " :18 54a 02 1 001tN 55° o6r 00 1rw 86- 83 -0.28 3000 1000 n 18 54° 02 1 00"N 54° 50 1 oonw 95- 92 o.48 3000 260 " 7 53° 50' OOHN 54° 51' oonw 90 o .. oo 2600 l"7 It 7 53° 50 1 OOllN 54 ° 31 1 001rw 96- 98 1,42 1674 460 II 7 53° 48' 00"N 54° 10 1 . oonw 100 2.71 8060 no c. Sept. 10 54° 47 1 OOllN 54° 46r oonw 114... uo o.5o 4250 430 " 10 54° 47 1 QOTIN 54° 30 1 OOllW 135-133 o.42 2010 120 10 " 13 54° 35' OO!!N 55° 00' 00''W 100-104 0.49 1950 60 If 13 54° 35 1 00"N 54° 42' oonw 112 o.JI 1400 130 ti 13 54° 35 1 OOnN 54" 30' oonw 120 o.89 4360 200 6 13 54° 36 1 OO!!N 53° 46t oonw 135 0.99 1570 50 400 "tf 14 54° 22 1. OOllN 54° 36 1 OOl'W 106-108 l.67 1210 14 If 14 54° 22 1 0011N 54° 24' oonw 120-l16 1 .. 91 2840 100 fl 13 53° 23 1 OOUN 53° 52 1 OOllW 138-140 1.86 820 2 550 It 16 54.:. 10 1 . OOllN 54° 20 1 OOllW 107-106 1 .. 35 1912 18 fl 16 54° 11 1 . 001tN 53 ° 56' OOl'ltlf 120 l.Bo 600 16 3 ff 16 54° 1or OOUN 53° 36' OOt'W 136 1.41 1110 2 43 n 16 54° 08 1 OOUN 53° 161 oonw 170 3.,09 550 4200 It 1 17 54 Q, 02 00"N 54 ° 26' oonw 102•100 o.B5 4400 500 If 17 54° 03' OOHN 54" 04t oonw 108-106 1.10 2580 30 n 17 54° 03 1 oouw 53° 46 1 oonw 116-113 1.87 1800 120 " 17 54c. 02t OOllN 53° 18' oonw 136-132 1.29 1050 7 140 u 17 54° 01 1 OOt1N 52° 54 1 00 1'W 192 3.:38 220 1504 - ·13 - On the eastern slope of the bank there were good catches of four thousand pounds of.· cod per hour 1 s dragging in several areas from 100 to· 114 fathoms and there were cat·ches of over two thousand pounds in several additional locations at depths of 100 to 135 fatsoms. There were a few minus temperatures but none · below -0.5 O. and in the depths where cod were plentiful no tem peratures over 2.7°0. 0 0f the two highest catches the ten thousand pound catch was at 0.1 C. pnd the eight thousand pound catch at 2.7°c. The six catches of 3870 to 4520 pounds were at tempera tures of -0.5, -0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 0.9 and the six of 2580 to 3000 pounds were at -0.3, O.O, 0.4, 0.5, 1.1 and l.9°c. There was thus a favourable temperature range of about three degrees with most of the good catches being made between -0.3 and l.1°C. In the deeper water, 170 to 192 fathoms to the east of the bank, and with higher temperatures of 3.1 to 3.4 O. cod were scarce and redfish more abundant. The Hamilton Inlet cod are of medium but mostly commer cial size. In the autumn they are fat and well nourished with the fattest livers we have seen anywhere, over ten per cent of the gutted weight of the fish. The general conclusion is that at the time of the Investigator 1 s explorations there was a great body of cod on Hamilton Inlet Bank. Plaice. While there were some plaice everywhere on the bank, in only one locality were they plentiful enough to supply a commercial fishery for plaice alone. This was at 98-100 fathoms in latitude 54° 22 1 00 11 N. and longitude 54° 48 1 00 11 W. where plaice were obtained at the rate of 7400 pounds per hour's dragging. The bottom temperature was o.4°c. In the 1952 ex plorations on this bank also the only very large catch of plaice 0 was in latitude 54 0 21 1 N. and longitude 54 35 1 w. in 100 fathoms and -0.30°0. where plaice were caught at the rate of 10,000 lb. per hour 1 s dragging. These two localities are only about 7! nautical miles apart and there is apparently here an excellent ground for American plaice but probably limited in size. Since the temperatures and depths of the good plaice area are ·common to a large section of the bank it is likely that the abundance of plaice at the favourable spot is related to a special type of bottom suited to these fish. W. Templeman R. C. Knapp-Fisher B. G.H. Johnson R. S. Keir T. N. Stewart - 14 - Appendix No. 2 HADDOCK SIZES ON THE GRAND BANK AND ON ST. PIERRE BANK IN 1953 In 1953 haddock were measured on board the Investigator II and on commercial trawlers both on the Grand Bank and on St. Pierre Bank. Measurements were also made on Grand Bank haddock landed at St. John's and at Burin. Sizes of haddock from these sources are shown in figure 1. Large numbers of haddock of the 1949 year-class, having a modal length of 36-37 cm. in 1953, occurred in all catches both on Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank. These were largely dis carded by commercial trawlers fishing out of St~ John's and Burin, only the largest of these 4-year-old fish being retained, as shown by the size distribution of landings. A smaller group of haddock having a peak length of 20-21 cm. was taken by the Investigator II. These small fish retained by the shrimp-net lining of the cod-end of the Investigator II, would not have been caught by the Newfound land commercial trawlers. The Investigator II made its catches on the southwest -edge o~ th.9- Grand Bank late in the season after most of the commercial haddock fishing ~nded. These tiny haddock were not represented to any extent in the St. Pierre Bank catches. · The haddock landed at St. John's and Burin, having a peak size of 50-51 cm., consist mainly of the 1946 year-cla~s 7 years old in 1953, and also some of the 1942 year-class, 11 years old in 1953, but very few of the intervening year-classes appear to have survived. It appears then, that the 1946 year-class will still con tribute largely to the landings of 1954 and unless a much larger proportion of haddock down to, 40 cm. i's landed next year most of the 1949 year-clazs w111 again be discarded as too small. B.G .. H. Johnson t A. M. Fleming 1 ! l I - 15 - 20 TI INVESTIGATOR II 16 ~ ffiAND BANK i 12 ~ • 4609 FISH 8.+I l i :1 I ! 16-f INVESTIGATOR II \ 12 -tl ST PIERRE BANK I II I 4551 FISH I 811· I j.\ 4 · I · \ ! I I \ . 01-·----~=·__/=.. / \ ~·------.-...~-- i COMMERCIAL i \ ~ 12t I , g~ sf ffiANDB~K /I \ '\. ~ r. I_ 4459 FISH I I\ '. \ ...... ---·'--... ] ~ i : \...... ------·~ I ·-,_./ I "'12 ~ COMMERCIAL I \ 8~ ST PIERRE BANK ,/ \ . I 2003 FISH 41 I) ~------~- 0 . --~ ,, --..--._,__.__, I LANDINGS FROM GR.AND BANK /.~:"'"'\;,, i2-t / "Zz I i \ ai ------St John's 7274 Fish j ~'\.. , : - · - · Burin 5704 Fish ,/ , . 4+ j/ ·~ ! /'' ').~'-.. -- ... }t...--.:.~~:..-:-·-:;;.. . '~;~ ·-··-·-··-.,-,... ·- -- >r r 'W;~)f"";;""'""-.;;~~'""--·•~----,,__,_. 20 30 56 6b 7b Length in Centimeters Figure l~ HADDOCK LENGTH FREQUENCIES FOR I953 - 16 - Appendix No. 3 SURVIVAL OF HADDOCK YEAR-CLASSES ON GRAND BANK AND ST. PIERRE BANK Some preliminary information is available on haddock year-class abundance from random sampling at sea of haddock caught by commercial vessels. Scales have been read from about 400 haddock caught in 1953, and the results have been checked by otolith reading. The samples consist of 271 fish from the Grand Bank and 117 from St. Pierre Bank. The year-class distribution is shown in figure 1. Otolith readings agreed with 85% of the scale readings. Of those disagreeing, only 30% differed by more than 1 year and only 8% by more than 2 years. The scales and otoliths were read independently but by the same person. On the Grand Bank the 1946 year-class contributed 41% of the total haddock catch in 1953; compared to 75% and 58% for commercial catches and the Investigator-1.1 catches respectively in 1951. However the apparent decrease in abundance of the 1946 year-class is partly due to the large numbers of 1942 year-class ,haddock, which comprised 28% of the 1953 catch, compared to about 7% of the 1951 catch. Several catches of very large haddock were made by a commercial trawler early in the 1953 season, yielding an unusually high proportion of the 1942 year class, but subsequent catches indicate that this year class is not appearing in greater numbers than in 1951. The 1949 year-class appeared in considerable numbers (17%).for the first time in the catches of commercial vessels on the Grand Bank, but these fish (4 years old in 1953) were mostly too small for the market and were discarded. · On St. Pierre Bank (for a single commercial trip in 1953) 98% of the haddock catsh were of the 1949 year-class. In 1952 and 1951, 70% and 85% respectively of the Investigator II haddock catches were from the 1949 year-class. Apparently the 1946 year-class on St. Pierre Bank was not as strong nor has it survived as well as on the Grand Bank. B.G.H. Johnson - 17 - TJ-:: J/ I ! 90~ :;:1; Ii/, ST PIERRE BANK 80 -4 r'JI I j' (117 fish) I' I 11 70 i !1 I VI' I I// i.I 60- l//1 ..... ' I / 50- j I , :I I. ,' I I . I: J f 40 I / ./ i l//;1 I 30- V11 2 .I/ II / l» I· ' I 0 i I I ~l ~ i / /i I ::3 l1 I I ! ry 1/ / ;t (!) t I J -~,..• ~t"t I n,.,.---:.:z:.~------...... --- -, H I G-t ..µ ~ (!) GRAND BANK 0 H (!) i1 .J.m. fish) ,i A.. 40-I 111' ,: I ii · I i/ / ;) 30 '~~!/;, ·-- ·1;1, ~//J ~ I I /I ·l/ / / I / ' I I I 1 20 l '1.//I (/_ >1 ·· l /J II I 'I .l/;i /~: (/;;!//! '! ,; ,' j' / ( I I ' / I/ ' 10 ~, / '. / / 11· r // 1 '/ // / I 11 I /I 1 /11 ,,/,. r1/· !/ lj I /;//1 1 .---r-r-:-·1 fl / /1 I 1 I 'II I ,-~~-A ' , !; "I/~ 1; ' --,-~ 111· 1 '/;· 1 _, ,-J//!/,j/;-;--j'/1jj'1/ lj 1 1 1 ··- ...w ___;..,._ __ __;_' -C-' :__:_I -' -:-/ '-' _""-/_ -,--'..,--'_,. _'_..;_' -;-:-_:_:._•'.,:.....;...... :_:,/_T~-r-t"':_;..,:-l-,:..:..r1 1 ______1 49 1 48 ~47 1 46 1 45 1 44 1 43 1 42 1 41 Year Class Figure 1. HADDOCK YEAR CLASS SURVIVAL FOR 1953 (From scale reading) .. 18 ... Appendix No. 4 REDFISH AGE AND GROWTH AND PARASITISM Preliminary Investigations into the Age and Growth of Redfish The examination of the scales and otoliths of some of the small redfish gathered in various areas reveals a size~number of rings .ratio in close conformation with the results previously obtained by Perlmutter for redfish of similar sizes in the Gulf of Maine. As regards the older fish although about 1500 otoliths have been read it has been thought necessary to repeat them as some time is required for the observer to establish judgement in interpretation. Some general conclusions however can be drawn at this juncture. The normal lower size-limit for redfish landed at St. John 1 s for commercial processing is 25 cm. Fish of this size from Sable Island Bank seem to be 10-12 yrs. old while others of a similar size from Nachvak, Labrador appear to be 8-9 yrs. The Labrador fish again differ from the Sable Island ones in that their size at first maturity is greater and it is probable that the age at.first maturity is the same but this cannot be definite ly established as the Labrador samples exhibit a limited size range which includes very few mature fish. A sample from St. Pierre Bank cons is ts of fish that appear to exhibit much the same rate of growth as those from Sable Island. These age estimations must, for the moment, be regarded as tentative since the validity of the method of interpretation must be established. However further estimations of this nature should provide a comparison between rates of growth of different populations in different areas and it is planned to cover more ground in this manner during the next year. Distribution of Sphyrion lumpi During the 12 month period from October, 1952 - September, 1953, over 29,000 redfish were measured by the staff of the New foundland Fisheries Research Station. At the same time all fish measured were subjected to an external examination to determine the presence of the copepod parasite S£hyrion lumpi. This total is somewhat in excess of the number examined during each of the previous two years as additional sampling has been carried out on the commercial catches landed at Burin. Examinations of fish sampled from this source amounted to 8257. The results obtained from shore examination of landed commercial fish cannot be considered to be as suitable as that of fish caught by the Investigator II since it cannot be determined from what exact position the sample has been taken. - 19 - The position of all catches taken by the Investigator Il is pinpointed by Loran both before setting away and after taking back whereas commercial trawlers will fish a general area covering quite a wide radius, the whole being denoted by one or, in the case of a very large area, a few, logged positions. As a result of this 1558 non-infected fish do not figure in the table below~ Of these 755 originated on the southwestern edge or southern tip of the Grand Bank, while 803 were from either the southeastern edge or southern tip. Furthermore the infection of 0.24% recor ded on the southeastern edge may give rise to misinterpretation, for all the parasites recorded are, with three exceptions, reported in the comparatively small area between latitudes 43° 30 1 N, and 44° OO'N. If this southeastern edge is subdivided into two further areas, i.e. between latitudes 43° 30'N. and 44° OO'N. and 44° OO'N. and 46° OO'N. the infestations are Oo33% and .01% respectively and there seems to be no doubt that the former area is to some degree free of the parasite but containing one or more small localized areas of infestation giving this effect. These sub-area figures have not been included in the table of infestation since they are all based on samples from commercial catches and consequently the positions given cannot be considered accurate enough to localize these infections although the evidence from the previous two years does show agreement with them. The table of infection in the various areas shows no significant changes from those of 1951 and 1952. The- Hamilton Inlet B~nk shows what is apparently an increase but fluctuations may be accounted for by the fact that parts of the bank were heavily infested while others yielded few or no Sphyrion. This effect is shown by this yearrs sampling of four areas of the Banko LocalitI Fish Examined No. Parasites % Area A 86 0 0 Area B 117 1 o.8, Area c 454 37 8.1 Area D 121 11 9.09 This situation probably exists in all areas where Sphirion lumJ2i is found in any numbers. The only new area record of the parasite this year is on St. Ann's Bank south of Cabot Strait and it will also be noted that St. Pierre Bank shows a slight increase in infesta tion and as in the case of Hamilton Inlet Bank this is probably caused by sampling an infected portion of the bank to a greater extent than in the previous years. The investigations into the occurrence and distribution of Sphyrion lumpi have now been carried out in seven consecutive years and have covered to a greater or lesser degree all areas from Cape Chidley at the extreme northern tip of Labrador to the Nova Scotian Banks in the south. - 20 - No. % No. Fish Parasi- Infec- Locality Examined tised tion Hamilton Inlet Bank 780 60 7.69 Northern Gulf off Cow Head 406 0 0 Magdalen Islands Area 893 0 0 st. Paul's Island Area 157 0 0 st. .Ann r s Bank 753 6 o.Bo East of Scatari Banlc 1785 0 0 Penguin Island lirea 248 0 0 E. Edge Grand Bank N. of Lat. 46°N. 1057 2 0,19 E. Edge Grand Bank Lat. 46° OO'N.-43° 30 1 N. 8578 21 0.24 Southern Tip Grand Bank 3732 6 0.16 s.w. Edge Grand Bank 541.0 0 0 St. Pierre Bank 626 2 0.32 Fortune Bay 33ll 0 0 R. C. Ehapp-Fisher Appendix No. 5 REDFISH STOMACH CONTENTS AND STOMACH EVERSION. PRELIMINARY REPORT Redfish Stomach C2.[!tents The collecting of redfish stomachs was started in July, 1953 and up to date 451 stomachs have been examined. Of this total 142 contained food, 132 were empty and 178 were extruded and the contents, if any, lost. The samples came from the eastern edge of the Grand Bank, northeast of Bonavista and from Hamilton Inlet Bank off Labrador. Considering all the samples together: The total volume of food present consisted of 67 per cent amphipods, 18 per cent fish, 13 per cent copepods, 2 per cent squid and 1 per cent euphausians. Of the feeding stomachs 84 per cent contained amphipods, 74 per cent copepods, 12 per cent fish, 16 per cent euphausians and 7 per cent squid. Thus the most important items in the diet were amphipods, copepods, and fish. Though euphausians occurred in 16 per cent of the stomachs they constituted a very small part of the total volume of food. Considering the samples individually the relative im portance of the various food organisms alters. The Hamilton Inlet Bank sample, from the eastern slope of the bank at 170 fathoms, was feeding mainly on hyperiid amphipods (82 per cent of all food from 99 per cent of the feeding stomachs); fish were found in 15 per cent of the stomachs and amounted to 2 per cent of the total food. - 21 - A sample from the eastern edge of the Grand Bank was feeding mainly on fish (82 per cent of the total food from 46 per cent of the feeding stomachs}. Amphipods were still found in a large proportion of the stomachs (62 per cent) but they amounted to only 11 per cent of the total food. A sample from northeast of Bonavista was also feeding mainly on fish but copepods were found in 82 per cent of the stomachs although they constituted only 9 per cent of the total food. Another sample from northeast of Bonavista was found to be feeding almost entirely on small squid with no amphipods or copepods present. Percentage of Total Stomachs Percentage of Total Volume Containing o:f Food Depth Euphau- Amphi- Cope Euphau- An'l.phi- Cope- Sample Fm. Fish sians pods pods Squid Fish sians pods pods Squid Eastern 170 4.5 11.3 98.8 89.8 1.9 o.4 81.9 15.5 Slope o:f Hamilton Inlet Bk. Eastern 200 46.1 38.4 61.5 23.1 7.7 82.4 J.2 11.3 o.4 2.7 Edge of Grand Bk. Northeast 188 36.4 27.3 45.5 81.8 9.1 87.8 1.2 2.1 8.6 0.3 of Bona- vi s ta (1) Northeast 328 11.1 22.2 77.7 24.2 2.J 72.5 of Bona- via ta (2) As the number of stomachs so far examined is small we can draw no definite conclusions regarding any change of diet with age. It does appear, however, that apart from changes due to local variations in feeding, the larger and older fish tend to feed on fish to a greater extent than do the younger ones. Size of Fish Percentage of Total Volume of Food Fish Euphausians .Amphipods Copepods Squid Below 33 cm. 0.5 O.J 79.2 18.2 1.8 Above 33 cm. 34. 7 1.2 56.8 6 .. 2 1.1 Below 33 cm. 4 per cent of the fish were feeding on fish while 26 per cent of those above 33 cm. were doing so. There is no evidence in these samples of the larger redf ish feeding on the smaller ones. It is apparent that the redfish feed above the bottom as none of the organisms constituting their diet have been identified as benthonic. - 22-- The following species have been identified as occuring in the stomach contents: Percentages (approx.) Fish Scaled lancet fish - Paralepis coregonoides borealis 89 Lantern fish - Ceratoscopelus maderensis 11 Crustacea Euphausiac ::i.'.3- Meganyctip~ ~egica 97 Thysanoessa inermis 3 • Amphipod~ - Hyperiidea Themisto libellula 80 Themisto gaudichaudi 12 ~sto abysso~ 8 Amphipoda w Garnmaridea Pseudalibrotus nanseni 50 P'S'eudalibrotus glacialis 50 Copepoda Calanus firnnarchicus 5 Calanus ~boreus 70 Pareuchaeta norvegica 5 Pareuch~ glacialis 20 The Eversion of Redfish Stomachs The eversion of redfish stomachs when they are being brought up in the trawl may be due to three main factors: (i) The depth at which the fish are caught. (ii) The rate at which the trawl returns to the surface. (iii) The size of the fish. In the samples examined the second factor can be ig nored as the rate of taking back the trawl is constant throughout. Six samples were taken in connection with the collection of stomachs for analysis and the following table shows the re sults obtained by relating the percentage eversion to both the depth fished and the size of the fish involved. - 23 - Total Percent- Total Fish at Percentage Everted at Fish age ever- Categories 160-188 230-260 328 160-188 230-260 328 at all ted at all --cm. fm. fro. f:m. fm. fm. fm. Depths _Depths 21 ... 30 72 59 3 31.9 47 .. 5 66.6 134 39.6 31-35 90 JO 75 31.l 40.0 62 .. 6 19.5 44.6 36-45 25 21 2 36.0 52.4 100.0 48 45 .. 8 All Sizes 187 110 80 32.1 46 .. 4 65 .. 0 377 43.2 This table shows an increase in the percentage of stomachs everted as the depth increases. There may also be an increase in the percentage eversion related to the size of the fish but this is less definite and more samples are needed here. D. G. Lambert Appendix No. 6 AMERICAN PLAICE (A) GROWTH (B) .FECUNDITY Growth of American Plaice The age of the American plaice can be estimated from a study of their otoliths. The average s~ze at various ages has been plotted (slightly smoothed) in the accompanying graph for four localities - three on the Grand Bank, the other in Notre Dame Bay.. Only the data regarding females are plotted. From figure 1 the growth of plaice from Notre Dame Bay is seen to be quite different from that of plaice from the Grand Bank. The Grand Bank samples differ among themselves in that the growth rate appears to be highest in the southeast, less in the north east and least in the northern part of the Bank. The males have a similar growth rate to females from the same locality up to about 40 cm. (on the Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank), but thereafter the male growth rate falls much more rapidly than that of the female. This is illustrated in figure 2 which gives the length/age curves for the males and females of St. Pierre Bank. Age at Maturit,;y There is not sufficient data at present to give the age at 50 per cent immature/ 50 per cent mature. However females generally mature at 16-21 years (almost all twenty year old females were mature) although three from St. Pierre Bank of 21 years (51 cm.), 22 years (50 cm.) and 23 years (55 cm.) were immature. The male plaice matures earlier - 9 years being + + + + 0 0 0 + 0 60 0 0 0 + + + 0 0 0 I 50 + + 0 ~ 40 0 Length 0 .....,,,,, in -.-.., Figure 1. ems. 30 0 .,. ..,.,. 0 ··- Age and Length of American Plaice -··-.. ...··- from the following localities 0 ··--·· ....., 0 ... + - South-east Grand. Banks ··- o - North-east Grand Banks 20 .,.··- -·· x - Northern Grand Banks ··--.- 0 -····- * - Notre Dame Bay 10 5 10_,_ 15_,_ 20_,_ 25_,_ 30_, _ 35 I ---- - _,_ - Age in years I 6Q • 0 •• I 50 / il!O CIO / I I I 40 0" .1) Length in Figure 2. ems. Age and length of male and I 30 ' female American plaice tHt oo from St. Pierre Bank o Female x Male I 20 Cl (I v 0 I I 10 5 10 15 26 25 30 I I 4 Q. " ...... ___ I _.. - ····,-~, ...... " Age in years - 26 - ~verage for Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank. Immature males were recorded from Notre Dame Bay of 10 years (25 cm.) and 15 years (33 cm.). Others were mature at 6 years (15 cm.) and up. Fecundity of the American Plaice The ovaries of nine American plaice were examined and the number of eggs present in each estimated. The plaice were taken between 25-28 March, 1952 on the western Grand Bank near Whale Deep, Lat. 45° 25 1 N., Long. 53° 00 1 W. The estimates ob tained for the different sizes are shown in the accompanying table. Fecundity of .American Plaice Length Whole Wt. Gutted Wt. Ovary Wt. cm. Age lb. lb. gm. Egg Count 45 12 1.69 1.50 47 156,000 52 19 2.25 1.81 103 324,000 56 25 3.38 2.69 92 256,ooo 58 24 4.63 3.25 145 387,000 62 32 5.19 4.13 234 865,000 64 31 5.25 3.94 279 6!1,000 66 28 5.56 4.25 255 660,000 70 35 8.25 6.50 393 1,193,000 74 37 8.75 6.38 611 1,412,000 The method (due to A. C. Simpson of the Fisheries Lab oratory, Lowestoft) was to preserve the ovaries in Gilson's fluid (using twice the normal amount of acetic acid). This served to macerate the ovarian tissue sufficiently for the eggs to be freed. All the immature eggs and fragments of ovarian tissue were washed away by repeated decanting. The clean eggs were then spread out on blotting paper and allowed to dry. When dry the eggs were weighed. A sample of five hundred was counted out and weighed. An estimate of the total egg count was then obtained as - Wt. of total eggs 500 Total Egg Count ; Wt. of 500 eggs x ,-- R. s. Keir - 27 - Appendix No. 7 HADDOCK AND PLAICE DISCARDED AT SEA BY NEWFOUNDLAND TRAWLERS Haddock Twice on the Grand Bank and once on St. Pierre Bank dur ing the first four months of 1953, haddock were measured on board commercial trawlers. Measurements were made before any of the haddock were discarded. These were compared with measurements made on the same catches after discharging ashore. In order to estimate percentages discarded in each case shore measurements have been adjusted for direct comparison with at-sea measurements by a ratio based on the assumption that all fish of 50 cm. and over are retained. The accompanying figure shows the relative numbers of haddock caught and retained since 1949. Comparison with last year's figures shows that a larger proportion of fish below 50 cm. length is being discarded. In 1952, 29% of the fish between 38 and 41 cm. and 20% of those between 42 and 45 cm. were discarded from Grand Bank catches, whereas this year 98% and 46% respectively of fish between those intervals were discarded. Comparison with 1950 however, shows that at that time about the same proportion of fish under 50 cm. was being discarded as this year. In the 38 to 41 cm. range 98% and in the 42 to 45 cm. range 62% were thrown away. . Of the total catch on the two Grand Bank trips this year 67% by number were discarded at sea as compared with 18% in 1952, and 52% ir1 1949. The high proportion thrown away this year is due to the large numbers of small haddock (from 34 to 40 cm.) which are being caught this year for the first time in large numbers, but are not yet large enough for the market. On the St. Pierre Bank trip a similarly large propor tion was discarded amounting to 74% of the total catch by number. The weight of the haddock discarded on all the Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank trips estimated from length frequency data, was 42% of the weight of the total catch. The captains of the trawlers estimated the weight of haddock retained and discarded on each drag. These estimates gave an average on all trips of 55% by weight of the catch discarded. In 1952 the estimates based on length measurements and those from the captains' figures were 9% and 8.7% by weight respectively. ,. - 28----- ··-----· ------______·------· - ··- ·- ·- . I 2500J I i 1949 (\ 1952 i :\ /\\ mui t~~~l;~s by. 20001 I , II ... 3) ' I r ~ . I I 11 '\ I ~ I 1500-i I\ :' '.'\ l I i. i \ I . ,'·\ 1: !.\\., l \. ,.q lOOG-! j:l:; \ .~ ! ' \~ i I \ j 50~ \ ;\ l ·,~\'\ .\ I \ i, \' •• ' -<::::,~:-.-- / '\.? ~ ·, ·~- '.~~-~~L-· _·~ :0001 ------·· - -- ,,..,ji ------·-- --·-... . r.::-~·-·--·- ! 