Newfoundland Fish Res Comm and Fish Res

62 NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY REPORTS. and in White Bay, but that the greater portion of the east coast, where great numbers occurred in 1932, was not frequented. On southern Grand Bank a mere five squid were captured in the course of a trawling survey, as compared with hundreds in previous years. For the cause of failure we are inclined to look farther than to unsuitable water conditions alone. In comparing the latter (in the spring of 1932 and 1933, and at a depth of 25 metres) we observe that slope water was abundant off Grand Bank in the former year, and absent in 1933, when, as has been stated, salinities generally were low. The temperature in 1933 at this depth over Grand Bank was lower than in the previous year, although the observations were made three weeks later in the season (3°-2°-1° from south to north, as compared with 4°-3°-2° in 1932). Perhaps it will always turn out to be the case that in years, such as 1933, when a strong influx of Arctic water has just occurred, and the warmer and more saline " slope " water is not found off Grand Bank at moderate depths, a poor squid run will follow. Only time will tell. On the other hand, it is to be noted that at one point on southern Grand Bank where, at the bottom, the water had in the fall a salinity of 3420°/ a temperature of 4.8° C., only one squid was t,aken where hundreds might have been expected, since these physical conditions are highly suitable for squid. Again, turning to an examination of temperatures inshore, we find that not all were unsuitable for the occurrence of large numbers of squid. In the previous report it was concluded (on the results of 1932 alone, it is true) that, at a depth of 25 metres, squid were most plentiful between temperatures of 2° and 9° C., the optimum temperatures being probably 5° or 6°. An examination of Fig. 6 shows that the water off the east coast was probably too cold (1° to 5° C.) At Bay Bulls temperature data were collected from spring onwards. The water at 15-metres' depth was consistently colder than in 1932 up till July 20th, reached the same temperature as in that year from then onwards till the end of August, again to become comparatively much colder in September, when no squid were taken. The threat of cold water conditions supervening was ever present. On the other hand the water off the south-west coast may have proved slightly too warm (6° to 9° C.), although the estimated optimum temperatures of 5° and 6° occurred in conjunction on the west side of Placentia Bay. Squid did occur in the latter region—more so, in fact, than in any of the previous three years. It is even possible they were exceedingly numerous, since some reports st,at,ed that they were so but that they could not be jigged. In that case the report,ed catches would underestimate the relative degree of plenty. On the whole, however, we feel inclined to postulate that squid were, in the whole Newfoundland area, much less plentiful than might have been expected from the physical conditions, that some unknown factor—perhaps the scarcity of the relative NO. 2.—ANNUAL REPORT. 63 year's brood after a poor spawning season—was at work, and that its effect happened to coincide with, and be aggravated by, water conditions of low salinity and temperature. The dropping off of the numbers of crustacea, in the fall has already been mentioned in dealing with plank-ton. It was observed that, on the banks, squid contained much less of this food than in 1932. A similar condition existed inshore, and squid sizes, as far as ascertained, were rather smaller than in that year, and equivalent to those found in 1931, when plankton food was also scarce. The fact that squid, when located, were oft,en disinclined to take the jigger may have been due to the comparatively low temperatures existing in the upper water layers. In a previous report we have called attention to the unusual activity of the squid when it involuntarily finds itself, in shallow bays, in water of a much higher temperature than that to which it is accustomed. On the east coast the surface temperature varied between 4° and 12° C. in 1933. In 1932 the variation was between 12° and 13° C., and large catches of squid were jigged. 2. Gonatus fabricii. This species breeds on the continental slope off the Newfoundland area, and in certain years some evidence of its occurrence is found. This is particularly so when, as in the fall of 1933, the influx of Arctic water becomes very restricted, and a compensating influx of cold oceanic water occurs directly from the east—usually into the deep eastern bays of the island. The presence of such water does not appe,ar to favour immigration of either Illex or cod. Evidence of Gonatus was fairly plentiful in 1931, when the Arctic influx was slight, but in 1932 no reports of its inshore occurrence were received. As might be expected from the evidence alrea,dy submitted with regard to the decre,ase in 1933 of the intensity of the Arctic current, this squid species again made its appearance. Between October 14th and December 10th it was observed at various points between Bonavista Bay and Bay Bulls. Great quantities of a size of from 2 to 4 inches, were in particular noted when c,ast ashore in Bonavista Bay (November 28th) and at several points in Trinity Bay--e.g. at Salvage (October 30th), Bay Bulls Arm (November 7th) and Hearts Delight (December 10th). As usual, no adults of this species occurred, only the small young stages, almost uniform in size, being observed. As has been stated previously, the adolescent stages have been found in the Atlantic, and the adult stages on north European shores. A further feature of the cold conditions off the east coast was a reported striking in of caplin to the Bonavista coast during the fall. There is no previous record of such an occurrence. 64 NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY REPORTS. The situation in 1933 as far as squid were concerned may be summed up as follows : Except in Placentia Bay and certain other very restricted localities inshore and on the banks, water conditions were on the whole too cold for the arrival of squid in very large quantities ; the cold conditions are accounted for by the previous very large influx of Arctic water, lack of strong summer heat, and restriction of the Atlantic influx from the south ; much evidence accordingly occurred of the presence of the cold water species, Gonatus ; the ordinary bait squid, Illex, was abnormally scarce, the causes probably being less than usually favourable water conditions, and actual general scarcity of the brood which should have constituted the " run " of the year. A more prolonged period of study- of the whole problem will be necessary if definite conclusions are to be reached. D. LOBSTERS The continuous shrinkage in the returns from the lobster fishery, referred to in the report for 1932, proceeded one stage further in the spring of 1933, when the average catch per trap was 17 lobsters, against approximately- 20 in the previous year. For the third successive y-ear, however, in order to alleviate the acute economic depression, permission was given to prosecute the lobster fishery in the fall, with the rather unexpected result that in two districts particularly (Placentia–St. Mary's and St. Barbe) lobsters were captured in large numbers, reminiscent, indeed, of those which rewarded the fisherman's efforts many years ago. Thus, in the St. Barbe district, which occupies the western coast of the northern peninsula of the island, 1044 cases of lobsters were packed in the fall, and only 721 in the spring. It is understood that the quality of the fall lobsters was good, and a proposal has been mooted that in this district the lobster fishery should be opened only in the fall, when fisher- men are mostly free to undertake it, and that the spring season, during which salmon and codfish are available, should be discontinued. In the Placentia–St. Mary's Bay region the fall pack likewise exceeded that of the spring, but to a lesser degree than at St. Barbe. Here again the quality of the lobsters was said to be satisfactory. Evidence from other years shows that this may not always be the case, and sonae investigation of the exact facts is called for, sinc,e it is possibly desirable to revise the time of incidence and the extent of the lobster fishery in certain districts. The question may be asked—does this local demonstration of a copious supply of lobsters in the fall of 1933 indicate that the period of scarcity has come to an end, and that lobsters are on the increase ? It is impossible at this stage to give a dogmatic opinion of the matter. The more hopeful might seek to derive favourable evidence from the fact that comparatively 1 NO. 2.—ANNUAL REPORT. 65 small numbers of lobsters have been removed from the sea, in recent years, and that a degree of conservation of the stock has therefore occurred. (In 1898 there were packed 62,000 cases, and in 1933 not more than 7500 cases, or approximately one-eighth of the former large amount.) Against such a theory may be set the fact that, although only 17 per cent fewer bands were at work in 1933 than in 1932, the amount of the pack declined by 22 per cent.

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