1950 ( Samples multiplied by 2 2500 i I l l I I \ I 2000 1 I -I ! ' I 1 \ l i \ 1500 ....i ') j j l ; 1000 ~ l \ \ ,/:';;A.~ '\ I '' ) ' '\ ! '(: .I / ~- .. / 30 Length in Centimeters HADDOCK CATCHES & LANDINGS - ST JOHN'S ·--·-· Measured at sea • - - - - Measured ashore - 29 - .American Plaice Large random samples of the American plaice caught by a commercial trawler during two trips were measured at sea. Later further samples were measured on shore when the catch was being landed. This data is condensed in columns 2 and 3 of the table. Number Number Percent ~ize Measured Measured Ratio Calculated Discarded Group at Sea on Shore Sea/Shore (Shore x 3.26) Difference at Sea 15-27 133 0 0 133 100 28-29 59 0 0 59 100 30-31 120 2 60.0 7 113 94 32-33 171 7 24.4 23 148 87 34-35 277 16 17.J 52 225 81 36-37 329 41 B.o 134 195 59 38-39 479 82 5.8 267 212 44 40-41 583 158 J. 7) 42-43 783 261 J.O) Average 40-51 cm. = J.26 862 262 For purposes.of calculation it 44-45 J.J) was assumed that no plaice of 46-47 739 230 3.2) 48-49 499 129 3.9) these size groups were discar- 50-51 291 105 2.8) ded at sea. 52-53 236 57 4.1 186 50 21 54-55 216 50 4.3 163 53 25 56-57 165 55 J.O 179 -14 58-59 137 33 4 .. 1 108 29 21 60 ... 61 75 13 5.8 42 33 44 62-63 31 6 5.2 20 11 35 64-65 25 3 8.3 10 15 60 66 and 17 0 0 17 100 over Column 4 shows the ratio of the number measured at sea to the number measured on shore. This ratio is roughly constant (aver age 3.26) between 40 cm. and 51 cm. (inclusive) indicating that few plaice of these sizes were discarded. A number can be calcu lated {column 5), by multiplying the number measured on shore at each of the other size groups by 3.26, which is an estimate of the frequency which would have been obtained had the number mea sured between 40 cm. and 51 cm. on shore been equal to the number measured between 40 cm. and 51 cm. at sea. The difference (column 6) between this calculated frequency and that actually obtained at sea is an estimate of the number discarded. This is expressed as a percentage of the number caught in column 7. The smaller fish are discarded at sea since the plants do not accept them because the filleting of small fish is costly. The larger fish are discarded from the possibility that a great percentage of them would be thrown out on shore as jellied. · Since the variability in the ratio of sea to shore measurements is great even in the sizes defined as completely retained, and as there may be a bias 1n the measuring at sea in - 30 - favour of the larger sizes the percentage discarded given for fish between 52-59 cm. is probably much too high. B.G.H. Johnson R. S. Keir A. M. Fleming Appendix No. 8 THE FISCHLUPE A few Newfoundland fishing vessels have recently been fitted with the new German Elac-Fischlupe instrument which is designed for fish detection and depth location. Fishing vessels of some European countries have been fitted with this instrument and optimistic reports of its usefulness have appeared in the trade periodicals of these countries. The Fischlupe resembles conventional echo-sounders in sounding depth by means of high frequency sound waves, but differs from them in that - (a) the trace is recorded visually on a cathode ray tube. (b) provision is made for focussing on vertical water columns of about 8 fathoms anywhere from the sea bot tom to the surface as well as a continuous trace from the bottom to the surface. Phases of the water column can readily be scanned by means of manual controls and the actual depth being shown at the zero mark on the cathode ray screen is registered on a dial. The models of the machine in use in Newfoundland have a maximum in dicating depth of 300 fathoms. The sea-bottom and intervening shoals of fish are re corded on the screen as horizontal flashes. The impulses are transmitted and received at the rate of 78 per minute. The ·manufacturers claim that shoals of herring and similar species cause dense, fine lines and these can be distinguished from broader and longer traces which are caused by the larger ground fish such as cod, haddock and redfish. It seems reasonable that larger animals such as the tuna, swordfish and marine mammals, if they occurred below the ship, would also give dis tinctive traces. Opportunities were provided during trips on the trawler Blue Spray and on the Danish seiner Golden Glow to ob• serve the Fischlupe in action. As these vessels have only recently been fitted with the instrument, the following evalua tion of its potentialities must necessarily be of a preliminary nature. It seems unlikely that this instrument will be able to detect the presence of flatfish, e.g. American plaice or witch - 31 - flounder as these could not be separated from the sea bottom trace. A$ flatfish are probably not detected, it would appear that the Fischlupe will be of little assistance in the present Danish seine-net fishery in Fortune Bay where the witch flounder is almost exclusively the only species taken. Evidence of the value of the Fischlupe is more con clusive in the case of f isherie'S for cod, haddock and redfish from the experience on the Blue Spray and from the reports of European fishing vessels. During the trip on the Blue Spray, only a few redfish were taken hence no observations could be made on this species. The distribution of cod over the area fished was apparently patchy. When a set with the trawl was made in areas yielding strong traces near the bottom on the Fischlupe, good catches of small and medium sized cod were taken. Large cod and haddock were scarce. If sets were made when no traces were visible on the Fischlupe, cod were almost entirely absent from the catches. The experience of this trip suggests that traces need not be dense to obtain a good haul of fish and hence, by close ob servations of the instrument, the most desirable duration of the haul can probably be determined. An obvious difficulty encountered at present is that of distinguishing between different species and different sizes of roundfish. It is possible however that, after further ex perience with this instrument, some species and sizes may be found to yield distinctive traces. This instrument is undoubt edly a great asset to fishing as it can be used for surveying prospective fishing grounds and, in the case of roundfish, the fisherman obtains a fairly accurate idea of the likely success or failure of fishing operations. R. W. Ellis Appendix No. 9 EFFECTIVENESS OF COD-TAGS USED 1950 In the table below are shown the returns up to October 23 for cod tagged during 1950 in early August at Fogo and mostly in September at St. Johnts. A number of different tags and methods of tagging were used in an attempt to find the most suitable for future use. Eliminating the unsuccessful bachelor button tag the· average percentage recaptures per year have been 1950 - 6.7, 1951 - 12.8, 1952 - 4.5, 1953 - l.b. During the first year tagging was deliberately delayed until most of the fishing was over. Effectiveness of Various Types of Tags Used at St. John's and Fogo - 1950 Number Per Cent Recaptures Total Average Average Tagged 1950 1951 1952 To Oct.23,1953 1950-1953 1950-1953 1951-1953 T.ypes and Positions st. St. st. st. St. st. St. John's St.John's of Tags John's Fogo John's Fogo John's Fogo John's Fogo John's Fogo John's Fogo & Fogo & Fogo Smolt ;.. Dor·sal Fin 118 56 8.5 7.1 17.8 17.9 5.9 3.6 1.7 J.6 33.9 32 .. 1 33.J 25.3 Smol t ·- Pre..-opercular 119 57 11.8 8.8 10.l 14.o 3.4 3.5 2.5 0 27.7 26.3 27.3 16.5 Smol t - Maxilla 115 63 10.4 9.5 8.7 11.1 J.5 0 3.5 1.6 26 .. 1 22.2 24.7 14.6 211 Red Pre-opercular lll 7.2 17.1 10.8 3.6 38.7 38.7 Jl.5 I - VJ I'\) Opercular Button 552 284 7.1 3.5 4.9 2.8 0.7 0.7 0 0 12 .• 7 7 .o 10 .. 8 4.9 2 n Red - Belly 352 315 8.o 4.8 9.1 10.5 3.1 2.5 2.3 o.6 22.4 18.4 20,.5 14.1 2" Orange ;... Belly 352 286 7 .4 2.1 11.6 10 .. 8 2.6 4.9 Ll 0 22.7 17.8 20.5 15.5 3" Orange ·- Belly 359 294 8.6 4.8 11.1 ll.6 3.9 8.5 2.5 1.0 26.2 25.9 26.0 19.1 4" Or an ge - Belly 346 283 7.5 5.3 12.4 12.0 4.0 3.9 1. 7 1 .. 8 25.7 23 .. 0 24 • .5 18.o 511 Orange - Belly 355 298 7.3 5.o 17.7 20 .• 1 5.9 5.o 1.7 1.3 32.7 31.5 32.2 25.9 Total 2779 1936 7.9 4.6 ll.l ll.6 3.6 4.1 1. 7 0.9 24.3 21.2 23.0 16.4 Total other than 2227 16.52 8.1 4.8 12.6 13.l 4.3 4.7 2.1 1.0 27.1 23.6 25.7 18.9 Opercular Button - 33 - In 1953 the third year after tagging no bachelor button tags were returned while the other tags are all still to some degree effective with mostly one to over three per cent return. For the period 1950-1953 the most effective tags have been a two-inch red tag of cellulose acetate attached to the pre opercular by nickel wire - 38.7% return, a 13/16 in. pink cellu lose acetate smolt tag attached below the anterior base of the first dorsal - 33.0% return and a five-inch orange vinylite plastic body cavity tag with a 32.1% return. The bachelor button tag composed of plastic and aluminum gave the poorest returns, 9.9%. In returns subsequent to the tagging year which yields little results of value the best tags gave 25-32% recapture and the poorest only 4.6%. W. Templeman T. K. Pitt Appendix No. 10 MEASUREMENTS OF GROUNDF I SHES IN THE NEVvFOUNDLAND AREA In the various exploratory fishing operations and in the statistical study of commercial fish landings, large numbers of fish have been measured. These measurements aid in determin ing the effects of large scale exploitation of fishing grounds on fish size, indicate the appearance of new year classes and give background information in the study of new fishing areas and methods. In 1952, 69,000 cod, 14,ooo redfish, 16,ooo haddock and 12,000 American plaice were measured and during 1953 up to the end of October 72,000 cod, 20,000 redfish, 31,000 haddock and 14,000 American plaice. T. K. Pitt A. M. Fleming Appendix No. 11 SOME OBSERVATIONS ON GROUNDFISH LANDINGS IN NEWFOUNDLAND Cod have always made up the bulk of groundfish landings in Newfoundland. In 1947, cod formed over 97% of the total groundfish landings, but in subsequent years this percentage has decreased somewhat each year. In 1952, the percentage of cod in the total ground fish landings had dropped to about 87. This decrease was due in part to a decrease in the amount of cod "-... Ground.fish Landings Newfoundland 1952 No.of No.of Days Landings in Thousands of Pounds * Method of Fishing -Boats Trips Absent Cod Haddock Pollock Halibut Redfish Plaice Witch- Wolffish Shore boats 382,961 357 330 174 320 16 212 Danish seiners 2 27 163 3 57 9 692 Dory schooners 10 53 544 3,799 13 o.5 49 21 22 Otter trawlers 22 624 4240 8,913 8,711 113 60 31,125 15,973 1,911 47 Total 395,677 9,081 444 283 31,182 16,323 2,619 281 -it- Weights of Cod, Haddock, Pollock and Wolffish are head-on, gutted; Halibut, head-off, gutted; Redfish, Plaice and Witch, whole. Estimated Landings in Newfoundland of the Main Species of Groundfish, 1947-1952 (Weights in Thousands of Pounds) Year Cod Haddock Halibut Redfish Plaice Witch- 1947 560,859 9,198 260 3,839 328 298 1948 472,523 19,701 246 10,079 2,190 669 1945 484,454 24,316 103 16,396 5,361 1,509 1950 43.5, 274 20,495 410 25,829 9,681 2,142 1951 456,753 6,215 332 35,739 12,207 2,927 1952 395,677 9,081 283 31,182 16,323 2,619 - 35 - landed and partly to an increase in the landings of other ground fish, as fisheries for other species developed or increased. The cod landings were lower than for any of the ten years ' ' 1952 previous. In fact, though some fluctuation has occurred, the trend in cod landings has been downward for a number of years. The past few years have seen the decline to veritable extinction of dory fishing for cod with large schooners. This has resulted mainly because of lack of fishing crews. Fishing by shore fishermen for cod on Labrador is at an all-time low. Difficulties are experienced in marketing the small heavily salted cod produced in the Labrador area, and this, combined with rising costs of fisheries supplies, has caused a progressive decrease in the number of ships and men engaged in the Labrador fishery. Opportunities for employment outside the fishery have in the past few years been better than usual and each year the number of boats engaged in the shore fishery decreases as there is a continued movement of men out of the fisheries into other occupations. The development of the otter-trawl fishery has done little to increase the landings of cod~ for this fishery is mainly toward the capture of other species, with only a small portion of effort expended on cod. It is evident, from these factors, that a decrease in fishing effort rather than a lack of abundance of fish has been the main attribute in the decline of cod landings. In addition to factors already mentioned as contri buting to the decline of landings, in 1952 almost continuous stormy autumn weather reduced fishing inshore and the resultant reduction in landings from the inshore .fishery was an important factor in the low cod total for that year. Though the fresh fish industry has increased in impor tance, approximately 83~ of the 1952 cod landings were salted, the bulk of this being landed by small inshore boats. With the increase in the number of otter-trawlers in Newfoundland, and development of new fisheries, the landings of many species have increased year by year. Haddock landings, mainly from otter-trawlers, increased steadily up to 1950, but in 1951 and 1952 landings were low. In 1951, the majority of an abundant year class (1946) were just below commercial size and these were taken in large numbers while fishing for haddock, and had to be discarded. Consequently, otter-trawlers found it more profitable to fish redfish, plaice and cod. In 1952, landings of haddock were somewhat higher than in 1951. There was some concentration of haddock in February and March on the southwestern part of the Grand Bank when about 77% of the year's landings were taken. However, with high favourable bottom temperatures extending northward in the Grand Bank area, haddock schools spread over the bank with no concen trations sufficient for successful otter trawling after April. , / ,...... _.;1...- , f-\ - Landings of redf ish increased up to 1951 as more effort was directed to the catch of this species. In 1952, landings were below those of the previous year. This decrease apparently was caused by a shift of fishing effort toward catching cod and haddock, which was caused in turn by low prices in the United States market for redfish relative to those for cod and haddock. Landings of plaice continue to increase with increasing exploitation of this species particularly on the eastern edge and northwestern section of the Grand Bank. Witch landings increased up to 1951. This species is taken mainly in the fishery for cod and haddock on the southwest edge of the Grand Bank. In 1952, the fishery for haddock on the southwest edge of the bank lasted for a short time only and the offshore landings of witch as a consequence, were down somewhat. The total landings for the year were brought close to the 1951 total, however, through the development of an inshore Danish seine fishery in Fortune Bay on the south coast of Newfoundland, in which good catches of witch were made. Landings of halibut are low. Because of the low New foundland price as compared to that in Nova Scotia, much of the halibut taken is not landed in Newfoundland. With few schooners line-fishing for halibut, a large portion of the landings in Newfoundland are from otter-trawlers which catch halibut inci dentally while fishing for other species. Much of the otter trawl effort is concentrated in areas and depths not expected to be very productive of halibut. Small amounts of other ground.fish (pollock, wolffish and hake) are landed each year, these usually being taken incidentally while fishing for other species. Collection of Data of Catch and Effort In preparation for a program of collection of catch statistics in 1953, the Newfoundland Fisheries Research Station attempted to contact all offshore fishing ships landing their catches in Newfoundland in an effort to obtain from the captains or some responsible crew member, a record of the grounds fished, the kinds and amounts of saleable fish landed, amounts discarded at sea, and the effort expended to make the catch. By January 1, 1953, record sheets were in the hands of otter-trawler captains, or the fishing companies operating the ships. The fish companies and ships' officers have been very co-operative and records are being obtained from practically the entire otter-trawler fleet. Records are being obtained also from the majority of the Danish seiners operating inshore on the south coast. Catch and effort data of the commercial long-lining boats at Bonavista are being obtained through interview of the fishermen by company officials. A program of sampling of landed catches is in continu ous operation at St. John's and Burin, and sampling of landings from boats of the inshore and long-lining fisheries at Bonavista was carried out during July. In July and early August each plant having otter trawlers or Danish seiners operating was visited and as many as possible of the people keeping records for the Station on ship and ashore were met with, and problems discussed. It is the intention to have fishing record sheets printed in the form of log books, to be placed on board fishing ships at the beginning of 1954, and so arranged that records are kept in duplicate, one copy to be detached for the Station, the other to remain with the book as a permanent record of the ship 1 s fishing. In 1954 the program of collection and sampling will be continued, and where possible expanded and improved in an attempt to get the best possible information obtainable on the fishing of ships landing their catches in Newfoundland. A. M. Fleming Appendix No. 12 RECORDS OF RARE FISHES FROM THE NE~¥0UNDLAND AREA 1952-1953 Synaphobranchus pinnatus Gi.inther The first specimen of this fish brought to the Station was taken by the commercial dragger Blue Foam, October 29, 1952,at Lat. 43° 25'N., Long. 49° 26 1 W., in 130-300 fath. Another was captured by the same dragger on June 11, 1953, at Lat. 43·0 45 TN., Long. 52° 08 1w., in 145-250 fath. Eight others were taken by the Investigator II on July 12, 13, 14, and 17, 1953, in depths of 155-300 fath. and Lat. 44° 26 1 N., Long. 53° 18rw., Lat. 43° 43'N., Long. 52° 06 1 W., and Lat. 43° 32 1 N., Long, 51° 39 1 w. (These positions are on the S.W. edge of the Grand Bank). Poronotus triacanthus (Peck) One specimen was taken by the commercial dragger Blue Foam on Feb. 21, 1953, in 60-80 fath. at Lat. 44° 40'N., Long • 5 3 ° 3 8 1 W. Myctophum simile Taning Several specimens of this lanternfish were taken by the Investigator II on July 13, 1953, in depths of 300-340 fath. at Lat. 43° 41 1 N., Long. 52° 03'W. - 38 - Stomias boa f erox Reinhardt Four specimens were taken by the Investigator II trawl ing in 300-360 fath. at Lat. 43° 29'N., Long. 51° 34rw. and Lat. 43° 4l'N., Long. 52° 03 1 w. This species was previously re corded by the Newfoundland Fisheries Research Station in 1951. CoryPhaenoides rupestris Gunnerus Seventy specimens of this grenadier were taken by the Investigator II on July 17, 1953, in depths of 230-360 fath. at Lat. 44° 03'N., Long. 52° 37 1 w. This is a first record for the Newfoundland Fisheries Research Station but is previously recor ded as taken off Newfoundland. Bathytroctes (Talismania) homopterus Vaillant Two specimens were taken by the Investigator II on July 17, 0 1953, in depths of 230-260 fath. at Lat. 440 03'N., Long. 52 37'W~ This is a first record for the Newfoundland area. Antimora viola (Goode & Bean) Jordan Twenty two specimens of the blue hake were taken by the Investigator II on July 17, 1953, in 230-360 fath. at Lat. 44° 03'N., Long. 52° 37'W. This is also a first record for the Newfoundland area. · Macdonaldia rost~ata (Collett) Goode & Bean Four specimens were taken by the Investigator II on July 17, in depths of 230*360 fath. at Lat. 44° 03'N., Long. 52 0 37'W. A specimen was previously taken off Newfound land by the Hirondelle. H. J. Squires Appendix No. 13 ATLANTIC SALMON RESEARCH Bay du Nord Rive:i:z._§molt Run This is a large river emptying into Fortune Bay on the south coast of Newfoundland. About nine miles of its length is accessible to salmon. It is frequented only occasionally by anglers nor is there much of a commercial fishery for salmon in Fortune Bay. Its value as a salmon resource is mainly potentialo - 39 - Investigations covered the smolt run, the salmon run, and a survey of the lower part of the river. Both fyke traps and a complete net f'ence were used for the smolt count. The fyke traps were useless for the purpose of estimating smolt runs as they had been on Terra Nova and Gander rivers. The net fence was very satisfactory and appears to be ideal for a temporary fence that can be easily transported to a different river each year. Fyke Trap~. Work was started on the ri~er on March 19. The lower part of the river was frozen over and it took two days to clear a passage to the site chosen for operations. The traps were set at the head of tide by fastening to a rope which stretch ed from bank to bank, a distance of 380 feet. From 4 to 9 traps were fished 74 days, from March 30 to June 12. From May 3 to May 28 the percentage of the width of the river fished was 98.2e It was during this period that the smolt run reached its peak. In spite of the high fishing effort the total catch of smolts in fyke traps for the season was only 9. The depth of the traps was 5 feet. At low tide they fished from the surface of the water to the bottom of the river and at high tide from the surface to within 1 or 2 feet of the bottom. Unfortu..~ately pressure of work at the smolt fence did not leave any time for investigating the movements of the smolts in evading so much fishing gear. Smalt Fence. The fence was situated 600 feet below the head of tide and the river was completely barred from bank to bank. The width of the river at this point was 580 feet and the depth of water in the channel 9 feet during normal spring conditions. The fence was V-shaped with the trap at the down stream end of the V. The length of one arm of the fence was 560 feet and of the other arm 360 feet. The size of the trap was 10 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 10 feet high with ballast pounds along each side which were 2 feet wide and 4 feet high. The fence proper consisted of sections of netting sup ported by piers. The net sections were 40 feet long and 15 to 18 feet deep, made of 9 thread cotton with a mesh size of 1 inch stretched measurec Half inch chain was attached to the full length of the foot ropes to keep nets on the bottom. The piers were triangular in shape, 6 feet to a side and the height depending on the depth of water. Smalt Count. Co~mting and tagging operations were done on an 8 1 x 10 1 float whi~h was moored beside the elevator at the lower end of the trapo The door to the elevator was opened and smolts all:.:Y:red to enter as required. The bottom of the elevator was raised to within a short distance of the surface of the water and the smolts transferred to the anaesthetizing tank on the float by means of a small dip net. The anaesthetiz ing tank was 4 1 x 4: x 3' in size and made of waterproof canvas. - 40 - The anaesthetic was urethane. Twenty gallons of water were placed in the tank and a pound of urethane dissolved in it. Urethane was added when the solution became weaker and occasion ally a fresh solution was prepared. The amount of urethane used for the season was 5 pounds. After counting, measuring, and marking, the smolts were put in a recovery cage which rested in the water beside the float. Here they started to swim around in 2 or 3 minutes but for a while after appeared dazed so were kept in the cage for half an hour or more to make sure the effects of the anaesthetic had disappeared. In releasing them the recovery cage was merely tipped on its side so that the smolts could swim away. The fence remained in good fishing order for the season and the count therefore should be accurate. The fence was com pleted on May 1 and the first smolts were taken on May 6. The last smolt was taken June 30 and the fence removed July 2. The count of smolts and other fish is given in the following table by weeks. Brook Trout 6 in. & 12 in. & Over Gasper- Week Ending Smolts Kelts Parr under under 12 in. eau Smelt Eels May 9 61 1 32 8 2 16 1.520 5 158 25 19 6 l 3 23 2490 26 254 31 21 11 5 30 3031 7 184 32 22 7 2 June 6 1241 6 42 24 ll 1 1 2 13 401 1 78 42 48 2 7 l 20 103 4 80 46 60 1 1 3 27 26 2 17 8 17 1 l 1 July 4 3 4 3 2 2 Total· 8876 56 848 218 198 31 12 2 16 The total count of smelts for the· season was 8876. Of this number, 6511 were tagged, 2193 were fin-clipped, 151 were released without marking, 12 did not recover from the anaesthetic, and 9 were killed in removing from the trap. The run reached a maximum the last week of May when about one third of the total smolts descended. The high daily numbers were:- 1188, May 25; 976, May 24; 657, May 17; and 542, June 3. The movement of large numbers of smolts downstream on May 24 and 25 coincided with heavy rainfall. The rain started in the afternoon of the 23rd. There was heavy rain and thunder that night. Heavy rain continued on the 24th while the 25th was very stormy with heavy wind and rain. Temperature and height of water data have not been worked up as yet. The trap was cleared of smolts at 8 a.m., 2 p.m., and 8 p.m. Of the total smolts for the season 4828 were trapped during the day-period, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 4048 during the night-period, 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. In the weekly totals it is evident that the day-period smolts outnumber the night-period smolts mainly when there were large numbers of smolts descending. Of the total day-period smolts, 2671 were trapped during the - 41 - morning period, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 2157 during the afternoon period, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Smolt Marking. Of the 8876 smolts counted, 8704 were marked in various ways in the hope of improving present techni ques. The numbers marked each way were:- ~ Description Number 1 Tag, straight wire, and disc 2193 2 Tag, crimped wire, and disc 2193 Tag, pin, and disc 2095 4 Strip tag 30 5 Fin-clipped (dorsal and adipose) 2193 All tags were attached immediately in front of the dorsal fin. The smolt run was practically over when the strip tag was received from the manufacturer. The other types were used in almost equal numbers. The total number to which tags were attached was 6511 and 45 (0.7%) of these were accounted for this year as follows:- No. % of of Returns Tagged Where Found 18 0.28 Salmon nets 11 0.17 Sea trout stomachs (fence) 9 0.14 Fence nets and river bottom 3 0.05 Cod stomachs 2 0.03 Cod trap and cod net 2 0.03 Herring nets These returns do not represent fish mortality since the tag wire was entangled or caught up in the twine of the nets. Most of the tags returned were the pin type. Of the returns from nets the types of tags were repre sented as follows:- pin, 64,0%; crimped wire, 20.0%; and straight wire, 16.0%. The journey seaward is indicated by the recaptures in cormnercial nets. Nineteen were taken west of the mouth of Bay du Nord River, 2 to 19 days after tagging and 2.8 to 3.5 miles from the fence. Three, more distant recaptures in Fortune Bay were: one a.t St. Kiels on the west side of Fortune Bay, 8.5 miles in 14 days, one at St. Bernards on the east side of Fortune Bay, 25 miles in 21 days; and finally one at Grand Bank Cape near the outer end of Fortune Bay, 44 miles in 57 dayso These fish were obviously travelling at a slow rate. The only return (1.1%) this year from the 92 smolts tagged on the Terra Nova River in 1952 was also from the east side of Fortune Bay. It was a 3.5 pound grilse which travelled at least 380 miles. - 42 - Bay du Nord River, Salmon Count The salmon trap was placed in the river at the same time as the smolt trap and next to it. The piers and netting were put in place later as time permitted. The arms of the fence extended downstream from the trap 640 feet to one bank and 400 feet to the other. It was of similar construction to the smolt fence except all the piers were 75 feet apart, the bar nets were made of 12 thread cotton twine, and the size of the mesh was 2 inches, stretched measure. The fence was completed on June 9 and the first salmon appeared June 20c The weekly count was as follows:- Week Ending Salmon Grilse Total June 20 1 1 2 II 27 6 6 12 July 4 8 13 21 It 11 8 21 11 18 7 17 ~4 ti 25 1 10 11 Aug. 1 0 0 0 !l 8 5 11 16 II 15 0 4 4 ti 22 3 2 5 II 29 0 0 0 serit· 5 4 3 7 t 12 0 0 0 II 19 0 1 1 fl 26 0 Oct. 3 10 ~ l~ " 10 0 0 0 Total 53 98 151 The total count of salmon and grilse for the season was 151. The percentage of these that were grilse was 64.9. The main run occurred around the middle of July with smaller runs early in August and the first part of October. Ninety-seven of the fish were tagged and 3.1% were caught by anglers about 3000 feet upstream from the fence. The warden reported 23 fish caught by anglers which is 15.2% of the number of fish counted entering the river. The warden's report is considered accurate since anglers are few and they practi cally all fish in one spot. The proportion caught by anglers as determined by tagging is obviously quite low. Bay du Nord River, Survey A general survey was made of the lower 9 miles of the river. Two and a half miles of this was in tidal water while the remaining 6i miles can roughly be divided into three equal sections according to type of bottom. In the lower section there is deep, steady water, sand and mud-buttom, straight banks, - 43 - and poor shade. The middle section consists of water it to 5 feet deep, swift current, fair to excellent shade, and a bottom of rubble, coarse and fine gravel with some large and small boulders, about 5334 yards of excellent spawning ground. The upper section is composed of bed rock bottom, deep pools, rapids, and has four high falls. Two of the falls are each 19 feet in height, passable but difficult, and may be impassable during low water. One is 25 feet high and passable at all levels of water. The other is Smoky Falls which is 56 feet high but has a f ishway around it. So far, however, salmon do not seem to find the fishway and further work will be required to induce salmon to use tt. The river valley has high hills on either side and the 14 tributaries of the section surveyed are impassable for salmon a very short distance from the main river. For instance, on the two largest tributaries the distances accessible to salmon are 1400 yards and 750 yards. Eight of the tributaries have natural dams or impassable falls, four have beaver dams, and two have not enough water most of the year. About 3110 yards of good spawning ground are provided by these tributaries. Because of the steep hills little, if any, improvement could be effected by removing barriers. Parr were seen or seined in five of the tributaries. Big Still, above Smoky Falls, is a large pond 2t miles long and 1/3 mile wide. In two thirds of its area the water is less than a yard in depth and there is a dense growth of water plants. The bottom is mostly mud, sand, and gravel. In four places a small trap with 100 feet of leader was fished for a total of 22 days. The catch consisted of 157 brook trout, 28 lake salmon, and 2 smelt. Nineteen of the lake salmon were tagged. Sizes of brook trout were 4.3 in. to 14.4 in. and lake salmon 5.8 in. to 14.9 in. Northwest Brook is a fairly large tributary emptying into the Big Still on the west side. From the mouth for about 400 yards there is good spawning ground, followed by 350 yards of very steep rapids and a series of five falls which may be impassable in low water. Bay de Verde, Salmon Tagging Bay de Verde is in Conception Bay at the seaward end of the peninsula separating Trinity and Conception Bays. It was considered to be a good place to tag salmon because traps are in use and the catch is usually good. This year the fishery was very poor. It was hampered by rough weather in the early part of the season when the salmon run is best. Later in the season the weather was suitable but the grilse were scarce. All along the east coast weather appears to be as effective in restricting catches as any conservation measure. Between May 18 and July 11, 167 fish were tagged. Eighty-seven of these were salmon and 80 were grilse. The per centage returns were: salmon 20.7, grilse 17.5, and total 19.2. - 44 - Total returns dropped from 27.6% for the May 18-June 15 tagging period to 4.8% for the June 16-July 11 period. The above re sults are in good agreement with previous tagging in other places on the east coast of Newfoundland and Labrador except for the 1940 Bonavista tagging, proportionate returns of which were about double any obtained since. Data on fishing effort are not available but it is known that it declined considerably in 1941 when the British salmon market was lost • • The distribution of returns is given in the table below. The general trend of movement from the tagging station was to the north for both grilse and salmon. They went to all three coasts of Newfoundland and to Quebec. Although grilse spread to the same areas as salmon, a higher proportion went short distances. Exactly half of the total recaptures were from the three bays, Bonavista, Trinity, and Conception, near the tagging station while 64.3% of the grilse recaptures and 38.9% of the salmon recaptures were from these bays. From the tagging station at the southern end of the east coast it took these fish about 3 weeks to go to the White Bay area at the northern end of the east coast, over a month to the west coast and Quebec, and about 2 weeks to the southwest coast. The fish that went to the southwest coast made much better time than the White Bay fish since they travelled about 350 miles in 2 weeks as against 250 miles in 3 weeks for the latter. It could be that the Labrador Current has a retarding effect on the progress of fish moving north. The Trinity Bay fish made exceptionally poor time taking two and a half weeks to go 30 miles. There are only small rivers in this bay and it may be that the grilse had reached their destination but it is doubtful if the salmon had. A more likely interpretation of the facts is that salmon enter the bay because of the deep channel which extends right to the head of it. It is at the latter place where salmon in fair numbers are occasionally taken in early winter. Also a fair number of tagged fish from the various tagging stations on the east coast have turned up on the north side of this bay. Distribution of Tag Returns from Bay de Verde Tagging Tagging-Recapture Interval (Av.Days) Locality Grilse Salmon Total Grilse Salmon East Coast White Bay 1 6 7 27 20.8 Notre Dame Bay 1 1 2 41 28 Bonavista Bay 2 2 13.0 Trinity Bay 5 3 ~ l~:g i4.3 Conception Bay 2 2 4 4.5 .5 Southwest Coast 1 1 2 14 12 West Coast 1 2 3 22 38.0 Quebec 1 1 2 57 35 - 45 - Anglers accoilnted for one tagged fish. It was caught on St. Jean du Nord River, Que., and travelled farther than any of the other recaptured fish, a distance of 700 miles. The propor tion of sea-tagged fish taken by anglers has been consistently low. For the past three years the percentages are: Change Is lands 1.9; Flat Island 0.3; and Bay de Verde 0.5. Nickel wire and nickel pins were alternately used in attaching tags to the first 76 fish tagged. The pin method was discontinued because it was found to be slower than the usual wire method. Returns were exactly the same for both, namely 10 fish out of 38 tagged each way. Fall Salmon Fishery at Twillingate To confirm and supplement the information obtained about this fishery in 1951, a further investigation was carried out in 1952 from the middle of November to the middle of December. The fishing season extended from the first week in October to January 13. It is a small fishery and will likely remain so if for no other reason than adverse weather conditions. For instance, a severe storm on November 13, 1952, wrecked a con siderable amount of gear and from two to seven fishing days were lost. However, the incentive will always be there for a fishery in spite of the expense and hardship because of a ready sale and good price for the product at such an unusual time of the year for salmon to be striking the coast. Fall salmon are also taken at other places on the east coast but not in the numbers and not so consistently as at Twillingate. Catch forms were again distributed to the fishermen and better returns were obtained, 16 out of 23 sending in complete returns as compared with 5 out of 22 in 1951. This is encourag ing since it indicates that with a little persistence fishermen will co-operate in supplying details of their catch. There were 25 fishermen prosecuting the fishery. Two of these were not contacted when distributing forms. Two did not submit any re turns; five gave partial returns; and 16 sent in complete returns. The 16 fishermen operated 25 nets and caught 658 salmon, the round weight of which was 7352 pounds. The average catch per net for the season was 26.3 and the average weight 11.2 pounds. The nets ranged in length from 40 to 60 fathoms, the average being 46.8 fathoms. The catch per net for the season seems low but comparable records are not available for comparison with the summer fishery. The average weight as reported by fishermen is one and a half pounds lower than that obtained by sampling. The number of fish sampled for scales, length, weight, sex, and maturity was 246. The weights ranged from 5.75 to 25.75 pounds with 60.8% of the fish being under 15 pounds and the average being 12.8 pounds. These fish are about a pound heavier than the summer salmon in this area. The fish were bought round by the buyer but dressed for marketing so arrange ments were made with the buyer to examine the fish for sex and maturity. The percentage of females was 73.0 for the total sample - 46 - and slightly higher, 77.4, for salmon over 15 pounds. An esti mate was made of the size of the gonads in relation to the length of the body cavity. Of the 246 fish the length of gonads in 234 fish was 25% or less of the length of the body cavity and in 12 fish it was in the 25 to 50% category. Apparently they are not fish that are due to spawn during the fall of capture. It cannot be said that they are on their way to rivers when caught at Twillingate but the tagging in both years, 1951 and 1952, indi cates that they are not related to local rivers. The tagging was done between November 22 and December 11 and only 36 salmon were lively enough to tag. In spite of the small numbers tagged the returns for the two years are consistent in showing the salmon are long-distance travellers. Details of the tagging in 1951 and 1952 are given in the table below. Fall Salmon Tagged at Twillingate in 1951 and 1952 Tagging- Date No .. % Dis- Date Recapt-c.re Tag- Tag- Retur- tance Recap- Interval ged ged ned Place Recaptured (Miles) tu.red (Days) NoT.29/51 28 7.1 Miramiohi Bay, N.B. 687 May 27/52 180 Nov.30/51 Seven Islands Bay, Que. 648 June 21/52 204 Dec.10/52 36 11.l Petites, S.W. Coast, Nfld. 550 May 28/53 169 Dec.9/52 Carleton, Chaleur Bay, Que. 700 June 16/53 189 Nov.27/52 Beresford, Chaleur Bay, N. B. 682 June 13/53 198 Nove27 /52 St. John R., N. B. 945 July 6/53 221 All recaptured fish were taken during the year following tagging. The tagging-recapture intervals were between 169 and 221 days. The salmon taken at Petites on the southwest coast of Newfound land travelled the shortest distance, 550 miles, and was the only return from Newfoundland waters. The salmon that was caught in the St. Jobn River, N. B., went the greatest distance, 945 miles. Also this is the first record of a salmon tagged in the Newfound land area being caught in the St. Jobn River area. Previously St. Jobn River salmon were regarded as not having a widespread distribution in the sea. Preliminary Investigations of the Little Codroy River Decline of the Atlantic salmon fishery in eastern Canada has provided stimulus for expansion of research in an attempt to improve management practices. To provide data for proper adjustment of the fishery regulations, a iong-term re search project is being set up on the Little Codroy River in New foundland and will begin operation during the spring of 1954. The purpose of the project is to provide information on the effects of the physical, chemical, and biological factors of the freshwater environment of the salmon in an attempt to assess the causes of natural fluctuations in their abundance. - 47 - ' The research program will be centered around a detailed study of the salmon to determine their growth, length, weight, and age composition; reproduction and spawning escapement; food and feeding habits; behaviour; diseases, predators, and competitors; and the estimation of population abundance by means of counting fences, creel census, seining, and electrofishing. The counting fences will be operated every season to record the number of descending smolts and kelts, as well as the number of ascending grilse and salmon. The smolts will be marked to provide informa tion on their movements in the sea and their contribution to the various sport and cormnercial fisheries. At the same time, quantitative data will be obtained on the physical and chemical environment of the streams and ponds in the Little Codroy drain age basin, and the estimation of standing crops of bottom fauna and plankton. The project will also be able to obtain complete meteorological data for the area for the duration of the investigations from the records of the Department of Transport radio-range and weather station at St. Andrew's, Newfoundland. In order that the results have practical value, and therefore the widest possible application, it is necessary that the river be suitable. The Little Codroy possesses all the characteristics considered essential for the project. They are as follows: 1. There is an adequate stock of salmon. From anglers' catch records supplied by the Department of Fisheries in st. John's, for the years 1942, 1944, 1945, and 1947 to 1953 inclusive (table 1), it is seen that there has been an average of 88 salmon taken each year; and that the mean weight of the fish has been 8.o pounds. It is felt, however, that the data in the table is not too reliable, particularly with regard to the number of rod days. The apparent change in fishing effort may be the result of changes in administra tion rather than changes in abundance. The table does give, in a general way, an indication of fishing conditions. It is, for example, interesting to note that for the years 1950 to 1953 inclusive, the catch per angler has been 1.2 salmon weighing 8.7 pounds, while the catch per rod day has been 0.4 salmon weighing 3.0 pounds. During this period, there has been an average of 70 rods and 203 rod days per year, This amounts to three fishing days per week per season. On the basis of this data, it may be assumed that the stock of salmon in the Little Codroy is reasonably adequate for the proposed program of research, and. further, that these fish are somewhat larger than salmon from many other rivers in Newfoundland. 2. The river system is small and can be divided into three main regions, namely, an estuary about four miles in length~ the main river about four miles in length, and the headwaters about seven miles in length. The small size will permit com plete and thorough coverage on all aspects of the project. 3. The river is a separate stream entering the sea independently. In a tributary of a larger river, the possibility exists of interchange of fish between the main stream and the tributary making the proposed research much more difficult. - 48 - Table 1. Summary of Anglers' Catch Records for the Little Cod.ray River, 1942-53 Total Total Number Fish Total Weight Weight Average Number of Total Fish per Weight per per Rod Weight of Rod Number per Rod Fish Rod Day Fish Year Rods Days Fish Rod Day lb. lb. lb. lb. 1942 107 85 0.79 908 8.49 10.68 1944 131 86 o.66 606 4.63 7.04 1945 25 83 3 .. 32 670 26.80 8007 1947 72 95 1.32 855 ll.88 9.00 1948 96 151 1.57 ll23 11.70 7.43 1949 94 51 o.54 485 5.16 9.50 1950 61 274 122 2.00 o.45 710 11.64 2.59 5.81 1951 83 207 76 0.92 0.37 648 7.81 3.13 8.52 1952 56 159 43 0.77 0.27 286 5.12 1.80 6.65 1953 78 173 92 1.18 o.53 781 10,.01 4.51 8.49 1942 total 80.69 81.12 to 1338 884 9.82 7072 1953 mean 133.80 88.40 o.66 707.20 5.29 8.oo 1950 total 278 813 333 4.87 1.62 2425 34.58 12.03 29.47 to 1953 mean 69.50 203.25 83.25 1.20 o.41 606.25 8.72 2.98 7.28 4. There is no pollution in the river. 5. There are no waterfalls or other obstructions in any part of the river. 6. There are no logging operations on the river to interfere with the operation of counting fences, etc. 7. The river can be reached by train from St. John's at all sea sons of the year. This is an important feature in winter investigations. 8. A highway and railway closely parallel the river along most of its course. Also, because the river flows through cleared farm land, the banks are not densely wooded, and hence travell ing along the river itself is not difficult. The Little Codroy River then is probably the most accessible salmon river in Newfoundland. During September, the Little Codroy River was examined for a site for the location of counting fences. The place ten tatively selected is below all tributaries at a point about one mile from the coast. Measurements taken during this visit, with the water at half tide, indicated that the river at the site was 492 feet wide, and had an average depth of 7.5 feet and a maximum depth of 18 feet. The current velocity was about 1.1 feet pe~ second and the volume of flow about 3650 cubic feet per second. This site, however, is not ideal because the river is - 49 .... too deep for the operation and maintenance of the counting fences. Efforts are being made to find a more suitable site. The Bay du Nord project was visited in July and August for the purpose of examining the set-up and becoming familiar with the procedures. During this period also, two counting traps - constructed earlier in the year - were transported to the Little Codroy in preparation for next spring. A. A. Blair A. R. Murray Appendix No. 14 · ARCTIC CHAR OF LABRADOR Introduction Field work in a biological study of the Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, of Labrador began early in July and continued until mid-August. The work, carried on during the sea run period, extended along the coastal strip from Adlatok (near Hopedale, and about half way up the Labrador coast) to Ramah (about 100 miles south of Cape Chidley) - a distance of some 400 miles. Samples of the commercial catch were taken at five stations, from 50 to 100 miles apart. The stations selected, progressing northwards, were Adlatok, Nain, Okak Bay, Hebron, and Ramah. The purpose of the investigation is to collect pertinent data on the general biology of the char of Labrador including in particular the nature of the populations; this in turn will pro vide basic information on which a long range policy of manage ment can be based. The Arctic char of Northern Labrador, i.e. from Hopedale north, are particularly important in the economy of the Labrador native and now constitutes his greatest source of income from the sea. During the past 9 years the following annual produc tions were marketed as pickled trout, in barrels of 220 lb., chiefly in the West Indies. Year Barrels 1944 110 260 i§ttg 230 194~ 635 194 1220 1949 450 1950 450 1951 1952 3Ro8 0 4436 ... 50 - This constitutes an average of 493 barrels per annum, or approximately 110,000 lb. (the catch for 1953 is about 1000 brl.). Sporadic catching on a commercial scale has been attemp ted by Newfoundland 11 floatern fishermen. At Nachvak (less than 100 miles south of Cape Chidley) for example, the schooner Patriot, with gill nets, a crew of 6-7 men, and fishing from early July to mid-August took the following catches during four yearil. Year Barrels Crew Nets 194~ 300 6 12 194 360 7 22 1949 200 24 1950 50 r 24 The venture, centered at one place, ceased in the fourth year because of the progressive decline in production dur~ng the last two years, with approximately the same fishing effort. This seems to indicate that the Nachvak population is a local one and may have been fished too intensively in the first two summers. Data Collected Average Weights and Lengths. The following table shows the average weights for both sexes and the average length for the total sample at each station. The stations are listed in the order of increasing latitude with dates of sampling. Average Weights and Lengths Aver. Wt. lb. Av. Lengths Date Station Male Female cm. No. Fish Aug. 9-11 Adlatok 5 .4 3.9 K2.8 90 July 15-21 Nain (1) 3.1 2.6 8.8 121 Aug. 7 Nain (2) 3.9 3.0 48.7 31 July 23-24 Okak Bay 2.1 2.7 45.5 120 July 29-31 Hebron 3.6 3.6 49.9· 120 Aug. 3 Ramah 3.1 2.7 48.5 120 The table shows that in general the. average weight for both male and female decreases with increasing latitude. At Adlatok the most southerly station, for example, males averaged 5.4 and females 3.9 lb., while at Ramah the most northerly station, males averaged 3.1 and females 2.7 lb. It is worth noting, too, that in general the average weight of the male is greater than that of the female, except at Okak Bay. At Hebron the average weights were the same for both male and female. - 51 - A similar trend is seen for average l~ngths with 52.8 cm. at Adlatok and 48.5 cm. at Ramah; again Okak Bay is the ex ception having an average length of 45.5 cm., i.e. less than at Ramah. Age Frequencies and Weight Relationships of the Ramah Sample. · The Ramah sample shows that the 9-10-11 age classes (as determined by otolith readings) are predominant in the com mercial catch. It must be noted, however, that a standard 4 inch mesh gill net is used (as at the other stations) by the natives. The sample is not, therefore, representative of the sea run as a whole, but of the commercial catch only. It can be seen too, that up to and including the 15 year age class, at least, there is a general increase in weight, from 2.0 to 4.8 lb. Older fish seem to weigh more or less than the 15 year old class. Age Frequencies and Weight Relation ships of the Ramah Sample Av. Weight Age No. Fish lb. 6 1 2.0 2 2.4 ~ 12 2. 9 19 2.4 10 20 2.8 11 21 2.8 12 15 3.0 3.0 i4 2.8 15 ~ 4.s lb 1 2.7 1 2.4 i~ 19 1 6.o Sex Ratios. The following table shows sex ratios for all samples taken. Sex Ratios Males Females Female Male Station % % %Difference No. Fish Adlatok 22 90 Nain (1) ~K 28 121 Nain (2) 54 31 Okak Bay 7~ 12 120 Hebron g9 38 120 Ramah 59 18 120 In each sample, except at Adlatok, it can be seen that females were in excess of males, by a maximum difference of 54% (Nain, second sample) and a minimum difference of 12% Okak Bay. At Adlatok the last sample taken and towards the end of the season, 61% were males and 39% females. Muscle Colour. For marketing purposes the Arctic char of Labrador are graded according to muscle colour. The colours are white, pink, and red. Only pink and red are marketed with red in greatest demand and receiving the highest market price. The colour percentages for the different samples are shown in the following table. Table Showing Muscle Colour Percentages White Pink Red Station % _1_ % No. Fish Adlatok q.o 84.3 6.7 89 Nain (1) 6.8 42.8 50.4 117 Nain ( 2) o.o 48.7 61.3 31 Okak Bay 23.3 9.1 28.6 120 Hebron OoO 55.8 44.2 120 Ramah o.o 63 .8 36.2 119 At Hebron and Ramah the percentages of pink are of a similar order 55¢8 and 63.8%; this may also be said of the per centage of reds 44-2 and 36.2%. No white char were evident at either Hebron or Ramah, as was also true of the second Nain sample. However the second sample at Nain was small (31 fish) and the given percentages may not be significant. Surprisingly, both samples at Nain show a higher percentage of red than at any other station. It is generally felt along the coast, that the percentage of red is greatest at Hebron and north. Adlatok shows a high percentage of pink (84.3%) with white and red approximately equal. Okak Bay had half pink and the other half almost equally divided between white and red. Parasitism. The char sampled were found to be parasi tized with roundworms and t·apeworms (as yet not classified) in varying degrees. An arbitrary scale was set up to indicate in tensity. The scale. used for roundworms was as follows: none; light, 1 to 5 worms; medium, 6 to 12 worms; and heavy, 13+. A similar scale was used for tapeworms but since counting tapeworms was impracticable under field conditions a rough estimate was made based on the volume of proglottids discernible. The percentage of fish parasitized (light, medium, and heavy) with roundworms and tapeworms is shown in the following table. Table Showing Percent§:_ge of Parasitism Roundworms Tapeworms Place ~ fa Adlatok 3.5 88.6 Na in (1) 40.7 95.2 Na in ( 2) 61.3 97.0 Okak Bay ~Oo8 ?io.o Hebron 41.7 4-5. 0 Rama~ 51.6 95.8 - 53 - The table shows that from 3w5% (Adlatok) to 61.3% (Nain 2) were parasitized with roundwor.ms. The incidence. of tapeworm parasitism is still highe~ 45% (Hebron) to 97.0% (Nain). Roundworms were taken from the body cavity only but immature stages were encysted on the liver, gonads, spleen, peritoneum and viscera in general. No roundworms were observed in the muscle. Tapeworms were confined to the intestinal tract, chiefly in the duodenum and pyloric caeca. The incidence of tapeworms in the lower intestine was also large. Stomach Contents. Stomach contents were measured in milliliters; chief among the foods were: capelin, launce, amphi pods, fish larvae, and shrimp. The following table shows the percentage of the various foodstuffs. Percentage of Various Foodstuffs in Stomachs Total Vol. Food in Percent of Total Food % Empty Sample Amphi- Fish Station Stomachs ml. Capelin Launce pods ---Larvae Shrimp --Others Adlatok 92.6 67 88.o J.O 9.0 Nain (1) 9.2 3095 75.2 0.7 13.5 0.03 o.6 Nain (2) 16.1 433 15.0 12.7 0.2 61.2 10.9 o.o Okak Bay 15.0 2829 99.3 0.2 o.5 o.o Hebron 4.2 5522 2.9 0.3 72.6 14.9 8.7 0.7 Ramah 2.5 5098 J.9 13.5 55.,9 24.7 o.5 1.6 The table shows that capelin formed the chief source of food at Adlatok (88.0%), Nain (1) (75.2%) and Okak Bay (99.3%). The Nain (2) sample shows that launce (12.7%) and fish larvae (61.2%) probably capelin, formed the bulk. Amphipods constituted 13.5% of the food in the Nain (1) sample and shrimps l0.9% in the Nain (2) sample. At Hebron and Ramah amphipods aggregated 72.6% and 55.9% of the volume respectively. It is to be noted that where crustaceans form an important source of food the incidence of red muscle colour is high as shown in the following table. % Crustacean Food Place % Red Muscle (Amphipods & Shrimp) Adlatok 0 Nain (1) 13.5 Nain (2) l0.9 Okak Bay 0.5 Hebron 81.~ Ramah 56.4 Other Data Collected. Vertebral columns were preserved from all samples taken and vertebral counts will be made as evidence of population intermingling. - 54 - Fillets with fins attached were also preserved; the fillets are to be further examined for parasites and fin ray counts will be made to establish still further the relationship between populations of different areas. C. W. Andrews E. Lear Appendix No. 15 MARINE MAMMALS Studies on Harp and Hood Seals A voyage was made on the M/V Algerine between March 6 and April 23, 1953· Thanks are expressed to Bowring Bros. Ltd. for accommodation and working facilities during the voyage, and to Captain Fred Hounsell and navigator Harold Leyte for assis tance given in the scientific programme. Besides the tagging, data additional to that obtained during 1952 was collected on the following topics: 1. Whole and pelt weights of whitecoasts. Successive weights, whole and pelt, were taken of whitecoats aged approxi mately 2 to 6 days, and pelt weights from other groups of · whitecoats at later dates. 2. Sex ratios, taken from 178 juvenile harps (white coats) and from 53 juvenile hood seals. Little departure from a 50:50 sex ratio was found for either species. 3. Age correlated with weight of baculum and testis in adult and immature harp seals, adult hood seals. 4. Composition of moulting patches, as divided into sexes and approximate ages in the field, and into age groups for each sex by examination of tooth samples in the laboratory. The sample of adult and immature harp seals totalled .some 230, 5. Pelage colour and moult sequence of juvenile, immature and adult harp seals. 6. Food of juveniles after the post-weaning fast; of breeding female harps, and casual feeding of moulting immature and adult harps. (Adult and juvenile hoods all had empty stomachs). 7. Nematode infection of harp and hood stomachs. 8. Skull dimensions of harps and hoods of both sexes and all ages from the "Front". - 55 - Since data about any one of these topics were not larget and can be added to data collected in 1952 and by other workers, they are not presented in detail in this report. Recoveries of Tagged Seals A. Further Results of Harp Seal Tagging in 1952. This report adds recoveries sent in during 1953 to previous recoveries of 1952-tagged seals, and analyses all recoveries to date. It should be read in conjunction with Appendix No. 26 of the Annual Report of this Station for 1952. Overall recoveries yield the following breakdown: 1. On ice or coast of Nfld. up to mid-April 1952 * (Whitecoats and 11 beaters 11 in first month) •••.••••...••• 4 2. In bays of east coast of Nfld. mid-April to mid-May 1952 (Juveniles in 2nd month, feeding) •.•..••••..••••••••.•• 7 3. Labrador coast, December 1952 (first fall migration, 9 months) ...... 1 4. On ice off east coast of Nfld., March to May 1953 (one-year old 11 bedlamersn among moulting herds) ...... 3 5. On west coast of Greenland, summer 1953 (second summer) ...... 2 *Excluding an unknown number of tags taken by sealers very shortly after tagging was carried out. The recoveries of one-year old seals coincide with a considerable take of these small and tame animals from among moulting herds on the "Fronttt (figure 3). There were therefore 17 recoveries of significance from an initial tagging of 226, or 7.5%. Recoveries of different types of tag break down as.· follows: No. Recovered No. 1st 2nd 9 12-14 16-18 T,ype Tagged Month Month Months Months Months Total eingle Dis Gil 58 4 4 1 3 1 13 Flat Cod 81 (1)-l~ (l)* Bachelor fut ton 45 1 1 2 Double Disc plus Flat Cod 15 liH~ 1 ;~ Disc plus Bachelor 27 1 ./ ~ 1 j Button 226 7 1 3(4) 2 17(18) -- 56 - .. :Jteported only, not seen • .,..,,Plus one in which the Flat Cod Tag was apparently lost, recorded as disc tag. These results show that the disc tag recoveries fall off slowly, while the other two types (inserted in the scutter) have a high initial rate of loss. The few remaining bachelor button tags may however stay on well. As mentioned above an unknown but probably large per centage of tags is taken by sealers shortly after tagging and not disclosed. (Further evidence for this practice came from the discovery of the existence of an estimated dozen tags from 1952 and 1953 taggings at one Nfld. settlement which contributes sealers annually to the commercial vessels). This practice seems to be unavoidable when tagging is carried out from these vessels. Assuming a maximal loss of 25% of the tags in this way, we.· have a maximal percentage recovery of the 1952 tags of 10.6%, a minimal of 7.5% as above; similarly a maximal recovery of disc tags alone of 25.3% and a minimal of 20.7%. Tagging from an experimental vessel would give a minimal recovery rate, since although tags put on would be expected to survive, a num ber of tags recovered would (as usual) not be reported by the finders. B. Preliminary Results of Tagging in 1953. Fifty-eig~t whitecoats were tagged on March 11 and 12, all with disc tags in the tail. A poor catch by the ship did not allow of larger scale or longer tagging;, One significant recovery has come in from Notre Dame Bay in early May. This is in line with results from 1952 tagging showing that juvenile harp seals in the second month (mid-April to mid-May) enter the eastern and northeastern bays of Newfoundland. A second recovery £rom the Jacobshavn district of west Greenland (69° ll'N., 51 05'W.) on August 22, 1953 is in line with two recoveries from 1952 tagging, indicat ing that many immature seals summer on this part of the west Greenland coast. Age Composition of Hood Seals Seventy-eight jaws, 29 from males and 49 from females, were collected from a small patch of hoods worked over by 3 ships south of Funk Island between March 22 and 24. Ages were later determined from the canine teeth. In the hood both the dentine and cement layers of the root show wide zones of growth. In general these checked each other well, but where one formation showed rings very close together the other was used, giving the ·higher reading. It is assumed that these rings are annual. Age frequencies are shown in figure 1. It is seen from this figure that mature hoods ranged from 5 to 22 years, with no clear peak in such a small sample of males, and a peak at 8 years in the females. The low propor tion of 5 year old males suggests that most males mature at 6 r - 57 - No 30 -- r'l. Figure 4 - Hebron v; ~/ /·l ' ~:.. ,;:__ . · m.a ~Z~rn ... 1, i::i~u·nz-~. .. '~""* 7 20- Figure 5 - Nutak 10 40- Figure 6 - Nain - fi.~T~4~~~tt:"=·'--~~ Figure 7 - Totals Figures 4 to 7 - Age Frequency of Harp Seals from northern Labrador, Nov.-Dec. 1952 - 58 - years. This is borne out by the length of. the baculum, which reaches the 6nd of rapid growth in an approximately exponential curve at 6 years. Between 6 and 21 years testis weights of males showed no correlation with age. Study of corpora lutea in the ovaries of young mature females suggests that first maturity occurs from 4 to 7 years of age in individual females. Age Composition of Harp Seals A. Samples from Northern Labrador Stations. Arrange ments were made with two agencies to collect jaws of harp seals taken in the fall fishery at northern Labrador settlements in 1952. ~ payment of 50~ was offered per jaw cleaned and packed for shipment to the Station, up to a maximum of 750 jaws. Through the co-operation of the Provincial Department of Public Welfare, Division of Northern Labrador Affairs, 250 jaws were obtained from Hebron and 250 from Nutak; through merchant Hayward Haines 250 from Nain. These three settlements are about equidistant 0 from one another, Hebron the northernmost being at latitude 58 12'N. and Nain the southernmost at 56° 331N. Most seals were reported as netted, a few shot through late November and December as the seals moved through the area south wards. It is possible that there is some selection by the nets, the small 0-group of seals not being fully represented, but' the extent of this is not known. Some jaws were sent packed in saltp some in sawdust. The former were wet and unpleasant to handle~ but the canine teeth were hammered out more easily; those in sawdust were clean and dry, but the teeth were tightly cemented to the jawbone and the hollow teeth of young seals were more liable to split. Ages were estimated in the usual way from zones of growth in one of the two canine teeth from each jaw, the age being taken as x+i years, (birth being in March). Ago Composition is plotted as histograms for the three areas separately in figures 4, 5 and 6 and combined in figure 7. The age estimation is regarded as accurate enough to show the order of size of year-groups up to 10 years. Beyond this age a large percentage of teeth do not show clear annual zones right through, and estimated ages for these result in a bias towards round figures 15, 20, 25 years. The general trend of age-composition is however seen for these older seals. The diagrams show the following points: 1. A marked absence of the 0-group in all areas. This is shown also in samples taken further south on the fall migra tion at La Tabatiere on the north shore of the Gulf (H. D. Fisher - Harp Seals of the Northwest Atlantic; Atlantic Biological Station, Circular No. 20, September 1952). It is not however shown in samples taken from the moulting patches of seals in the following spring (figure 3). - 59 - No. l Figure 1 - Age Frequencies of Hood Seals, Sexes Combined / Age, Years 30 Figure 2 - 1952 lr. '; 11 10 8 Figure 3 - 1953 Figures 2 and 3 - Age Frequency of Moulting Seals at the Front, 1952 & 1953 Samples 52 50 34 32 30 28 26 - 60 - 2. A progressive increase in proportions of year~groups 1 to 4, all of which however are still under-represented. 11 11 These are immature ( bedlamer ) year-groups. 3. A slightly greater proportion of younger seals to the north. Thus Hebron shows the 4-group dominant, Nutak the 5-group, while Nain shows no dominant year-group within a peak range of 5 to 9 years. Nain also shows a greater overall proportion of older seals than does Hebron or Nutak. Whether this is a significant trend could best be decided by repeating the sample, and comparing with a sample, if obtainable, from mid- or southern Labrador, as well as from the north shore of the Gulf (La Tabatiere). It has been arranged to repeat the sampl ing of 500 jaws from Hebron and Nutak in Nove:rp.ber-December 1953· B. Samples from the Icefields. Sampling of immature and. adult seals killed at the moulting patches was repeated in 1953· Samples were taken between March 29 and 31 in the vicinity of Baccalieu Island south, and between April 13 and 16 east of the Grey Is. and south of Belle Isle, totalling 230 seals. As figure 3 shows, these samples included a very high proportion of immature seals, the Y''.)ungest (1 year olds) pre dominating. These youngest classes were certainly over-. represented in the sample, since they were extremely tame and thus easy to shoot; some of the one year olds were even taken, like the juveniles, by clubbing. Three tags were recovered from these one-year olds, of 58 whitecoats tagged the previous spring. Sampling of moulting patches between Funk Island and Belle Isle from April 10 to 22, 1952 had shown a much lower proportion of immatures and complete absence of the 0-group (figure 2). The explanation of this is not clear but it is possible that immature groups to the south were not sampled. Comparison of the results of these two methods of sampling suggests that the immature seals remain in the north later than the adults, a larger percentage remaining north the younger the age-class of immature seal. This is supported by a tagging recovery of a 0-group seal from west Greenland on January 2, 1951 (H. D. Fisher, loc. cit. p. 4). Since the immature seals are not taken in northern Labrador at a time when the main body of seals are moving just ahead of the advancing front of northern ice, they must presumably swim south on the outer margin of the ice, for the inner passages will later be blocked with ice. This is not an unlikely hypothesis; one may compare the juveniles, which use the margin of the ice in the White Bay region as a 11 beach" when they begin to feed in April. However there is no direct e~idence as yet to support the hypothesis, and one must .. investigate the possibility of selec- t ion by the netting as des er ibed above.. · / It would clearly be desirable to sample from the northward spring migration of harps at some point along the - 61 ... northern Labrador or southern Baffin Island coasts. The spring (June) fishery in Labrador is small, apparently because the warm weather does not allow easy keeping of pelts or carcasses. The new pelts at this time are of fine quality, but the fat is thin so that the seals sink when shot. Netting or harpooning is therefore necessary to avoid waste in a spring fishery. Bounty Kill of Harbour Seals in Newfoundland and Labrador 1952-3 The bounties payable on harbour seals Phoca vitulina came into effect for the whole of the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts on October 16, 1952. Assistance was given by the Station to personnel of the Department of Fisheries in identifying and ageing the jaws submitted; and the Department kindly made avail- · able full records giving name and residence of claimant, locality and date of kills, species of seal and number of young and adult harbour seals taken. The kill in the first year of the bounty scheme (October 16, 1952 to October 15, 1953) was approximately 940, comprising 140 adult and 800 young harbour seals for Newfound land and Labrador together. The majority (70%) came from the Labrador coast. There was a high percentage of young seals (84.5%), chiefly resulting from kills of pups at or near breed ing colonies between May and August. This is usual also in other areas where a bounty scheme is in force, and in spite of the higher bounty on old seals as compared with young - $10 against $5 .:.. is to be expected since the young are much more easily killed. From previous records and from bounty kills it appears that the breeding season of the harbour seal begins in southern Newfoundland in the last week of May, on the northeast coast of the· island in the fir st week of June, in the vie ini ty of Hamilton Inlet about mid-June, and around Hebron in northern Labrador in late June. A length of 41 mm. was taken as the upper limit for young seals, for the length of a complete molar tooth row in the submitted lower jaw. This length was fixed upon from experience in the Maritimes. It is evident from jaws examined that the measurement fits well enough seals from Newfoundland and southern Labrador, but is too large for northern Labrador seals. Probably the later breeding season and earlier winter allow less growth of the more northern seals in the first year. An improved length criterion first requires field work to relate jaw-size to known age; as an approximation however a dividing length of 40 instead of 41 mm. would appear to fit seals north of Hamilton Inlet. Besides harbour seals a small number of jaws of grey seals Halichoerus grypus was sent in, also jaws of a few jar seals Phoca hispida, harp and hood seals. - 62 .... Marine Mammal Records Halichoerus grypus Grey Seal. Jaws submitted with bounty claims gave the following records, 9 in· all: in Newfoundland, Victoria Cove, Gander Bay, September 14, 1953; Shag Island, Bay of Islands, April 28 and May 1, 1953; in Labrador, proceeding northwards, Henley Harbour, September 28, 1953; Bateau, undated; Tub Harbour south of Hamilton Inlet, undated; Duck Island, Byron Bay, south of Cape Harrison, 2 on August 12, 1952; Stag Bay, west of Cape Harrison, July 21, 1953· Grey seals are probably not distinguished from harbour seals by most bounty claimants. If this is true these records indicate that the Grey Seal is a rare resident or summer resident along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, found not (as is usual) in colonies but in scattered individuals or pairs. Available sight records support this conclusion. Phoca hispida Jar or Ringed Seal. Jaws submitted with bounty claims gave one record for Newfoundland: Fredericton, Notre Dame Bay, July 10, 1953· This and several reported winter records suggest that jar seals are of rare but regular occurrence in the White Bay triangle, where they are usually known to the residents. Labrador records comprise one each from Henley Harbour, Triangle and Cartwright.on the southern coast, and 9 from Hamilton Inlet, From this latitude northwards they are presumably common. Labrador records were from April to October. Lagenorhynchus albirostris White-beaked Dolphin. A herd of 6 went ashore at Seal Cove in Conception Bay on March 19, 1953 and were examined and photographed by H. J. Squires and E. L. Rowe. The dolphins appear to have been driven ashore by the advancing sea-ice. The skull of a male was collected and preserved. Records of dolphins, which can probably be referred mostly to this species, continue to be reported from inshore and offshore areas, e.g. Trinity Bay, the Grand Bank, Weather Station "Bu. After the pilot whale they are the commonest cetacean in the area. Herds may range from groups of 6 to aggregations of thousands, and frequently accompany herds of pilot whales. Orcinus orca Killer Whale. Individual records are: Dildo, Trinity Bay taken by whaler June 1953; northern Gulf of 0 St. Lawrence at 51 08 1 N., 57° 10 1 W. and Labrador coast at . 53° 53'N., 55° 53 1 W., both scavenging around long-liners. None were seen at the ice in March-April, 1953 but in April, 1952 two were seen among loose ice and seals off Baccalieu Island by C. A. Rose. Killers appear therefore to be regular but uncommon in Newfoundland and Labrador inshore waters. Hyperoodon rostratus Bottlenose Whale. A male 22 feet long was taken in Dildo Arm on July 27, 1953; a companion escaped and was seen in lower Trinity Bay for three days longer. The specimen was not seen by members of the Station, but from the size and the description given by an experienced Norwegian whaling captain there can be no doubt of the identification. Mesoplodon bidens Sowerby 1 s Beaked Wbale. A female 14 feet long was harpooned at Wild Bight in western Notre Dame Bay on September 25, 1953. The head was sent salted to the Station, together with a description and photographs, through the good offices of Mr. James Strong of Little Bay Islands. The skull is preserved at the Station. This is the second record of the species from Newfoundland in two summers. Distribution of Pothead Whales in 1953 ' A questionnaire was formulated to give information on the distribution of pothead or pilot whales Globicephala melaena seen at sea. Forms provided had spaces for: date and position of sighting, estimated number of pothead whales seen and general remarks, estimated number of other whales seen and identifica tion, squid shoals seen. An accompanying typescript on "Aids to Identification" attempted to give field characters of pothead and other small cetacean species. The U. S. Coast Guard was appr0ached through Dr. William V. Kielhorn, now of the Geophysics Branch, U. S. Office of Naval Research, who suggested that personnel of the Coast Guard might make observations from weather ships on station. The Coast Guard agreed that observations would be made from their ships manning weather station "B" in the Labrador Sea at latitude 56° 45 1N., longitude 51° 00 1 W. approximately. Observations were carried out from late June until late October, 1953 at, en route to and on return from station. Observations on pothead whales were very full and appear to be accurate; once identification was confirmed with photographs. The recent cessation of observations by U. S. weather ships in the North Atlantic has brought about the end of observations for the time being. For inshore areas, questionnaires were completed by members of the staff of the Research Station on M/V Investigator II and on chartered long-liners. Observations. 1. Coastal Waters. Potheads were present in Trinity Bay continuously between about July 10 and October 31. There are no observations from other northeastern bays, but concentrations were certainly present in these also. There are reports off St. John's on July 10 and again on October 1, and off Cape Bonavista on October 10. There was a large concentration in Ingornachoix Bay on the N. W. coast of Newfoundland on August 12, and 12 were seen west of Belle Isle on October 10. There are no other west coast records, and a correspondent writes that in St. George's Bay potheads stay only for a short time each summer. These observations suggest that potheads penetrate to the west coast via the Straits of Belle Islee There are no reports from southern Labrador waters. 2. Offshore Waters. Potheads were seen in the area covered by ships on weather station "Bn over the whole period of observations from June 27 to October 28. The latitude of these observations extends from 53°N. to nearly 58°N., all in the open - 64 - sea as far west as the edge of the Labrador continental shelf at 55°N., 53°w. Aggregations numbered from 6 to 100 individuals, single herd units usually numbering 20 to 30. Herds were ·seen both travelling and feeding. Squid were seen at the surface by one observer on July 21, but none were caught in spite of several attempts. Potheads were present on the S. W. edge of the Grand Bank as late as early January 1953· It is a fact of great interest that potheads are common in the open sea at the time they become concentrated inshore. This suggests that only a part of the population moves shorewards, and that a large part of the food squid remains pelagic. Potheads visiting the eastern Newfoundland coast in summer probably move out to the Grand Bank and winter in warmer waters beyond it. The same squid Illex illecebrosus is found on the Grand Bank in spring and on the east coast in summer and fall. It is thus probable that the squid, and the potheads following them, on the Grand Bank and on the east coast are the same populations. Potheads in the Greenland Sea may be related to those visiting southwest Greenland. Sincere thanks are tendered to the per3onnel of the U.S. Coast Guard who organized and carried out these.observa tions so fully in addition to their many other duties. Length Frequencies and Sex Ratios of Pothead Whales: A Compari son over Two Years As part of a study of pothead whales Globicephala melaena carried out during 1952 and 1953 measurements were taken of whales driven ashore in herds. Wherever possible whole drives were covered and care was taken to avoid selecting larger or smaller whales. (The smallest tend to be pulled up on the beach first, the largest last). The sex of all measured whales was recorded. Comparable numbers were measured - 1236 in 1952 and 1284 in 1953 - between July and October. Measurements are con sidered accurate to about 3 inches, and are grouped in 6-inch groups by sexes in the accompanying histograms (figures 8-11). The hunting of potheads in Trinity Bay starts with their arrival in early July. The catchers harpoon up to 12 each daily at this time, attempting to select the largest potheads. Driving replaces harpooning about the end of July, as soon as the bay is free of cod-traps which the drives would damage. Some harpooning may however take place later if the potheads are too far down the bay to be driven into the southern arms during the course of a day. Driving usually continues to late October; the last success ful drives were on October 24 in 1952, and on October 23 in 1953· Figures of potheads harpooned and driven for the last three years are as follows: -· 65 - Year Har12ooned Driven Total 1951 252 2218 24~0 (+546 in Bona vista Bay) 1952 165 2624 27 9 (+220 n n I! 1953 ca. 200 3357 3557 Male potheads reach a larger size than females, the approximate maximal lengths being 20 feet and 16 feet respectively for the population studied. Thus more males than females are taken by selective harpooning; in 1951 of 210 harpooned, 131 or 62.4% were males, while the sex ratio of all animals (as deter mined from drives) was nearly 60% females. Any effect of this harpooning on the stock should thus be shown (a) by a decline in the total percentage of males and (b) by a decline in the proportion of large as compared with small males. In fact (a) The overall percentage of males declined from 40.5% in 1952 to 38.8% in 1953 for the sample measured. This difference is not significant however. (b) Comparison of the length frequency histograms for 1952 and 1953 shows no reduction of large males over the 1 year period. In measurements of herds in the field it was noted that a fall in the proportion of large males took place immediately after a period of harpooning, but that this was not apparent in later drives. Driving is unselective, removing a complete herd or group of herds comprising whales of all sizes. There is thus no good means of estimating the effect from year to year of present levels of driving except tagging of the herds. The following evidence is however indicative: 1. The total take has increased from 1951 through to 1953- There has been no corresponding increase in catching effort, though some in efficiency. Feeding conditions (density of squid) have been optimal for the whales in all three years. 2. Removal of a number of herds might lead one to expect that the average growth rate of whales in other herds would increase, through the increased food available. This pre supposes that availability of food is a factor limiting growth in these whales. In fact the histograms show no increase or decrease in the modes of size for either male or female potheads, showing that there has been no change in the average growth rate. We may conclude that the removal of this order of num bers has not led to any significant decrease in the inshore population of potheads. Presumably then the herds entering Trinity Bay come from a large population. As soon as the southern part of the bay is depleted of whales by driving, other herds must move in to take their place. The herds search actively for squid, migrating if necessary 20 or more miles in a day into or out of the arms of the bay as concentrations of squid change position. These movements are directly connected with wind and tide in a way that is not yet understood; the whales usually move against the wind and with the tide. - 66 - Length-Frequencies of Pothead 'Whales: 1952 and 1953 Compared f. ' Fig. 8 - o o 1952 50- 40·- 3 2 lO·· 50- 40.: Fig. 9 - o o 1953 30 r-l-Lr-l-1-1-· - ,_..r··-· 1-1 I 20 - 1 _...... 1 , 1.~ ---i- -· ····" '---i....-..1 r· . 10- ,___ ,__._, ·-· -,__ l1 i::=i.------.J.------·! 120 Fig, 11 - ~ ~ 1953 110 100· 90· 80· 70 60 50 40 30 20- 10- I~r-·1 ·; · r----: · : .....--,-. ,..--, 1...,..1-rrr-q-11-r--1""11·--rrr--rr 1 1 11 I 1 ! i l I j 1 . I j • ! 11 : 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 i5 16 17 18 19 20 Length in Feet - 67 - Herds could move in either from the open sea, or, by random wandering, from adjacent bays. It is thought that the open sea migration is more likely, since it was observed in 1953 that peak periods of pothead abundance occurred at the same time in the southern arms of both Conception and Trinity Bays. Age, Length and Reproduction of Pothead Whales Age Determination. Study of periodic growth in the root of the teeth as a means of age determination was applied to pothead whales, following methods developed for seals. The re sults are regarded as successful with fair accuracy. Teeth were collected from 250 animals in 1952 and 1953; of these some 75°/o gave fair results, 15% excellent results - 11 fair 11 implying correspondence to ±1 year, 11 excellent 11 to exact age, in two independent assessments of age by different observers. Methods: A piece of the upper jaw with 3-4 teeth was removed using axe and knife. The teeth, which are held in their sockets only by a collagen-like cement, were boiled out of the gum. One of the largest teeth was cut with a fine circular saw, ground to translucency, soaked for a period in alcohol-glycerine mixture to clear, and examined by transmitted light. Significance of the zones of growth: A narrow, clear band of dentine is seen next to the peripheral cement layer in the root of the tooth. This represents prenatal growth. It is followed by a uniform but wider band which ends less abruptly, and is followed usually by a number of narrow bands close together in a zone of greater or lesser growth. From examination of teeth from young whales of known stage of development, and from knowledge of the annual feeding and behaviour pattern, these zones are interpreted as respectively the lactation period, and the period between weaning and the second winter. Since the season of birth is variable, and weaning ends at correspondingly different times of year, this second period will vary in length. The narrow bands are interpreted as temporary returns to milk feeding interspersed with the first periods of feeding on squid, for which there is good evidence in stomach contents of young whales at the stage of weaning. Later zones of growth are more regular, but do not have the exact regularity of the zones in seal teeth. Alternations of a wide clear band and a narrow more opaque bank represent two types of calcification. These are similar in immature and adult whales, males and females. Periodic growth appears there fore to be related directly to feeding and not to the repro ductive cycle. It is probable that the good sumraer feeding conditions in the bays are reflected in uniform tooth growth and the wide band; while the departure of the squid in the fall necessitates some searching for food, periods of starvation during the winter, and consequent checks to calcium deposition in the tooth resulting in the narrow band. The zonation on these grounds will be an annual one, and a full double band has been taken as representing one year's growth. The initial - 68 - period of lactation plus the time between weaning and the second winter will lie between one and two years, and the exact time has been estimated from the relative width of this zone in different individual teeth. The roots of the teeth remain unfilled until late in life, so that age can be determined up to about 15 years. In some of the oldest animals however the centre becomes filled, and sometimes resorbed and refilled again giving irregular central growth zones. Age estimated in this way gives curves of good fit when plotted against lengths. The spread of the plotted points increases with length, indicating a wider variation of growth of older animals, which is to be expected. The data indicate a maximum age of about 25 years in both males and females. The mean length at birth is 5 1 9 11 in females and 6 1 0 11 in males. Estimated lengths at the end of the first year are 71 6n in females and 7 1 9tt in males. Females mature between the lengths of 11' 6" and 12 1 3" at an age of about 5 years. Males on the other hand mature sexually between lengths of 15' 6" and 16 1 9n at an age of about 15 years. This pronounced difference in age at sexual maturity means that a much smaller percentage of the male population is sexually mature - 36°/o as against 71°/o of cows, giving a ratio of about 1 mature bull to 3 mature cows. However the species is loosely polygamous, and there is in fact an excess of bulls, which form themselves into bachelor herds. Reproductive Data of Cows. Some 300 mature cows were examined in the two years, and condition of ovaries, uterus and mammary gland studied. Reproductive state was classified into: ovulating, pregnant, lactating, pregnant and lactating together, barren preswned by loss of foetus (with corpus luteum disintegrating}, barren presumed by loss of calf (with mammary gland involuted}, barren due to age (post-reproductive, with ovaries and mammary glands involuted). The first cycle appears to be a series of ovulations followed by pregnancy followed by lactation. The corpus luteum of pregnancy persists unchanged until birth of the calf, then becomes reduced in size but persists through later cycles. The very few cows which were simultaneously pregnant and lactating had small foetuses; pregnancy and lactation usually follow directly one upon the other, the next series of ovulations beginning towards the end of lactation. Of all mature cows 34 .. 5°/o were pregnant and 55.0°/o lactating, the figures being approximately the same in both years. The length-distribution of foetuses and calves shows that pregnancy lasts about 13 months, the peak of conceptions being in June-July and the peak of bi~ths in July-August. Lactation therefore appears to last about 20 months. There is no difference between the corpus luteum of ovulation and that of pregnancy except in initial size; both persist for a long time, usually to the end of the reproductive period of life. Cows over a mean length of 15 1 6" and age of 18 years are barren. The maximal nu.mber of corpora lutea in these barren cows is 14, arranged in about 5 cycles of size and regression; 12 arranged in 4 cycles is a commoner condition. Thus a single cycle appears to average 3 ovulations. We have therefore about 13 years, from - 69 - age 5 to 18 approximately, for the production of 5 calves, or 1 calf in 2.6 years. This agrees with the length of pregnancy and lactation estimated directly at about 23 months. The percentage of mature reproductive females to total animals is 39.6%. Of these 37.8% will be pregnant in any one year (a slightly higher percentage than of all mature females). Thus the annual conception of calves will be 150 per 1000 animals. Allowing for a small loss (estimated at 3%) in utero, there will be an armual production of 145 calves per 1000 animals. From measurements in the field and age-determinations the number of calves between birth and the end of their first year is estimated however at only 54.4 per 1000 animals. This anomaly has not yet been resolved. It seems most probable that the young are not fully represented in the drives, possibly being unable to keep up with the larger animals during driving, and so becoming lost and drowned. However there is no direct evidence of such a mortality. D. E. Sergeant - '70 - Appendix No. 16 HYDROGRAPHY Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank and Vicinity 1953 The stations south of the 47° latitude line, stations 1-33, have been occupied twice a year, for the past three years, in the spring between the first week in March and the second week in April and in the summer during the first two weeks of August. The general hydrographic picture in this area has been found to be: An inshore flow of below 0°C. water of the Labrador Current down the Avalon Channel between the Avalon Peninsula and the eastern edge of the Grand Bank, around Cape Race and then south through the channels between St. Pierre Bank and Green Bank and Green Bank and Grand Bank, and west along the northern edge of St. Pierre Bank. On the eastern edge of the Grand Bank the eastern branch of the Labrador Current flows southwards to the tail of the banks. In the spring the below 0°C. water of this eastern branch has been found to be present as a narrow band only with temperatures usually above -l.0°C. Along the S. W. edge of the Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank}warmer, more saline water is present at most of the deep water stations (13 to 18) on Grand Bank and station 8 on St. Pierre Bank. It has also been found, in the surmner surveys, (1951, 1952 and 1953) that on the eastern edge the amount of below 0°C. water is grea ter and _its temperature lower than in the spring. The hydrographic conditions on Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank from the 1953 surveys were: Station 27 to 33E Section (Fig. 1, A & B). In the spring, at the coast, below O c. water extended practicallX from the surface to bottom and bottom temperatures were below 0 C. from the coast to near station 29. The lowest temperature was -l.49°C. in 75 metres at station 28. On the bank, at this sec tion, bottom temperatures ranged from 0 to 0.83°C. while on the eastern edge a very narrow band of below 0°C. water was present at stations 33A and 33B only, its lowest temperature being -0.94°C. In August subsurface temperatures in the Avalon Chan nel did not vary greatly from those in April but were slightly lower at station 28 (-l.56°C. in 150 metres). However on the eastern edge there was a much larger volume of below 0°C. water in width from station 33 to 33E, in depth from about 30 metres down to 250 metres, the lowest temperature observed was -l.63°C. in 75 metres at station 33A. Section 20B to 26D (Fig. 1, C & D). April tempera tures in the channel between Green Bank and Grand Bank were be low 0°C. at stations 20B and 20A 1 While on the eastern edge below 0°C. water of the Labrador Current was almost non-existent, only two below 0°C. temperatures were recorded -0.35°C. in 50 metres and -0.29°C. in 75 metres at station 26B. Bottom tempera tures between stations 21 and 25 ranged approximately from 3.5 to 6.5°C. In August, at this section, temperatures in the chan nel were slightly lower than in the spring (-l.39°C. at 100 65 60 55 so 45 60 .60 7f / ' / ' I ' ' ...... , , / / ' .. \ ' 64 63· 2 / 61 60 55 ·s 55 COASTLINE 30-FMS. -···-· ·· -··· 50-FMS. -·····-····· .··:: 100-FMS. ------200-FMS. ····· ·· ···· ··· IOOo-FMS. -··· · · · · · · ·- ·~s ·~7 - . 35-t>.' _, . \ _/---( 3~-c·· ...... -· ;35-~, ' .... ,',, ~-A r-"", ·. \... \ I \: --. .. 39·40 ./ /~'>·: Hydrographic Stations - 71 - 27 28 29 ·? 32 331<. -~ 27 28 29 30 3 32 33 A.. ~E / I 150 Grand Bank Grand Bank 200 Sta. 27-33E Sta. 27-33E April 22-24, 1953 Aug. 18-20, 1953 250 300 A B 20..B A 2.0 21 q! 23 ~ ?$ 26 A c 20 B A 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 A c --....__ __ 4 --r------4 7 50 '--·1. 1 -- .0 . .. .. 5 0 100 / .#~ ~'~-)"'' (J) ~ 150 i:: Grand Bank Grand Bank •rl Sta. 20B-26C Sta. 20B-26C UJ 1200 :S April 17-21, 1953 Aug. 14-23; 1953 p_. I ~ 12.so I c /I D 300 1 io 13 1.5 16 17 18 19 300 s.w. Edge - Grand Bank S.W. Edge - Grand Bank April 18-21, 1953 Aug. 14-22, 19.53 E F ------April - 19.53 August - 19.53 ,..----- Figure 1 - 72 - metres at station 20A) and on the eastern edge a larger volume of below 0°0. water and some below -1°0. water was present. On the central part of this section, stations 21 to 25, tempera tures were lower in August (0.30 to 2.18°0.) than in April. Stations along the S. w. Edge - 10 to 19 inclusive (Fig. 1, E & F). Temperatures and salinities from these sta tions, in April, indicated the presence of warmer high salinity water in over the S. W. edge of the bank. The temperature range in this warmer water was approximately 5 to 9.5°0., the highest temperatures were in a band of above 9°C. water in 100 to 200 metres between stations 10 and 18. From stations 18 to 19 there was a rapid transition to below 0°C. Labrador Current water. The extent of the warm water could also be seen when the bottom temperatures from fishing trips 2 and 3, haddock survey trips on the s. W. edge, were plotted. It showed an in flux of warm water between 51°30'W. and 53°00 1 W. and extending, on the bottom, from 20 to 30 miles in past the 50 fathom con tour line. Bottom temperatures observed in this area were as high as 8.79°0. Temperatures at these stations when the summer survey was made were from 4 to 5°0. lower at the intermediate depths (100 to 150 metres) but near the bottom were within the same range as the spring temperatures (5 to 7°0.). The greater summer flow of below 0°C. water was again evident at stations 18 and 19. At station 18 between the depths of 50 and 150 metres and at station 19 between 35 and 225 metres temperatures were below zero, the lowest temperature observed was -1.35°0. in 75 metres at station 19. St. Pierre Bank and Vicinity. On the N. W. ands. E. plateaux of St. Pierre Bank, in 40 metres (stations 6 and 9) the April bottom temperatures of 1.96 and 1.82°0. respectively had, by August, risen to 4.17 nnd 5.76°0. while at station 7 on N. W. St. Pierre Bank bottom temperatures showed a decrease from April to August from 0.15 to -0.42°C. indicating a larger volume of below 0°0. water to the north of the bank in the surnmer. Subsurface temperatures in the deep water to the northwest of the bank (station 1) varied little from spring to summer but in the deep water on the s. W. edge (station 8) subsurface temperatures between 50 and 150 metres were lower in August than in April. The April temperature range at these levels was 1.85 to 6.24°0. while in August it was -0.71 to 1.23°0. The colder water found in August presumably came down through the channel between St. Pierre and Green Banks and then N. w. along the edge as no below 0°0. temperatures were found on southern St. Pierre Bank either in the spring or summer. - 73 - Southern Labrador, East Coast and Northern Bank Areas, Summer This survey consisting of three lines of stations (fig. 2) across the axis of the Labrador Current, one from the coast along the 47° latitude line, a second off Cape Bonavista and a third off Domino Point, Labrador has been made each year since 1950, during the last week in July and the first week in j' August. 0 l 47 Latitude Line Section. Near the coast, below the warm surface layer, water temperatures to the bottom were below zero. The thickness of the cold water decreased from the coast eastward and it ended on the bottom between Stations 34 and 35; at 35 bottom temperature was o.27°c. The lowest tempera 0 ture in the cold water was -1.62 Cv in 100 metres at station 28. At station 36 below o0 c. water was again present on the bottom. This cold water ended between stations 37 and 38; from 38 to the end of the section on the Flemish Cap practically all tem 0 peratures were above 3 C. Bonavista Section. The temperature picture at this section in August has been found to be: a surfage layer of warm water, underlying the surface layer below 0 water of c. 0 the Labrador Current, and between the lower boundary of the 0 c. water and the bottom a layer of warmer water with temperatures up to about 3.5°c. This year the cold water layer at the coast extended approximately from 50 metres down 225 metres and from the coast outwards to just beyond station 4BA. At 48A one temperature below o0 c. was observed, -o.40°c. in 50 metres. When this survey was made the lower boundary of the o0 c. water was about 15 nautical miles from the coast on the bottom and at 30 nauBical miles from the coast bottom tempera tures were over 2.00 C. increasing gradually to 3.06°c. on the bottom at station 48A. The lowest temperature at the section was -1.54°c. in 100 metres at station 45. . Section off Domino Point Labrador. This section is somewhat similar to that of Cape Bonavista. However the cross sectional area of the cold water was greater than the Bonavista section and on the bottom the cold water extended farther, to about 90 nautical miles from the coast. The cold water ended between stations 55 and 55A, the lowest temperature at 55A being 2.23°c. The lowest temperature observed on the section was -1.16°c. on the bottom at station 52. Following this northern hydrographic trip a second was made on the southern banks. Figure 3, A, B and C shows the Grand Bank sections of this trip dra\im to the same scale as those of the .northern trip. The results of this trip have been discussed above and a comparison made with April tempera tures at the same sections. - 74 - Figure 2. Section off Domino Pto Labrador. Stations 51-56 July 31-August 1, 1953 A 350 400 250 B 300 350 27 28 0 --"'-·-· ····------·-4·--- Stations 27-38 July 24-26, 1953 .)··2. / 250 .-'-.-/ JPO c Depths in Metre~ i-----·-----······· - 75 - 27 28 29 JO 31 32 33 AB CD E i-.1------'------~------~------~- ~~---· 25 /\ 2 --::::::--...._ ~--::::_ ...., 5o~ ~------=~2_;__;:-_:,.--,---,--~r-TI~-- )~-() · . 15t- 0 ./~ 0 ~ )/ ' 100 I -1 0 ~1 I ,;;..5. !// b:~-- · Grand Bank 1; . 150 .A. __,./- Stations 27-33E / j../'" d .--''/ 1 )._ Aug. 13-20, 1953 200 0 300 20B 20A 20 21 22 23 24 25 !6 26A B 26C 50 2 100 Grand Bank 150 Stations 20B-26D Aug. 14-23, 1953 WO 300 B 10. 1) 15. 17. 18. 25 ______5~ . 5 75 0 100- 150 S. w. Edge Grand Bank Stations 11-19, Aug. 14"'"22, 1953 Depths in Metres c Figure 3 - 76 Station 27 off St. John's, 1953 This station, in 177 metres, approximately 5 miles off Cape Spear near St. John's, is occupied about once a month throughout the year. On February 10 the surface temperature was 0.04°C. and from 25 metres to the bottom the temperature range was -o.oz to -0.16°C. Bottom and near bottom temperatures decreased until mid-June; from then onward to September they were between -1 and -l.5°C. During the summer the upper boundary of the below 0°C. water lay between 25 and 50 metres below the surface. By Octo ber 1 the below 0°C. water was confined to a narrow band betwee- 150 metres and bottom. The lowest temperature observed at this station in 1953 was -1.50°0. in 150 metres on August 18, the highest sur f ace temperature. observed was 12. 2° C. on July 24. Comparison of 1953 with Previous Years On the Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank in the spring a strict comparison with previous years cannot be made because this year's survey was made about a month later than usual. However the striking difference in 1953 was the large area of warm water that moved in over the S. W. edge of the Grand Bank in the spring~ giving higher temperatures than had been observed previously in either the spring or summer· in this region .. In the summer, bottom temperatures were 2-5°C. higher than in 195? Figure 4 shows the section 27-33 for six years betwec~ 1947 and 1953 in the spring. Generally temperatures were lower from 1947 to 1950 than since that time. Temperatures at this section were lowest in 1950 with below 0°C. water extending from the coast to near the S. E. Shoal. In 1951-1953 bottom temperatures on the banks were above zero. Except for 1950, there has been no -1°0. water on the eastern edge in the spring, In the liValon Channel small tJ.reas of -1.0°0. water are present each year, in 1953 somewhat larger than 1951 or 1952, however the volume of -1°C. water in the last three years has not been as great as the three years 1947-1950. On St. Pierre Bank, stations 6 and 7 did not vary greatly in the spring and surmner from those of 1951 and 1952, the only previous years when the St. Pierre Bank stations were occupied both in the spring and summer. It appears, from the temperatures from station 7 on N. E. St. Pierre Bank and the stations in the deeper water to the north of the bank (2, 3 and 4), that there was more cold water to the north of the bank this year. At the northern section off Domino and the section off Cape Bonavista, in the summer, there was less cold water than in 1952 and the volume of -1°C. water was less at both section~ with only one -l.5°C. temperature on the Bonavista - 77 - 2 28 2 JO 31 32 33 l,___ \ -! ~-\ \~-1'n~ Y/.,r j . ' I I 1\ March 8-10 J. . \ \ 0 f'~A ) I .Y 1951 ~/1 2.7 28 29 30 31 32 33 A E 1 i " I ~) Grand Bank / 0 April 1-3 200 250 I 300 1948 1952 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 E l_;l \ . 0 0 / -1 50~';_1.5~·"--~, I \ Grand Bank / ;....]_/ 100 i l50 V April 10-12 I 0 200 1950 1953 Depths in Metres Figure 4 -~ - ---- ~ 38 200 3.5 36 34 -- -·--- 200 250 Depths in M:e:tr:e:s~------;=------ Figure 5 - 79 - section, compared with small areas of -l.5°C. inshore at both these sections in 1952. The third line across the axis of the Labrador Current is shown for the four years 1950-1953, in figure 5; In 1950 all the northern central part of the banks was covered by below -1°C. water with a large inshore area of -l.5°C. water. In no year since have temperatures at this sec tion been as low as 1950. The next coldest was 1952 when the banks were covered by below 0°C. water but no inshore tempera tures were as low as -l.5°C. In 1951 and 1953 the temperatures on the bank were above zero, however temperatures in the Avalon Channel were lower in 1953 than either 1951 or 1952 with a small area of -l.5°C. water between stations 27 and 28. R. P. Hunt Appendix No. 17 DANISH SEINING IN NEWFOUNDLAND, 1953 Exploratory Fishing for Witch Flounder Carried Out by M. V. Matthew II The M. V. Matthew II was engaged in exploratory fishing in an attempt to discover new areas which could be fished commercially by Danish seining for witch flounder. The fishing operations were not as extensive as was intended. Me chanical failures caused the ship to be idle for two months of the five scheduled for exploration. The survey was concerned with two main regions - 1. South Coast. 2. Southwest Edge of the Grand Bank. The investigation of the South Coast was started on June 5 and continued until October 26, the Grand Bank was explored between July 12 and August 7. South Coast Rose Blanche Bank. Rose Blanche Bank and the areas adjacent to it were surveyed by means of athometer tracings and on those places where the bottom appeared to be more suit able sets were made, six sets being made in all. Over the whole of this area the bottom was unsuitable for Danish seining; in only one set was the net not hooked up on the bottom, and only two witch flounder were caught on this occasion. Ramea, Hermitage Bay, IVIiguelon. This area between 56°00 111\T. and 58°00 111\T. was investigated later in the season. Three sets were made in the vicinity of Miquelon on August 12 and 14, the remainder of the sets, eleven in number, were all made between October 12 and 26. - 80 - In some places the bottom was found to be suitable for this method of fishing but only three sets produced 100 lb. or more of witch flounder and the greatest catch was 250 lb. At this time of year however the weather conditions were very bad, the sea was often too rough and a very strong current re duced the efficiency of the gear. The average lengths of sam ples from these areas varied between 37.4 cm. and 43.9 cm. Fortune Bay. Sets were made periodically, seven in all, on the known fishing grounds in Fortune Bay; catches varied from 400 lb. to 1600 lb. These sets were made to test the gear. Thirteen other sets were made in Fortune Bay some near the commercial grounds. A survey was made with the fathometer over the rest of the bay, some suitable bottom was found, but nowhere was witch flounder found in commercial quantity. In two sets near commercial grounds catches of 100 lb. and 300 lb. were made; position 47°14'N., 55°44'W.;in depths from 96 to 106 fathoms. In no other place did the catch reach 100 lb. The size of the witch flounder in Fortune Bay has been found to be greater than that of fish from other areas, the average length being 47.3 cm. Southwest Edge of Grand Bank A series of lines at depths ranging from 50 to 120 fathoms have been surveyed along the edge of the bank between 52°W. and 54°W. The bottom was found to be suitable for Danish seining operations throughout the area although the catches of witch flounder proved very variable; a few fish appeared in every haul, but in only four out of the 26 sets made in the area did the catch exceed 100 lb. Fish in good commercial quantities were found in only two sets, in these the catches consisted of 1500 and 2200 lb. of witch flounder. These sets were made at positions 44°35 1 W., 53°00 1N. and 44°26 1 W., 52°30 1N. and at depths of 51 and 45 fathoms respectively. The Grand Bank fish appear to be smaller in size than those found on the commercial grounds in Fortune Bay. The average length of the former was found to be 39.5 cm. (1224 fish measured) whereas that of the Fortune Bay fish was compu ted as 47. 3 cm. ( 1347 fish measured) • The size "spread" also appears to be greater in the Grand Bank samples than those of Fortune Bay, and whereas in the latter 78% of the fish sampled lie in the length range 44-53 cm., in the Grand Bank samples only 76% were found in the greater length range of 31-45 cm. The catches obtained in the Grand Bank area in general consisted of a variety of species; variable numbers - usually small - of American plaice, common hake and haddock appearing in most sets. In addition to the above area. two sets were made in Whale Deep, in both these sets the bottom was catchy and un suitable, as it was also in Green Bank Gully and the Channel - 81 - Gully, where two and three sets were made respectively. Witch flounder, or grey sole, have not been found in commercial quantities anywhere outside the known fishing grounds, although some of the areas surveyed may produce better results under more favourable weather conditions. Several of the Grand Bank areas showed possibilities for a commercial boat which could remain in one place. No correlation could be found between the concentra tions of populations of witch flounder and either temperature or depth. Commercial Fishery for Witch Flounder with Danish Seine Fishing with Danish seine was begun experimentally in Newfoundland waters when the Government of Newfoundland in 1951 fitted the 56-foot Matthew II with Danish seining gear. In the exploratory work that followed, an area was located in Fortune Bay on the south coast of Newfoundland where good catches of witch flounder were made; together with smaller amounts of plaice, redfish, and cod. In June, 1952, one boat began fishing commercially with Danish seine in this area, followed in September by another. By January, 1953, the number of boats increased to three and this was the largest number fishing during any one month up to August, 1953. Witch Landings - Fortune Bay Landings Number of Number of Whole Weight Boats Trips ( 1 b.) 1952 June l 4 146,227 July Aug. 1 2 74,304 Sept. 2 5 105,894 Oct. 2 7 177,215 Nov. 2 6 121,673 Dec. 2 3 66,420 1953 Jan. 3 7 116,900 Feb. 3 5 78,050 Mar. 3 9 312,860 Apr. 3 6 200,625 May 2 8 173,450 June 2 10 214,920 July 3 6 187,848 Witch flounder in Fortune Bay have not been exploited previous to 1952. In that year, first the one and then two - 83 - boats continued having good catches throughout the summer, as indicated in the landings. The stormy weather of the late autumn and winter reduced the number of fishing days, with a consequent reduction in landings. Beginning in 1953, more detai.led information on the operations of each boat was obtained. Boat A is 43 feet in length; boat B, 78 feet; and boat C, 68 feet. 0 0 Boat A V- -·V Boat B tD - -- -@ Beat C 30 . ;- ..... --" 20 . ._ ...... 'V 10 Jan. Feb.. Mar.. A~r. Ma~ J~n.. JJi... .A~:----S-~pt. Figure 1. Catch per Drag of Danish Seining Boats - Fortune Bay, 1953 Fishing is carried on mainly in a small area between Brunette Island and the Burin Peninsula in depths between 90 and 180 fathoms. Generally, the anchor is dropped in the shoalest water and the net is hauled while at anchor, up over the slope. Over the nine month period from January to September there was considerable fluctuation in the average catch per drag of each boat (figure 1). After moderate success for all boats in January, when each averaged over 1500 lb. of witch flounder per drag, a drop occurred in the catch per drag for all boats in February. Boat C concluded fishing in April to engage in other work. Her catch of witch per drag had dropped from 2241 in January to 1742 lb. in Tu.I.arch. For boat A, the catch per drag fluctuated from month to month, but the trend is apparently to ward a decrease. For boat B, the range of fluctuation in average catch per drag is greater, with the high averages occurring in March and April, and low ones in February and from June to Sep tember. Small amounts of plaice, cod and redfish were taken on practically every trip. - 83 - Some bottom temperatures for March, June, July and Sep'tember have been obtained for the area from long-lining boats and a Danish seiner doing exploratory work under our supervision. These show for the depths fished by commercial seiners, bottom temperatures ranging from 0.4 to l.4°C., and mainly above l.0°C. In June, depths fished by the commercial seiners had bottom tem peratures from 0.7 to l.3°C., but mainly around 0.8°C. By July, bottom temperatures of the fishing depths were from 0.1 to 0.2°C., and in September the one bottom temperature recorded in the area in just over 100 fathoms was -0.1°C. Though the hydrographical information is not sufficient to associate di rectly a decrease in bottom temperature from June to September with the downward trend in the average catch per drag in the same period, there is a possibility that they are related since we would expect the ropes of the seine gear to drive fish less well under very low temperature condition. Bottom temperatures during the low average catches of February are unknown. Fluctuations in the average catch per drag have been great, and the period of observing the fishery has been short. However, it is obvious that further developments must be closely followed. The witch flounders ,of Fortune Bay are large, avera ging 47 cm. and the size has not fallen from January to Sep tember. T. N. Stewart A. M. Fleming E. J. Sandeman R. W. Ellis Appendix No. 18 LONG-LINING EXPERIMENTAL AND COMMERCIAL FISHING, 1953 Experimental Long-lining Introduction Since 1950 the Station has been carrying out experi mental fishing with long-lining boats, in Newfoundland waters, on behalf of the Department of Fisheries. In 1950-52 opera tions were located on the east coast of Newfoundland, from Bonavista Bay northwards to the Strait of Belle Isle, and on the inshore grounds at Isle aux IVlorts on the southyvest coast. In 1953 the two 55-foot long-liners, the Atlantic Rover, Captain Russell Decker, and the Gertrude and Ronald, Captain Gordon Hemeon, were engaged in experimental long ,/ lining in Placentia Bay from January 10 to March 8, and in For tune B;;i.y from March 9 to 28. These two boats with the addi tion of two similar long-liners, the Marjorie Byrl, Captain - 84 - Mitchell Taylor and the Pat and Judy, Captain Joseph Atkinson, were again chartered for the summer and fall operations. These were the same four boats which had been engaged in the experi mental long-lining operations in 1952. Each boat carried a crew of four, including the skipper who was a successful Locke port fisherman. The Atlantic Rover and Gertrude and Ronald fished off shore grounds in Bona vista Bay during May, then in June ex plored the northwestern edge of the offshore Baccalieu area. In early July they proceeded to southern Labrador and explored the following grounds: the southwest edge of Hamilton Inlet Bank, the deep water 35 miles off Hawke Harbour, and Bella Isle Bank. In early October the boats moved south and again fished in the Baccalieu area. The Marjorie Byrl and the Pat and Judy began opera tions in early May at Ramea Island on the south coast of New foundland. From there they fished on Burgeo Bank and in inshore areas around Ram.ea until early June. The boats then proceeded to Fortune and from there fished in Fortune Bay, and on the northern edge of St. Pierre Bank. In early July they moved to Port au Choix, on the northwest coast of Newfoundland, and from mid-July to mid-October explored possible inshore.and offshore long-lining grounds, from Ferolle Point south to Port aux Basques. Fishing in all areas was experimental. Poor and pro ductive areas and depths were fished, with most effort being devoted to those areas and depths which, on the basis of pre vious experience of long-lining, and. on hydrographic condi tions, were expected to yield good catches. Catches were sold when possible, but the sale of fish was not allowed to inter fere with the experiments. Squid for bait was used in preference to herring but in many instances herring was the only bait available. The gear used in all cases consisted of tubs of 12 fifty-fathom lines with hooks 6 feet apart. In the considera tion of the fishing success in various areas as shown in the charts it should be remembered that catches of 800 to 1100 pounds per tub of gear are considered good fishing, below this poor and above very good. ~ish Catches per Unit Effort Placentia Bay, January-March, 1953. The Atlantic Rover and the Gertrude and Ronald began fishing from Placentia on January 10. Between January 10 and February 11 the boats made 29 sets in the eastern half of the bay. On February 12 they proceeded to Burin, from where they fished areas in the western half of the bay until March 8 making 19 sets. ~ 85 - Table 1 gives a summary of the fishing effort and catches of the two long•lining boats, in the eastern and western ·parts of the bay. Figure 1 shows the position, and average catch of cod per tub of gear, of each set made in the bay. The eastern half takes in that part of the bay east of the western edge of lVIerasheen Bank. As the table and figure. • show, the best catches were made on the eastern side of the bay, the average catch of cod per tub being 513 lb. The sets made on Merasheen Bank, Bennet Bank and on the eastern edge Of the deep channel between Merasheen Bank and Placentia averaged 600 .lb. cod per tub. The best fishing was found in 55 to 80 fathoms, where bottom temperatures ranged from 1.5 to o.5°C. The average catch of cod per tub of the sets made between Long Island and Placentia P0ninsula ranged from 170 to 330 lb. Catches were low in the western half of the bay. Only in four of the 19 sets made there did the catch exceed 500 lb. c.od per tub, and none of the sets averaged over 600 lb. cod per tub. There was n·o very great concentration of cod found iri any specific range of depths or of temperature in the bay. Bottom temperatures ranged downward from 2.0°C. at 30 fathoms to 0.0°C. at 100 fathoms and to -0.5°C. at 110 to 120 fathoms,. then slowly rose to -0.3°C. at 170 fathoms. Thus from experi ence in long-lining on the east coast, it can be said that there were no temperatures, on the fishing grounds of the bay, too high or too low for cod, and the cod were apparently dis persed. Very small amounts of American plaice, haddock, and Greenland halibut were caught. These fish never comprised more tha.n 5% of the total catch in any set. Fortune Bay, March and June-July, 1953. The Atlantic Rover and the Gertrude and Ronald fished in Fortune Bay from lVIarch 9 to 28, making a total of 23 sets. Very poor catches of cod were obtained on almost every set. From June 8 to July 4 the Marjorie Byrl and the Pat and Judy made a further 21 sets in the bay. The area from north and east of Miquelon and St. Pierre Islands, eastwards int.o Fortune Bay proper, is taken here as Fortune Bay. In June and July the boats also fished on St. Pierre Bank. In March tho only squid bait available, was, in the opinion of the skippers, unfit for use, and frozen herring was used instead. In June and July only frozen herring was available. Table 1 gives a summary of the fishing effort and catches made by the long-lining boats in March and in June July. Figures 1 and 2 show the positions and average catch of cod per tub of gear, for each sot made in the bay. Catches were low in all sets in both periods. In March the average catch of cod per tub of all the sets made Table 1. Summary of Catches and Effort of Long-Liners South and West Coasts 1953 s 0 u th C o a s t W e s t C o a s t Jan. - March May - July July - October Cowhead South Placentia Bay Ferolle Ferolle to South Head to East- West- St. Pt. to Pt. to Head of Port ern ern Fortune Ramea Burgeo Fortune Pierre Cow head Cowhead J3l:l,y of au Port Half Half Bay 1'-i.rea Bank Bay Bank Inshore Offshore Islands Peninsula Number of trips 29 19 23 16 14 22 12 10 17 24 17 Total hours at sea 218 169 208 120 175 246 149 89 154 225 179 Total· tubs gear used 79 71 92 56 58 79 42 32 64 90 68 Range of depths fa th. 25 17 25 17 35 7 16 19 22 15 21 to to to to to to to to to to to CX> 172 120 200 133 100 143 141 104 · 100 83 65 °'I Range of temp. °C. -o.6 -0.5 0 .. 3 1.1 1.5 -0.7 1.4 0.1 -0.4 o.4 0.2 to to to to to to to to to to to 2.2 1.2 1. 7 5.1 5.2 8.5 5. 7 12.0 10.4 15.0 7.1 ' Fi.sh Catches lb. Halibut 0 0 0 114 399 0 124 18 65 36 0 Plaice 152 198 435 113 1251 1235 3155 318 164 697 337 Redf ish 0 0 15 49 36 0 5 60 10 0 0 Wolffish 0 10 0 1412 1882 238 99 99 188 200 23 Gl'."eenland Halibut 8 0 584 0 0 33 0 4 18 0 0 Haddock 34 15 210 96 768 219 825 6 ti 60 3082 Cod 40645 19438 21374 6924 21412 8355 9405 5335 15510 32890 5035.'5 Lb. cod per tub gear 513 274 232 124 369 106 224 167 242 365 746 47 SQUID HERRING BAIT BAIT ZERO \. 0 0 --··- ·,, __ ) I- 100 e 8 DEPTH IN FATHOMS EB IOI- 250 EB 30 251- 500 © [!) 50 () 501- 800 [J 100 ' "~ .. '"> 801- 1100 5J 56 55 54 Figure 1. Cod Catches Long-Lining lDxperiments South coast Newfoundland, January - March, 1953. - 87 - was 274 lb., in June it was 106 lb. Only on one set in March and on one set in June-July did the average catch of cod per tub exceed 450 lb. These two sets were made off outer Miquelon Rocks, to the east of Miquelon Jsland. In March no water layer with temperatures below 0.0°C. was found, the bottom temperatures then ranging from 0.4°C. at 30 fathoms to about l.4°C. at 160 fathoms. In June and July a tongue of cold, below 0.0°C., water, from 40 fathoms to the bottom, extended from off the toe of the Fortune Peninsula to Miquelon Rocks, but did not cover Jersey aan Bank. This layer did not extend into Fortune Bay proper. Temperatures in this cold layer ranged from 0.0°C. at 40 fathoms to -0.6°C. at 87 fathoms. Five sets were made extending into the cold water layer. Cod catches on these sets averaged only 137 lbs. per tub. In both March and June-July it was obvious that very low stocks of cod were present in the areas fished and catches were in no way correlated with depth or temperature. Small amounts of American plaice, Greenland halibut and a few haddock were caught by the long-liners. In March American plaice formed 2% of the total weight of commercial fish caught and Greenland halibut 2i%· In June-July the cor responding figures were 8.3% and less than i%. Ram.ea, Burgeo Bank and St. Pierre Bank, May-July 2 1953 On May 7 the Marjorie £;y:£l and the Pat and Judy arrived at Ramea. From then until June 5 the boats fished on Burgeo Bank and in shore areas around Ramea Islands. On June 6 the boats proceeded to Fortune and while operating from there made a total of 12 sets on the northern edge of St. Pierre Bank. Herring was the only bait available during both opera- tions. Table 1 summarizes the fishing effort and catches made by the boats. Figure 2 shows the position and average catch of cod per tub of each of the sets made. Catches were very low on all the sets made inshore near Ram.ea. The average catch of cod per tub on all these sets was 124 lb. and the greatest catch.on any set was 280 lb. cod per tub. On St. Pierre Bank cod catches were low, the average per tub for all sets was 224 lb. and the greatest catch on any set averaged 480 lb. per tub. On Burgeo Bank catches were only moderate, averaging 369 lb. cod per tub. The best cod catches (up to 800 lb. per tub) were made on the northern and western edges of the bank in 60 to 85 fathoms. Temperatures at these depths ranged from 2.2 to 4.0°C. Below 85 fathoms very few cod were caught. __,... l±L£b83 ~ [;] [;] Eli Eiloo-> ..·t8 \ ' ~ / BURGEO BANK ,.) 00~ /B ···.. , 83 ~ 47 ··...... -···\. -00\ 47 ( ···-~·-/ ········I!]····· "C::/ ~ /.····· ··...... ;;....-· ...... ,_ / ,>"~E:El·· \ POUNDS OF COD PER 12-LINE TUB @L__ ·' SQUID HERRING & CAPLIN ST. PIERRE BANK BAIT BAIT 0 ZERO D 8 r-100 El DEPTH IN FATHOMS EB 101-250 EB 30 @ 251-500 ~ 50 Q 50!-800 i;;:J 100 ~ 801-HOO ~ 58 57 56 :F'igure 2. Cod Catches Long-Lining Experiments South coast Newfoundland, May - July, 1953. - 88 - . On the inshore grounds around Ramea wolff ish made up 16.2% of the total weight of commercial fish caught. American plaice, halibut, haddock and redfish were caught in very small quantities. On Burgeo Bank wolffish made up 7.3% of the total wei~ht of co:r;rrnercial~_fish caught, American plaice 4.7%, haddock 2.9% and halibut 1.5%. The largest catches of wolffish were made on top of the bank in 40 to 60 fathoms, the best catches of halibut on the northern edge of the bank below 60 fathoms. On St. Pierre Bank, American plaice made up 23.2% (3155 lb.) of the total weight of commercial fish caught and haddock made up 6.1%. Most of the American plaice was caught on three sets, two 22 and 29 miles west-north-west of Platte Point on Miquelon Island and one 10 miles north by east of Platte Point. The average catch per tub of plaice on these three sets was 185 lb., 250 lb and 175 lb. respectively. Only very small amounts of halibut, wolff ish and redf ish were caught on the bank. West Coast of Newfoundland, July-Octobe:i:.z_ 1953. The Marjorie Byrl and the Pat and Judy arrived at Port au Choix on July 12, and from then until October 15 fished inshore and off shore areas, from off Ferolle Point south to Port aux Basques. From July 12 to August 14 the boats fished areas from Ferolle Point to Cow Head, using Port aux Choix and Port Saunders as harbours. On August 15 the boats proceeded to ·curling and from there until October 6 fished areas from Cow Head to Cape St. George and in the Bay of Islands. Lark Harbour was used as a secondary port during this period. On October 6 the boats went to Port aux Basques and between October 10 and 15 fished on grounds between Port aux Basques and Codroy. No fishing was done in the area between Cape St. George and Codroy due to lack of time and stormy weather. Squid for bait became available in mid-September. Up until then frozen herring was the only bait used. Table 1 gives a summary of the fishing effort and catches made by the long-liners in the main areas fished. Figure 3 shows the position and average catch of cod per tub of gear, of all the sets made. In the Ferolle Point to Cow Head area, very low cat ches of cod were obtained on almost all the sets made. The average catch of cod per tub of the sets made on the inshore grounds was only 167 lb., and the maximum catch on any of these sets was 330 lb. cod per tub. Most of the off shore fishing was on the bank centred about 25 miles northwest of Port au Choix and the average catch of cod of the sets made on this bank was only 150 lb. per tub. Fairly good cod catches were obtained on three sets made to the northeast of this bank in 33 to 57 fathoms. Catches on these sets ranged from 750 to 915 lb. cod per tub. so so EB ./ -~ J ~ ,. EB EB EB 8 I EB ® EB ~ (!) ~ 49 49 DEPTH IN FATHOMS POUNDS OF COD PER 12-LJNE TUB 30 SQU!D HERRING &CAPLIN so BAIT BA!T ZERO !00 0 D e 1-100 B EB IOI -250 EEl @ 251 - 500 [!] 45 Q 501 - 800 '}/§ i:jJ ~ 801 --1100 llJ C> 1101-1400 IJ e 1401-1700 ~ • 1701 -2750 • Figurn 3. Cod Catches Long-Lining Experiments West coast Newfoundland, July - Octob·er, 1953. - 89 - Nineteen sets were made in the Cow Head to South Head area, using herring as bait. Catches were low on all these sets, ranging from 50 to 500 lb. cod per tub and averaging only 248 lb. cod per tub. The best catches were made in an area off North Head and in mid-September when squid became available. Five sets, with squid as bait, were made in this area. On these sets catches ranged from 625 to 1330 lb. cod per tub and the average catch of cod per tub was 860 lb. The depths fished on these sets ranged from 18 to 31 fathoms with temperatures of 0.4 to l0.0°C. Six sets were made in the Bay of Islands in depths of 17 to 105 fathoms, with temperatures ranging from 0.7 to ll.0°C. Catches were low, ranging from 12 to 500 lb. cod per tub and averaging 227 lb. cod per tub. Squid bait was used on all the sets made in the South Head to Cape St. George area. Catches were generally good in this area, the average catch of cod per tub of all the sets being 746 lb. The best fishing was in an area 5 to 20 miles due north of the Port au Port Peninsula in depths of 50 to 60 fathoms and temperatures of 0.2 to 3.5°C. The catches in this area ranged from 700 to 1500 lb. cod per tub. On one set off Codroy in 69 to 92 fathoms the average catch of cod per tub was 1000 lb. On the other 3 sets made in this area in 5 to 81 fathoms catches ranged from 150 to 500 lb. cod per tub. Other commercial fish caught were haddock, American plaice, and a few wolffish, redfish, halibut and Greenland halibut. Only on two of the 78 sets made were large amounts of haddock caught; 2600 lb. on one set 10 miles northwest by north of Long Point and 300 lb. on another 5 miles south of this. Haddock made up 2.9% of t~e total weight of commercial fish caught and American plaice 2.0%. Only one temperature be low 0.0°C. was recorded in the areas fished. This temperature, -0.4°0., was taken in 45 fathoms 23 miles north by west of Port au Ohoix, and most probably indicated the eastern edge of the cold water current which flows south through the Straits of Belle Isle. Elsewhere temperatures ranged from 12.0°C. in 20 fathoms down to about 1.0°0. in 35 fathoms; between 35 and 55 fathoms temperatures ranged between 0.1 and l.0°C. and below this rose slowly with increasing d.epth to about 4.0°C. in 100 fathoms. Temperatures above 2. 0°C. are generally t·oo high for cod and in the areas fished the best catches were made in 25 to 50 fathoms, where temperatures ranged from 0.1 to about 1.9°0. Baccalieu Area, June and October, 1953. The Atlantic Rover and the Gertrude and Ronald fished the northwestern edge o'f"the Grand Bank off Baccalieu Island from June 2 to 30 and again from October 2 to 26. In October they also fished in the - 90 - shoal waters around Baccalieu Island. The boats operated fr::im Bonavista in June and from Bonavista and Catalina in October. The boats could only fish for six days in October because of very bad weather. Frozen squid was available as bait during both periods. As has been shown in previous years there is a temperature stra tification of the waters off the east coast of Newfoundland. In spr~ng, summer and fall a thin surface layer of warm, above 0.0 C. water is separated by a thick layer of cold, below zero, water from the deep warm water present offshore below about 130 fathoms. The bottom of this cold water layer is deepest near the coast and shoals gradually seawards. Previous long-lining experiments have· shown that there is a large concentration of cod, off shore, where the cold and deep warm water layers meet, and that excellent catches of cod were made by the long liners in depths where bottom temperatures ranged from -0.5°C. to over l.0°C. Consequently in June and October offshore fishing was concentrated in depths with the above temperatures. In October the upper warm water layer extended down to 60 fathoms and good catches were made in the inshore shoal waters, which, in June, were unsuitable for fishing due t:i the low bottom temperatures. Figure 4 shows the position and average catch per tub of the sets made in Bonavista Bay and in the Baccalieu area. Table 2 gives a summary of the fishing effort and catches made by the long-lining boats in the Baccalieu area. In the table the sets have been divided into groups with respect to the temperature stratification. Sets made in the upper, warm layer of water and with temperatures ranging from above 0.0°C. to -0.5°C. have been termed 'inshore', those made in the cold water layer, with temperatures ranging from below -1.0 to -0.5°C. have been termed 'intermediate'. Sets made across the junction of the cold and deep warm water layers and with temperatures ranging from -0.5°C. (in a few instances below this) to over l.0°C. have been termed 1 deep 1 • In June, 13 deep sets were made. Catches were moder ate, the average catch of cod per tub of the sets was 722 lb. and only on two of the sets did the catch average over 1000 lb. cod per tub. The best catches were made in an area 40 to 55 miles E.S.E. of Bonavista Cape. In this period there was no definite range of depths or temperatures in which the best cat ches were made. As was expected the average catch of cod per tub of the 5 intermediate sets made was low (338 lb.) and the greatest average catch per tub on any of these sets was 450 lb. In October, 9 deep sets were made and catches of cod were much higher. The average catch of cod per tub of all the sets made was 1113 lb. and the five sets made along the edge 56 55 54 53 52 ", ,,,,,.,,- ...... ______..... ,,_..... ,.._,,,,,,,. ,,,.,,../',,...... -' I ,,.---' } ,_...... 50 ) ,,.··...... -···--...... _..... ·· .. ./@ 49 eeev 49 SQUID HERRING &CAPLIN BMT BAIT .··4\~ 0 ZERO 0 e 1-50 El ·~ @ 51-100 El 30 © 101-250 EEi 50 - @ 251-500 ~ ~ 501-800 [f] GRAND BANK NORTHERN EDGE .:> 801-1100 II] f) 1101---:-1400 IJ ~JUNE SETS e 1401-1700 fl 1f') OCTOBER SETS 1701-2750 48 • • 56 55 54 Figure 4. Cod Catches Long-Lining E,xperim.ents Bonavista and Bacc·alieu Areas, May - June and October, 1953. - 9l - of the bank, outside Trinity Bay all averaged over 1000 lb. cod por tub. These catches were mainly made in 130 to 150 fathoms in temperatures of -0.2 to 0.3°C. Excellent catches were obtained on the three sets made on the inshore grounds near Baccalieu Island, the average catch of cod per tub on these sets being 1200 lb. Other commercial fish caught were American plaice, wolffish, Greenland halibut and a few redfish. These fish totalled about 9.0/'b of the total weight of commercial fish caught in June, and 12.4% in October. Southern Labrador, July-September, 1953. The Atlantic Rover and the Gertrude and Ronald began fishing operations on this coast on July 12. Operating from Domino the boats fished the southwestern part of Harnilton Inlet Bank and the outer edge of the deep channel between the bank and the mainland. Three sets were also made in inshore waters. On August 18 the boats began fishing the deep water, below 100 fathoms, 30 to 35 miles east to east-south-east of Hawke Harbour. The deep water charted 14 to 17 miles south south-west of Hawke Harbour was explored. Hawke Harbour was used as a base for these operations. On September 13 the boats moved to Battle Harbour and from there fished on Belle Isle Bank. Very bad weather during September seriously hampered the operations, and generally throughout the period, some fishing time was lost owing to one b'Jat having to return to Quirpon at regular intervals for bait. Frozen herring was the only bait available up to September 17. Squid was then used. Table 2 summarizes the fishing eff,)rt and catches of the boats in the three main areas fished. Figure 5 shows the position and average catch of cod per tub of all the sets made. In the table the sets have been divided into 'intermediate' and 'deep' in the same manner as those made in the Baccalieu area. On Hamilton Inlet Bank the best catches were made in July. The average catch of cod per tub on all 'deep' sets in July was 743 lb., in August it was 492 lb. The best catches were made in the southern part of the deep channel, between the bank and the mainland, generally in 125 to 150 fathoms. Bottom temperatures at these depths ranged from -0.3 to 0.6°C. Cat ches on the three 'intermediate' sets made were very low, averaging only 7 lb. cod per tub. On some sets to the north of the area fished, on the bank and in the deep channel the trawl was covered with thick black slime, and very few cod were caught on these sets. On the three sets made in inshore shoal waters near Domino catches ranged from 575 to 1500 lb. cod. The best fishing here was found in 30 to 45 fathoms where bottom tem peratures ranged from 0,3 to about 0.4°C. Table 2. Summary of Catches and Effort of Long-Liners East Coast and Labrador 1953 Grand Bank Northern Edge Hamilton Inlet Bank Hawke Belle Isle Ju n e October Harbour Bank Intermediate Deep Deep Inshore Intermediate Deep Deep Deep Number of trips 5 13 9 3 3 25 9 4 Total hours at sea 78 214 107 35 40 340 129 54 Total tubs gear used 18 49 32 12 10 111 35 16 Range of depths fath. 93 97 112 JO 79 72 103 97 to to to to to to to to 122 153 153 65 102 174 182 156 Range of temp. oc. -1.0 -0.8 -0.5 -0.3 -1.l -0.7 -0.5 --0.7 to to to to to to to to t.D -0.5 1.4 o.6 1.8 -0.6 1.4 1.6 0.1 ro Fish Catches· lb. Halibut 0 0 0 0 0 109 0 0 Plaice 335 2793 575 27 6 154 92 100 Redfish 0 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wolf fish 65 1300 725 0 0 4902 3099 395 Greenland Halibut 4 217 1828 0 0 2799 5065 247 Haddock 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cod 6085 35375 35620 14400 64 65960 4345 14300 Lb. cod per tub gear 338 722 1113 1200 7 594 124 894 .1 a HAMILTON INLET 54 BANK DEPTH IN FATHOMS EEJ. .. a-····' 30 -···-···-···- ( EEi 50 \EEi EEi 100 53 53 ------·.J33 130 \B POUNDS OF COD PER 12-LINE TUB ...... _a.,_ \. SQUID HERRING &CAPLIN BAIT BAIT 0 ZERO D 8 1-100 EJ EB 101-250 EB .. ·· @ 251-500 [!] <4) 501-800 GJ ~ 801-1100 Iii] C) 1101-1400 IJ 1401-1700 e ~ t' __ _ 1701-2750 ' -- 52 • • 52 58 57 56 55 54 Figure 5. Cod Catches Long-Lining Experiments Southern Labrador, July - September, 1953. - 93 - Eight sets were made in the off shore deep water east of Hawke Harbour. Catches were low on all sets, the maximum catch on any set was 250 lb. cod per tub and the average for all sets was 124 lb. per tub. On Belle Isle Bank the best catches were made in 130 to 156 fathoms on the eastern edge of the bank. The two sets made here averaged 1250 lb. cod per tub. The two sets.made on the western edge of the bank averaged only 538 lb. cod per tub. Wolff ish and Greenland halibut were the only other commercial fish caught in quantity. On Hamilton Inlet Bank these fish made up 10% of the total weight of commercial fish caught. In the Hawke Harbour area they made up 65% of the total weight, due to the very low catches of cod. On Belle Isle Bank only 4.4% of the total weight of commercial fish caught was made up by wolffish and Greenland halibut. Cod Siz~s in Long~lining Catches Tables 3 and 4 show the sizes of cod in the long lining catches in 1953. The sizes were first combined in five centimetre groups before the calculations on which the tables are based were carried out. Thus the percentages of baby, scrod, market and large are only approximately correct but the differences from the true figures are not great. In none of the long-lining areas examined in 1953, with the possible exception of the eastern part of Belle Isle Bank were the cod sizes as large as those found previously in the Bonavista to Funk Island area where sizes averaged over 75 cm. and the gutted weight over 7 pounds. The south coast catches ranged from a gutted weight of 4.7 pounds on the Ramea inshore grounds to 6.1 pounds in the eastern part of Placentia Bay; the west coast cod from 4.6 pounds from Lark Harbour to Cape St. George to 6.2 pounds in the Ferolle Point to Cow Head offshore area; the Labrador cod from 4.5 pounds on the western edge of Hamilton Inlet Bank to 7.0 pounds on the eastern edge of Belle Isle Bank and the off shore Baccalieu area cod from 4.9 pounds in June to 6.3 pounds in October. The amounts of baby cod, below l! pounds, are negligible in all areas and only a s~all percentage of the weight consisted of scrod cod of l! to 2! pounds. Long-lining at Bonavista, 1953 Experimental Fishing. The long-lining boats Atlantic Rover and Gertrude and Ronald, fishing experimentally under the supervision of the Research Station, began operations at Bona vista in May. The object was to determine if long-lining were commercially possible in this area in May, as the Station's previous work in the area began about June 10, and no success ful local long-lining had occurred before late in June. Table J. Sizes and Weights of Cod Caught by the Long-lining Experimental Boats, 1953 s 0 u th C o a s t W e s t C o a s t Placentia Bay Lark January Ferolle Point Cow Head Hr. to Eastern Western Fortune Bay St.Pierre Burgeo Ram ea to Cow Head to Cape St. Half Half March June Bank Bank Inshore Inshore Offshore South Head George Total Cod Measured 4977 3137 4195 794 1238 2929 1177 444 829 3866 3283 Percent 31-40 cm. 12.2-15.7 in. (Baby) 0.2 0.9 1.3 1.4 0.4 o.4 o.6 2.9 0.1 0.5 0.2 Percent 41-55 cm. t0 16.1-21.7 in. (Scrod) 12.6 19.2 23 .1 19.9 22.7 32.9 35.2 23.0 6.3 21.5 26.0 J:>: Percent 56-85 cm. 22.0-JJ .5 in. (Market) 70.5 67.3 68.3 67.3 65.0 55.l 54.9 61.3 78.4 67.8 66.8 Percent 86-145 cm. 33.9-56.l in. (Large) 16.7 12.6 7.3 11.4 11.9 11.6 9.3 12.8 15.2 10.2 7.0 Percent Weight Below l! lb. (Baby) 0.02 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 o.4 0.03 0.1 0.03 Percent Weight it-2! lb. (Scrod) 4.1 7.7 9.8 7 .5 9.2 14.0 15.5 7.8 2.0 8.1 11.3 Percent Weight 2t-10 lb. (Market) 61.3 60.9 70.2 62 .. 4 58.6 50.5 53. 7 53.6 64.l 61.0 64.8 Percent Weight Over 10 lb. (Large) 34.6 31.2 19.8 29.9 32.1 35.4 30.7 38.2 33.9 30.8 23.9 Average Length, in. 27 .8 26.4 25.6 26.6 26.2 25.2 25.0 26.3 29.0 26.1 25.0 1lverage Length, cm. 70.7 67~1 65~1 67.6 66.6 6J.9 6J.4 66.7 73.6 66.4 63.4 ;~verage Gutted & 'Jilled Weight, lb. 6.1 5.4 4.8 5.6 5.3 5.2 4. 7 5.7 6.2 5.3 4.6 Shallowest Depths :>ished, f ath. 25 17 25 11 11 35 17 19 22 15 21 r}rea test Depths Fished, fath. 135 120 200 143 98 100 153 104 100 83 65 Table 4. Sizes and Weights of Cod (cont.) B a c c a l i e u Ar e a Lab r ad or Hamil ton Domino Belle Isle Bank Offshore Inshore Inlet Area Western Eastern June Oct. Oct. Bank Inshore Half Half Total Cod Measured 4149 1792 634 5479 786 470 421 Percent 31-40 cm. 12.2-15.7 in. (Baby) 0.2 o.o 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 o.o Percent 41-55 cm. ,, ~ :· 16.1-21. 7 in. (Scrod) 15.2 7.0 17.J 11.1 7.7 J.4 1.0 ~ Percent 56-85 cm. m 22.0-33.5 in. (Market) 77 .6 77.4 72.J 84. 7 88.3 90.2 77.9 I' FerCent 86-145 cm. 33.9-56.l in. (Large) 7.0 15.6 10.2 4.1 J.7 6.2 21.1 Percent Weight Below li lb. (Baby) 0.03 o.o 0.02 0.1 0.02 o.o Percent Weight l!-2! lb. (Scrod) 6.7 2.5 7.4 5.5 J.7 1.5 0.3 Percent Weight 2!-10 lb. (Market) 73.3 66.1 67.4 82.4 86.2 85. 7 60.2 Percent Weight Over 10 lb. (Large) 20.0 31.4 25.2 12.1 10.0 12.8 39.5 Average Length, in. 26.0 28.4 25.7 25.6 25.8 26.7 29.4 Average Length, cm. 66.1 72.2 65.h 64.9 65.7 68.o 74.7 Average Gutted & Gilled Weight, lb. 4.9 6.J 5.2 4.5 4. 7 5.2 7.0 Shallowest Depths Fished, fath. 93 112 30 72 30 97 131 Greatest Depths Fished, fath. 153 153 65 174 52 122 156 - 96 - Areas from 18 to 27 miles to the northeast and east of Cape Bonavista were fished, with depths ranging from 105 to 152 fathoms. While fishing in the deep warm layer of water, with temperatures ranging from -1.3 to 2.5°C., but mainly above -0.5°C., good catches were made, averaging 114 lb. of cod per 50 fathom line (approximately 50 hooks per line), and a total of 119 lb. of marketable fish per line. Catches averaging 85 lb. per line are considered good. The best fishing was found from 130 to 145 fathoms. Table 5. Experimental Long-liners - Catch & Effort (one shallower trip omitted) No. trips i'3 Lines fished 594 Depths fath. 105-152 Temp. Range °C. -1.3 to 2.5 Catch lb. Cod 67,800 Wolff ish 2,155 Plaice 370 Greenland halibut 280 Lb. Cod per Line 114 Total Lb. per Line 119 From the results of this fishing it can be seen that long-lining on a commercial basis could be successful through out May. In years when there is little ice, it is almost cer tain that long-lining could begin in April. Commercial Long.:,lining at Bonavista. As in the previous year, the local long-lining fleet was late in starting operations, with only two boats stimulated by the success of the experimental boats beginning fishing in the latter part of May. The Bonavista Cold Storage Co. did not open until June 25, and this late opening was a deterrent to the early commencement of operations by most boats. Soon after the opening of the plant, three other boats began fishing and the refitting or re novations of others was speeded up. Not until August, however, was the total of twelve operating. Information on fishing effort was obtained in 1952 from 9 out of 10, and in 1953 from 10 out of 12 long-lining boats. The local long-liners, when fishing offshore, fished usually from 18 to 22 miles to the northeast and east of Cape Bonavista. Inshore trips were from three to eight miles from the cape. Generally from 50 to 80 lines per trip were ·fished. Up to the end of October three boats have each landed close to four hundred thousand pounds of head on, gutted fish. These began operations earliest in the season, two in May and the other _in June. Their landings amounted at the end of October to 43% of the long-lining total. The low total catch of most of the other boats can be attributed mainly to their late starting date, for the catch per line did not vary a great deal from boat to boat. - 97 - Table 6. · Landings of Commercial Long-liners at Bonavista in Pounds, 1953 No. of boats 2 2 3 5 Began fishing May 18 June 25 July 6, Aug. 1, 4, & 28 & 26 10 & 13 5, 11 & 13 Average Cod per Boat May 17,250 June 69,945 13,431 July 95,336 85, 799 67,649 Aug. 93.,194 87,631 91,543 50,390 Sept. 79,765 88,62Y~ 59,975 41,228 Oct. 60,687~~ 64,441* 41, 157~~ 39' 539~A- Total Cod 771, 665 526,785 739,815 616,249 Total Marketable Fish . 791,535 549,668 760,049 621,930 * One boat less than number indicated fishing. Table 7. Effort of Long-liners at Bonavista, 1952 & 1953 Inshore Off shore Total 1952- --·1953 1952 1953 i952 1953 Number boats sampled 9 10 9 10 9 10 No. trips 57 230 166 176 223 406 Range depths (fath.) 10-110 30-80 100-180. 125-180 Lines fished 2508 11898 9929 10903 12437 22801 Lb. Cod per Line 50.0 73.0 1043 103.7 93.3 87.7 Comparing with 1952, it can be seen (table 7) that more inshore trips were made in 1953 than in the previous year. Fairly good catches by some of the smaller long-liners about 6 to 8 miles southeast of the cape in 50-60 fathoms during August and early September accounted for this, and resulted in the catch per line being higher for inshore trips in 1953 than in 1952. This is unusual, since ordinarily, good fishing would not be expected at these depths in this area before October and November. It is apparent that favourable temperatures for cod extended deeper in the inshore areas earlier this year than in previous years. No appreciable difference in the catch per line shows for the offshore trips between th·3 two years. Examination of the total effort, however, shows the catch per line in 1953 to be slightly lower than for 1952. This is due to the much larger number of trips inshore in 1953 where the average catch per line is practically always below offshore averages. - 98 - Table 8. Landings of Long-liners by Months at Fish Plant Fishing Days Percent of 1952 1953 Landings lb. Total Landings Long- Inshore Long- Inshore Month 1952 1953 i9s2 1953 Liners Boats Liners Boats June~~ 11,160 80,287 7 23 1 1 4 4 July 419,170 613,944 14 27 19 25 18 23 August 495,500 891,784 23 31 22 22 20 23 Sept. 675,870 645,639 34 38 17 18 14 20 Oct. 170,990 543,934 44 43 10 12 19 17 Nov. 90, 572 41 11 11 Dec. 17,235 75 2 2 Total 1,880,497 2, 775, 588 24 33 * June JO, 1952; June 25-30, 1953. Figures from the Bonavista Cold Storage Company show the increase in landings by long-liners in 1953 over the pre vious year because of the increase in the number of boats. Of the total intake of the plant, the proportion that the long-liners land increases with the season. During the trapping and early hand-lining seasons for the smaller inshore boats, the long-lining landings are usually only a small pro portion of the total. In 1953 however, the long-lining pro portion was much higher than for the previous year. In 1952, 24% of the total intake at the plant came from long-liners; in 1953, up to the end of October, 33%. These figures are all the more significant when numbers of men are considered. Long-lining crews total about forty-five men for 1953, while the total number of fishermen in Bonavista in 1953 is close to 400. The long-liners, however, had special landing privileges which are of importance especially in July when so much trap fish is being produced but is not usually very important in the autumn. Size of Fish In May of this year the average size of offshore long lining cod was 68.5 cm. This is considerably below the lowest average for June-July in three years when measurements were re corded (74.8 cm., 1950; 76.8, 1951; 74.0, 1953). This low average was caused mainly by the presence of larger numbers of small cod than are found in off shore long-lining catches in later months. There were also fewer of the largest cod. It is apparent that these smaller cod which in late June and in July are inshore are in the deeper water in May. - 99. - Measurements taken each year at Bonavista since 1950 have shown no apparent reduction in size of cod taken by long liners. The average size has fluctuated somewhat from year to year, and from month to month of the same year. From June to December, however, there is a decrease in cod size as the long liners change their fishing area from the deep offshore with the large fish to the shoaler depths nearer shore where there is a larger proportion of smaller cod. Assessment Long-lining, 1953 . South Coast Winter and Spring. In the winter fishery on the south coast the best fishing in Placentia Bay was found on the eastern half of the bay in January and early February in the neighbourhood of Merasheen Bank and along the slope south of Placentia. The best catches were only moderately good and the average catch poor. Since the catches were made with the best bait, squid, and as they were only half as great per tub of gear as typical east coast summer catches and allowing for shorter days and winter conditions there was no good evidence that long-lining would be profitable in Placentia Bay during the winter time unless prices were considerably higher than those prevailing in summer. Several of the better catches, however, were as good as the average per tub of gear in the previous experimental fishing in the winter of 1952 at Isle aux Morts and it may be that commercial long-liners finding a moderately good area and continuing to fish it might make slightly better catches per tub of gear than the experimental boats. Since, however, the experimental long-lining gear is usually a small amount of gear and alone in the area being fished, not crowded by other gear, it has been our general ex perience that the catch per unit of effort of the experimental long-lining gear is at least as great as that of commercial long-line fishermen. There was no evidence fr'Om the catches on the western side of Placentia Bay in February and early March that winter long-lining would be successful at that time in this area. There was no evidence that long-lining would be successful in Fortune Bay or in neighbouring areas in March or June. The fishing from Ramea in .May and early June did not show any grounds where long-lining would be very prof5.table in this month. The Burgeo Bank area has the best possibilities and could probably be fished profitably even in May and early June by fishing a very large amount of gear. The fishery on this bank might be considerably better earlier in the year since the fishery begins in earnest in February and March. On the south coast generally it is very likely, if the fishery is to continue in the areas away from the immediate neighbourhood of the coast, that long-lining will increasingly supplement Jack boats fitted with dories if only from the reluctance of the fishermen to fish from dories. - 100 - It is a fact, however, that long-liners need more space to operate and there are advantages in hand operated lines from the dory and in the close rigged gear used by the dory fishermen when fishing around small shoals or other grounds of limited fishing area. This type of experience has not been encountered in other areas fished by the long-liners and it cannot be regarded as certain that the situation has been evaluated properly. These long-lining boats were experi mental fishing over a much wider area than the commercial boats and doubtless knowledge of these grounds by the local fishermen was partly responsible for the difference in catching ability. It was indicated also that the local dory fishermen on Burgeo Bank with closer rigged gear than the long-liners were more effective per hundred hooks in catching fish than were the long-liners. The long-lining skippers attributed this to the much slower hauling by hand in the dories which allowed time for fish to get on the hooks as the baits came off the bottom. On the east coast there are the shallow inshore grounds which have been exploited, the intermediate cold water grounds with no fish and the deep grounds further offshore which have typically not been known or exploited until their discovery by the experimental long-lining. On the south coast there was in the winter and spring of 1953 no layer of water cold enough to act as a complete barrier to cod. Most tem peratures from shallow to relatively deep water were relatively suitable and cod were dispersed. There is evidently an abun dance of cod in Placentia Bay when they are concentrated by the inshore movement to shallow water in the spring pursuing the herring and the capelin. Due to the widespread and long-exis ting offshore fishery by the Jack-boats with their dories there appears to be very few unknown or unexploited cod grounds on the south coast. Since the Jack-boats with dories have been accustomed to fishing the various grounds it thus becomes a matter of choice whether to use the Jack-boat and dories or the long-liner for the fishing. The long-liner with a compe tent crew as was demonstrated by the experimental fishing at Isle aux Morts in the winter of 1952, can, on certain grounds at least, catch more fish per man than the Jack-boat if there is room to lay its relatively large amount of gear. It is, however, considerably more expensive to build and operate. West Coast. On the west coast in 1953 there was little or no evidence of the intermediate layer of below 0°0. water which concentrates the large fish in deep water to form a basis for special grounds for long-lining on the east coast. The area north of Port au Choix appears to be promising enough for further investigation. In the new fishing area discovered north or Port au Port catches of cod were excellent and there was one fairly good catch of haddock in shallower and warmer water closer inshore than the good cod catches. There were a few good catches off the northern entrance to Bay of Islands. It was very evident in this area that frozen squid only a few weeks old when used was several tunes as good a bait as the frozen herring which had from four or five months in cold storage. From observing the operations of our own boats in the autumn it was evident that much time and many days fishing would - lOl - be lost in Cishing from Curling and that any large scale long lining operation should be as close to the mouth of Bay of Islands as possible in order to have a chance of success. Since the concentrations of fish off the Port au Port peninsula were feeding in relatively shallow water it is not possible to make predictions regarding the early season fishing. It is likely at least that good fishing could be had off the Port au Port peninsula area from July or August to the autumn with the success i~ earlier months depending on the more problematical shallow water fishing closer to the shore. The problem of bait is fundamental and it is evident that the herring after a few months in the present bait freezers is not a particularly good bait. Labrador. Fishing from Domino, Labrador, in July the long-liners found some excellent fishing in deep water near the southern part of the western edge of Hamilton Inlet Bank. Later catches in August were considerably poorer. (In the autumn the Investigator II obtained some good cod catches on Hamilton Inlet Bank and also on the eastern slope of this bank.) There was one excellent catch of fish of moderately good size inshore close to Domino and it is likely that the best long-lining particularly from August onward could be obtained in the inshore area where the dory banking schooners had previously obtained autumn cat ches. Using Battle Harbour as a base some good and excellent fishing for cod of good size was found on the eastern edge of Belle Isle Bank. With the short Labrador season there could be little likelihood of commercial success for long-liners whose sole yearly operation was fishing for cod in the Domino or general Labrador area. The excellent Belle Isle Bank can be reached in the summer season from Quirpon to St. Anthony area in northern Newfoundland. Baccalieu Area. The experimental long-lining in· the Baccalieu area carried out from Bonavista in June showed some good fishing in deep water. Some of the poor sets at this time represented a deliberate trying out of somewhat unfavourable areas and deeper fishing would have produced better results in many sets. The autumn fishing mostly from Catalina showed ex cellent deep-water fishing less than fifteen miles from Cata lina and excellent fishing on the inshore Baccalieu grounds to the north and northwest of Baccalieu Island. Good inshore auturrm fishing is also available on the Dollarman bank only a few miles from Catalina and the deep-water grounds normally fished by the Bonavista fishermen are also within easy reach of the Catalina fishermen. Altogether considering the known long-lining grounds within reach of the harbour and its general situation Catalina appears to have more advantages as a long lining centre than any other place on the northeast coast. For the autumn and early winter fishing Catalina is incomparably in a better situation than Bonavista and if there were bait facili ties provided 0r even at present it would almost certainly pay the Bonavista fishermen to shift to Catalina in the autumn and early winter and have their fish trucked to Bonavista. At Catalina in the autumn and early winterthere should be many more fishing days than at Bonavista and good fishing grounds are closer. - 102 - ..' Bonavista. It was well demonstrated by the excellent catches made by the experimental long-liners from May 8 to the end of May that the fish are abundantly available in the deep water during almost two months before they follow the capelin inshore during the latter part of June. Two local long-liners, stimulated by the success of the experimental boats, began fishing· in the latter part of May. The fish were of fair size but smaller than later in the summer indicating that the smaller fish which crune inshore later after the capelin were present in the deep wa,ter in M:;i,y. It is fairly certain that the fish are available in this deep water all winter and may be caught as soon as the ice goes and it should be possible with the present type climate and particularly by making better use of the port of Catalina to have eight or more months long-lining in the Bonavista-Catalina area. There are now twelve long-liners at Bonavista and there is no evidence yet of decrease in the size of fish caught or in catch per unit of effort by these long-liners. Long-liners and Plants .. It is evident that on the northeast coast it is easy to have long-liners built but more difficult to provide the plants which would make these long liners a success. The increasing percentage of fish supplied to the Bonavista plant by long-liners in the autumn and the fact which the experimental long-liners have demonstrated in 1953 that long-liners can obtain excellent fishing in May and June and in some years doubtless in April almost two months before the inshcre fishing begins and also the much larger size of fish and regularity of catch by long-liners both daily and pro bably yearly make it very evident that the plant would be by far better off if it were completely supplied by long-liners. This would particularly be the case if advantage were taken of Catalina for autumn and winter fishing. Long-liners suitable for fishing twenty to fifty miles offshore are expensive to build, operate and maintain but they can produce at a fairly constant level over a lbng season. They can only by profitable if they are able to fish and get rid of their catches quickly for the longest possible fishing season. If through the plant being closed or oversupplied with fish from other sources the long-liners cannot fish for a fair percentage of the time most of the boats are likely to be unprofitable and the most enterprising fisherman ruined. Regarding late opening and early closing of plants on the northeast coast in relation to success of long-lining, New foundland must decide whether or not it wishes to continue as a fishing country and see to it that plants are opened as early and kept open as late as fish are available in quantity and this regardless of the temporary state of the market. Especially is this necessary in the generally good weather at the beginning of a season. We do not see how the long-lining fisherman can profit ably split, salt or cure his own fish nor do we foresee generally profitable long-lining unless plants have a special interest in - 103 - making the long-liners a success in the same way that fresh-fish plants have an interest in the success of their otter-trawlers. It is necessary that these firms also take an interest in bait particularly in its freshness and in the availability of squid bait and in the supplying of spare parts, gear and mechanical assistance and ice to long-liners. The institution of a scrod and large size with considerably lower prices for scrod would be advantageous for the development of long-lining and the pro duction of the more profitable larger fish. If long-lining is to succeed, being an active and costly fishery, it obviously cannot compete with the more pas sive and lower capitalized trap fishery on anequal basis if the plant accepts the first fish to be offered. The trap fishermen will fill the plant with fish in the morning and the long-liner, if it is operating properly, will often or usually arrive late in the day. Thus special selling privileges must be given to long-liners and if fish from long-liners have first acceptance the experience of Bonavista is showing that in many areas the plant will soon be fully supplied by long-lining fish only. Both federal and provincial governments are by policy committed to mechanized and highly productive fishing which should be more profitable to the fishermen and to the plant. Since, how ever, fishermen using less costly fishing implements are far more numerous the necessary practice of giving special selling privileges to long-liners will be at least temporarily very un popular with the average fisherman. This dilemma will have to be faced in Bonavista as early as 1954 if fish are as abundant as usual in the area. w. Templeman H. D. Macpherson A. M. Fleming A. D. Traylen R. W. Ellis Appendix No. 19 CAPELIN ANALYSES The herring meal plant in Corner Brook often manufac tures fish meal and extracts oil from capelin and so extends the manufacturing season for severai weeks after the herring have disappeared from the inshore areas. In order to have some figures on hand for capelin, analyses were done on samples of these fish. However the dif ficulty of obtaining samples limited the work to one catch in 1951 and one in 1953. The capelin were caught from the beach by a cast-net and in 1953 two samples of males (20 fish in each) and two of No.Fish Average in Length Percent Percent Percent Percent Year Date Locality Sample Sex Maturity cm. Moisture Protein Fat Ash --Total 1953 June 24 Topsail, 20 M Partly Spent 18.1 80.27 14.19 3.64 2.20 100.30 C. B. 1953 June 24 Topsail, 20 M Partly Spent 17.9 79.93 14.19 3.90 2.09 100.11 C. B. 1953 June 24 Topsail, 20 F 3-Full, 5-Spent 16.1 80.10 14.49 3.09 1.84 99.52 C. B. 12 Partly Spent 1953 June 24 Topsail, 22 F 9-Full, 3-Spent 16.3 B0.35 14.56 3.06 1.84 99.81 C. B. 10 Partly Spent f-l 0 1951 June 20 Lance Cove, 10 M Parily Spent 18.6 80.73 13.64 3.23 97 .60 + ash 1-)::,. c. B. 1951 June 20 Lance Cove, 10 M 18.5 79.98 lJ.60 4.12 97. 70 + ash C. B. 1951 June 20 Lance Cove, 10 F Full of Eggs 16.J 79.55 13.83 3.37 96. 75 + ash C. B. 105 - females (20 and 22 fish) were selected at random. In 1951 each sample consisted of only ten fish and the two samples of males and one of females were from the same catch. In capelin, females are on the average smaller than males. The moisture content did not vary much between the sexes but the males were slightly fatter. The analyses were made on the round fish. The males are sturdier fish than the females with a relatively larger bony structure and the ash content was slightly higher in the males. The percentage fat would doubt less be slightly higher (and the moisture lower) before spawning begins and lower (with the moisture higher) at the end of spawning. G. L. Andrews Appendix No. 20 JELLIED CONDITION IN AMERICAN PLAICE Sea and Lab. Constitution Normal and Jellied American Plaice Fillets Since there was a possibility that the jellied con dition in plaice might develop during the period in ice between capture and discharge on shore the experiment on sea and shore condition of plaice fillets begun in 1952 was continued. During a number of trips of commercial trawlers, from plaice recognized at sea as normal or jellied, samples were taken immediately after capture. The results are shown in table 1. One half of each uppe1~ fillet (alternatively anterior and posterior) was skinned and placed in a bottle sealed with a rubber gasket and buried in ice. The fish with the remaining part of the skin-on fillet was placed in ice. On landing a few days later the bottles, although the fillet had not been frozen,usually con tained drip averaging 2.1 per cent in the case of the normal fillets and 14.4 per cent in the jellied fillets. On landing the iced fillet was checked for its jellied or normal condition, ground up and analyzed. Similarly the cor responding bottled fillet was ground up with its drip and analyzed. The additional analyses bear out the former conclu sions that the essential qualities causing the jellied condition are present in the living fish, and also that there is a ten dency for the normal fillets in ice to pick up moisture with a corresponding decrease in protein from the time of catching to time of filleting, while the jellied fillets apparently lose some of their moisture. The percentage of moisture plus percen tage fat shows the same trend, this eliminating the possibility that the variation in fat content might have affected the figures. Table 1. Comparison of Sea and Shore Condition of Jellied and Normal Fillets of lunerican Plaice at Range % % /0 % % % Moisture Moisture Moisture Protein Protein % Moisture & Moisture & No. of Sea Lab. Sea Lab. Drip %Fat %Fat of Sea Sample Sample Sample Sample Aver- Sea Sample Lab.Sample Samples Sample Average Average Average Average age Average Average -Normal 11 79 • 27 -81.18 80.53 82.07 17.14 16.40 1.4 81.54 82.57 10 81.24-84. 73 82 .. 29 82.84 15.84 15.43 2.8 BJ.OB BJ.36 !-:-' Jellied 0 (}) 9 84.76-90.42 88.68 87.88 9.23 10.23 10.3 89.46 88.57 8 9i.45;,_96.18 93.47 92.61 5.11 5.85 18.9 93.70 92.97 Total Normal 21 79 .. 27~84. 73 81.37 82.44 16.52 15.94 2.1 82.27 82.95 Total Jellied 17 84.76-96.18 90.93 90.11 7.29 8.17 14.4 91.46 90.64 - 10? - It is interesting to note also that the percentage fat in the anterlor half of the top fillet was greater than that in the posterior part in all cases but four, and in most cases con siderably so. The collectors of the samples at sea found it difficult to distinguish jellied condition in the posterior parts of the fillets. It is of course very likely, as some plant operators insist, that the apparent physical jellied condition as judged by flabbiness of tissue does develop progressively during the ~eriod under ice. The jellied fillets in ice in boxes for about 2 to 6 days in our experiment lost almost one per cent moisture and under the conditions of great pressure in pens in ice on the trawlers would doubtless lose considerably more and as ex periments at the Torry Research Institute have shown the losses increase considerably with the length of trip. However since the real jellied condition involves increasing amounts of water and a decreasing amount of protein the ship board effects of reducing water and increasing protein in jellied fish actually makes them more normal from a chemical point of view and doubt less more jellied from a physical viewpoint. Protein Fractionation of Normal and of Jellied American Plaice Fillets. The fractionation of the protein content of jellied and normal American plaice fillets further bears out the theory that the jellied condition is present in the living fish. There is no evidence of proteolysis or the accumulation of pro teoly~;ic end-products. The results support the theory that the jellied condition is due to non-recovery of the fish from a spent condition. The nitrogen content of 32 normal and 34 jellied sam ples was broken down according to the method used by Dr. Dyer at the Atlantic Fisheries Experimental Station in Halifax and the results sho·vvn in table 2. The table of averages shows the non-protein nitrogen as per cent of the total nitrogen to be slightly higher in the jellied samples and the stroma nitrogen as per cent of the total protein nitrogen also to be highsr in the jellied. The greatest difference is shown in the myosin fraction of the soluble protein which, as per cent of the total protein nitrogen, is considerably lower in the jellied samples. It must be noted, however; that to establish definitely if the differences in the averages are significant, statistics need to be applied. This will be done at some future date. All results have been included in the table, even those known to be theoretically wrong, e.g. a jellied sample gave the same result for the total soluble protein nitrogen and the total protein nitrogen. It was hoped that by including all results the experimental error in both directions might be some what cor:ponsated. Table 2. Protein Fractionation of Jellied and Normal American Plaice Fillets Table Showing Ranges Total Nitrogen As % of Total As % of Total Protein Nitrogen Condi- %of Nitrogen Total tion Fillet Protein Soluble Myosin Non- % % of Weight No.Samples NPN Nitrogen Protein Nitrogen Myosin Strama Moisture Fat Fillet Range of Fillets Range Range Range Range Range Range Range Range Normal 2.59- 16 lJ.1- 84.6- 86.J- 64.2- 13.1- 4.0- 81.08- o.41- I-' 0 2.85 15.4 86.9 98.2 81.9 22.1 8.5 8J.10 1. 71 CD Normal 2.31- 16 13.0- 85.1- 88.4- 70.0 10.0- 5.5- 81.91- 0.39- 2.58 14.9 87.0 97.6 85.4 20.1 11.1 84.03 1.02 Jellied 1.60- 16 13.8- 81.6- 85.0- 49. 7- 13.4- 6.1- 84.96- 0.34- 2.10 18.4 86.2 95. 7 76.1 36.6 12.4 88.80 2.85 Jellied 1.14- 18 13.0- 79.7- 78.0- 36.0- 10. 7- 6.6- 86.55- 0.11- 1.58 20.3 87.0 100.0 78.0 53.1 15.4 91.35 2.97 Table Showing Averages Total Nitrogen As :; of Total As % of Total Protein Nitrogen Condi- S~roma % of Nitrogen Total Non- ti on Myosin Fillet Protein Soluble Myosin Myosin Strama % % of x Weight No.Samples NPN Nitrogen Protein Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen Moisture Fat Fillet 100 Average of Fillets Average Average Average Average Average Average Average Average Normal 8.1 2.67 16 13.9 86.1 92.5 76.o 16.4 6.1 82.0 0.89 Normal 9.3 2.49 16 14.0 86.o 93.1 78.4 14.6 7.2 83.0 0.63 Jellied ~ .. 98 1.83 16 15..2 84.8 89.6 68.8 20.~ O.jj_ Jellied l_h.98 1.39 18 io.3 83.8 87.6 63.B 23. ~:i ~~:t 1. - 109 - Comparison of Condition of American Plaice at Various Depths In the latter part of June 1953 on the northeastern edge of the Grand Bank between latitudes 46° and 47°N. samples of plaice between 51 and 60 cm. were obtained from three depths 61 to· 63 fathoms, 80 to 82 and 122 to 124 fathoms. After lan ding the plaice were tagged and measured. The plaice from all tb.ree depths were then well mixed and afterward f illetted, ,skinned, the fillets tagged with the same numbers as the fish and then examined for jellied condition. The particular origin of individual fillets was completely unknown to the examiner. It is obvious from table 3 that the fish from the greatest depths had a considerably higher percentage of normal fish at each size and also on the average less jellied than in the les ser depths. This is in agreement with a similar result reported in the 1951 annual report. Table 3. Flesh Conditiqn of American Plaice on N. E. Grand Bank June 1953 No. Fish %Normal % Intermediate %Jellied 61 80 122 61 BO 122 61 BO 122 61 Bo 122 Length to to to to to to to to to to to to Range 63 82 124 63 82 124 63 82 124 63 82 124 cm. fa th. fa th. fa th. fa th. fa th. fa th. fa th. fa th. fa th. fa th. fa th. fa th. 51-52 22 19 25 45 68 76 45 26 8 9 5 16 53-54 12 21 17 17 52 94 50 38 0 33 10 6 55-56 22 16 24 27 13 79 55 63 17 18 25 4 57-58 20 22 17 25 18 47 40 45 35 35 36 18 59-60 13 7 13 23 29 38 39 0 23 38 71 38 Total 89 85 96 29 38 70 46 39 16 25 24 15 The eastern branch of the Labrador current passes over the eastern slope of the Grand Bank where the large plaice popu lations are found and from whence the above samples were taken. In the sets from which the samples were taken the bottom tempera ture was -0.52°C. for the 61 to 63 fathom set, +0.06°C. for the 80 to 82 fathom set and +l.08°C. for the 122 to 124 fathom set. Apparently the slightly higher temperatures at 122 to 124 fathoms have allowed tissue repair and protein accumulations after spaw ning to produce a much higher percentage of flounders with normal tissues at this depth than in depths with lower temperatures. Weighback for Jellied Flounder in Commercial Catches In 1953 some information has been gathered, with more detail than in 1952, on the amounts of American plaice weighed back from trawler landings at St. John's and sent to the meal Table 4. Weighback on Shore St. John's for Jellied Flounder in Commercial Catches from S. E* Area of the Grand Bank Gross Averci.ge Percent Percent Percent Catch Landed Landed Landed Weight Depth x Percent Size 50 cm. over Fish over Fath. Date 1953 1000 lb. Weigh back cm. & over 55 cm. 55 cm. Remarks 48 (47-60) Sept. 24-28 176 2.6 46.9 15.5 2.0 5.2 No large discarded at sea 50 (47-60) Oct. 4:..10 175 3.1 44.o 17.5 4.0 8.7 Just a few large_ discarded I-' at sea I-' 0 50 (44-60) Sept. 12-20 196 4. 7 45.5 21.0 6.8 13.7 No large discarded at sea 78 (60-85) Aug. 22-25 140 14.0 49.8 52.0 13.0 20.3 No large discarded at sea 80 (65-91) Sept. 27-0ct. 3 133 28.5 49.1 48.3 17.9 31.0 No record of discard at sea 81 (70-92) Sept. 30-0ct. 5 147 16.1 49.5 45.2 16.7 27.1 9,000 to 10,000 large discarded at sea 82 (68-98) Aug. 6-12 170 12.4 49.5 49.8 14.9 24.2 15,000 large discarded at sea 101 (83-120) Aug. 9-14 165 33.2 50.2 57.6 18.7 28.7 No record of discard at sea - 111 - plant. All records used in table 4 are from the southern part of the eastern edge of the Grand Bank and are, as determined by statements from the plant, in each case weighbacks mainly for jellied condition. In the catches examined from the depths of 48 to 101 fathoms the smallest average-sizes are at the shallower depths and there is a close relation between the weight of flounders over 55 cm. landed and the percentage weighback. Allowing for the amounts of very large thrown away at sea and thus not ap pearing in the shore measurements it is evident also that floun der sizes are larger in the deeper water and that correspondingly the percentage of flounder which is in the jellied condition in creases with depth between 50 and 100 fathoms. Can the Jellied Condition of American Plaice be Caused by a Parasite? A condition has been described for hake landed in Scotland and for several South African and Australian fishes in which the flesh on landing was partly disintegrated and had the consistency of a thick batter. The hake in this form has been called milky hake. While the jellied condition in flounder does not correspond in appearance to the above and all examinations and analyses and observations in nature have tended to confirm that the jellied flounder was the result of spawning drain and malnutrition particularly in below zero water it was thought that the possibility of protozoan infection should be checked. The organism in the case of the milky hake and in the Australian and South African fishes was a sporozoan parasite Chloromyxum sp. It had been found that centres of infection by this parasite in fish flesh and even individual infected muscle fibres would fluoresce when examined under ultra-violet light through Woods Glass. The jellied condition in the American plaice is often so extreme, involving the whole fillet that it would be expected if it is caused by a parasite that there would be very large numbers of the parasites present. On October 23, 1953, seven normal and two extremely jellied plaice fillets and on November 13, six normal and 12 definitely jellied plaice fillets, all from the commercial grounds on the eastern edge of the Grand Bank were examined in a dark room under an uAlpine" ultra-violet lamp of 140 watts with Woods Glass filter to cut out visible but transmit ultra violet light. There was no evidence whatever of fluorescence due to sporozoan infection. Some small cysts fluoresced bril liantly in both the normal and the jellied flounder but these were all found to be larvae of the trematode Stephanostomun. In the histological sections of six normal and five jellied plaice mentioned in the account immediately following, in spite of very detailed examination of many sections under oil-immersion, no sporozoan parasites have been found. - 112 - Doubtless since all fish are more or less subject to some sporozoan infeetion if enough examinations were made some trace of infection by one or other of the sporozoa would be found. There is no indication, however, that the jellied con dition of the Pili1erican plaice is caused by a sporozoan infection. American Plaice __:_i ell~ed Condi ti on - Histology Sections of the muscle of six normal and five jellied American plaice have shown these fairly consistant differences. l~ Greater spaces are apparent in the sections be tween the muscle fibres of jellied plaice than in the normal plaice. Thus there is less muscle fibre materia:;_ per unit of area in the sections of jellied fillet than in the sections of normal fillets, 2. In longitudinal section the muscle fibres of the jellied plaice generalJ_y exhibit a waviness - the result of coiling - not seen in the sections of the muscle of normal plaice. The Qoove histological observations fit in well with the findings of biochemical analyses and other experiments on jellied plaice. These have shown that jellied fillets have a reduced total protein content and an increased (compensatory) fluid content. Most cf the protein loss can be accounted for by reduction :.?.1 the an:ou!lt of myosin (muscle fibre material). In the jellied fillets the stroma part of the protein which includes the connective tissue has not been reduced as much as the myosin. Jellied and normal plaice of ths same size do not differ significantly in weight i.e. the protein loss is com pensated by fluid gain. Much of this extra fluid is held only loosely by the :.1uscle as has been shown by the facility with which the jellied fillet exudes fluid if allowed to stand. The normal fil2.et exudes very little fluid. This however ac counts for only part of the additional fluido The remainder is apparently held more firmly in the muscle fibres and fib rils. These s:.:::.c·6estions Etre confirmed by the histological study of jellied fillets which show that there are large spaces between tha musclo fibres filled with fluid and that there is less muscle fibre ~aterial per unit of area in the sections of jelli2d fillE:Jt than in the sections of normal fillet. The coiling of the muscle fibres could result from the withdrawal of flu:..d,_ from inside the muscle fibrils during fixa tion. This is only noticeable in the sections of jellied muscle. w. Templeman G. L. Andrews T. IC Pitt R. s. Keir - 113 - Appendix No. 21 BRUISED CONDITION OF THE FLOUNDER (AMERICAN PLAICE) An attempt has been made to determine the cause of the troublesome bruised condition of flounder or American plaice which when added to the jellied condition frequently found in this fish results in a considerable loss to the fishermen. The bruises consist of blotches of blood inlaid through the superficial layer of the tissue but sometimes they penetrate more deeply. These blood marks can usually be seen as the fish comes from the ships. The marks are found on any part of the fish, but are usually larger on the ventral surface of the head, tail and near the base of the anal and dorsal fins. The bruises are usually not deep, probably on the average of not more than 2 to 3 mm. penetration into the fillet, although some do pene trate through the fillet. The more superficial bruises can quite often be sliced off by the filletter. However quantities of bruised .fish are sometimes detected .from the appearance o.f the ventral white side of the fish and discarded before filleting. It appears that only the badly bruised fish are discarded by the plant. However in our experimental work we have had to call a fish bruised when it had a bruise or blood spot down to 0.1 sq.cm. so that obviously many that we have called bruised would not be rejected by the fish plant. In analysing the results it should be remembered that the fish were not subjected to the same rough treatment as in commercial operations since the fish were taken almost immedi ately upon landing on deck and iced into fish boxes. However, the comparative results should be correct. The samples were treated in four different ways. (1) "The fisherman's cutn which with one slash of the knife cuts away part of the belly flap taking most of the gut with it. (2) The throat was cut across quite deeply and the fish then split down the belly and the gut removed. (3) The throat cut only. (4) The fish were left whole as they came from the net. Table 1 shows the results from three sets of experi ments on fish collected at sea on commercial trawlers. It is evident that cutting fish in any way reduces the incidence of bruises in the fillets. The whole fish have by far the greatest area of bruises and the fish with throats cut and gut out the smallest amount of bruising. The fisherman 1 s cut which removed most of the guts gave less bruising than merely cutting the throat and leaving the guts in. Most of the bruising was in the lower fillet and it was particularly noticeable in the posterior part of the tail area. Apparently a good deal of the ·bruising comes from flapping on deck since most of the floun ders are alive on capture. However, any rough treatment of the fish while the blood is able to flow easily may result in bruising. The blood flows out of the broken capilliaries and darkens. Cutting blood vessels allows drainage of blood from the tissues. Removing the gut breaks large numbers of blood vessels and hence the superiority of gut removal over merely throat cutting. Table 1. Bruising of Jellied .American Plaice under Four Different Treatments Immediately after Capture .. ·- -- Total Area of Bruis~erage Size Average Size of Number Fish F'_,xamined %Fish with Bruises per 100 Fish Fish cm. sq:.':"C· ------+:> +:> -P Br~S_'.'-"!·c~ -f) i::: i::: i::: :::l i::: 6 H 6 H 6 H 0 H. 0 H +:> +:> +:> +:> +:> +:> +:> +:> +:> +:> +:> +:> +> :;:J +:> :::l 6 6 :::l 6 6 6 0 ~ 6 6 6 6 0 0 8 0 8 co +:> +:> co +:> +:> co +:> +:> CJ'.l +:> +:> co +:> +:> :::l :::l - :::l :::l :::l :::l :::l :::l :::l 0 0 0 0 -i::: 0 0 - 8 0 - 0 0 § § cd § § s co {I) s co U) s (I) CJ'.l co CJ'.l s CJ'.l CJ'.l H +:> +:> H +> +:> H +:> +> ~ +:> +:> +:> +:> CD rd rd CD CD C\i rd CD CD qj rj CD CD cU cU CD Ki rj rd Cl) .c: 0 0 rl .c: 0 0 rl .c: 0 0 rl .c: 0 0 rl .c: 0 0 rl {I) H 0 CJ'.l H 0 Cf) H H 0 Cf) H 0 Cf) H 0 •rl •rl l:! ..i::: •rl ..i::: •rl l:! ..i::: ·r-1 r:i:i ~ ~ :§ [::i:., E-l E-l :§ [::i:., E-l ~ ~ P:., E-l E-l § [::i:., ~ ~ $ I -- I 1. Blue Foam 34 38 39 75 35 37 49 83 36 36 106 244 Ll 1.0 2.2 2.9 48 48 49 48 Trip 35 Nov .JO to Dec.3,1952 s. Tip Grand Banks 2. Blue Spray 48 48 49 50 65 33 53 80 116 52 112 276 1.8 1.5 2.1 3.4 43 44 44 43 Trip 14 May 5, 1953 N. E. Area Grand Banks 3. Blue Spray 53 44 49 48 47 41 80 92 68 34 152 390 1.4 o.8 1.9 4.3 47 47 47 48 Trip 23 Sept.15,1953 S. E. Edge Grand Banks TOT.ti.LS 135 130 137 173 150 37 61 84 76 42 124 294 11~5 1.1 2.0 J.5 46 46 47 46 - 115 - Fishermen do not like to gut flounders and since flounders come up from very cold water gutting them does result in some increase in their temperature and extra icing may be necessary. With the short trips of Newfoundland trawlers the decision to gut or not will depend on what importance the finn places on the whiter product produced by gutting. The cut used by the fishermen does not cleanly remove the gut and hence it is impossible to clean the body cavity properly before icing. w. Templeman T. K. Pitt