- 22 -
significant decline from 1956, when it was 22,250 lb per man, to 1965, when it was 13,000 lb (p < 0.05). Landings by boats 25 tons or less acco unted for 80-90% of the catch taken by gears other than otter trawl for the period 1956-59 and 99% in 1961. Boats of 50 tons or less caught 99% of the fish caught by gears other than otter trawl in 1960 and 98-99% of fish caught in 1962-65. Boats less than 25 or 50 tons caught approximately 35% of all fish caught from 1956-65.
Length and age distributions. There has been no regu Jar sampling of the commercial fishery on the west coast. However, scattered data for length and age distributions are available for cod caught in 1947 by handline and linetrawl and in 1953 by vessels chartered by the St. John's Station and using commercial longline gear. These data are shown in Fig. 2. In 1947, 5—, 6— and 7-year-old fish were predominant (1942, 1941 and 1940 year-classes) and these produced a mode in the length frequency a t 54-56 cm, In 1953 these three year-classes were still prominent (11- 2 12-and 13-year- olds) and in addition 6-and 8-year-olds were well represented (19 47 and 1945 year. - classes). In June 1966 the age and length distributions for lin etrawl fish were dissimilar to those of the earlier samples (Fig. 3). Older fish (10-14 years) were dominant and produced a mode at 81-83 am. For gillnet, fish 8-12 years old constituted the bulk of the sample, having a primary mode at 72-74 cm and a secondary mode at 81-83 cm. For trap, yo anger fish (5-7 years old) were prevalent and these formed a mode at 51-53 c n, In September, 1966, linetrawl fish were somewhat smaller than those caught in June, having a primary mode at 66-68 cm and a secondary mode at 5 7-59 cm (Fig. 4). Gillnet fish were similar in size to those caught in June (mode at 7577 cm) except that proportionately more large fish were rep resented and produced secondary modes at 84-86 and 90-92 cm (Fig. 4). The siz e of fish
Linetrawl (84'4)
Gillnet (3152)
Length - 3-cm groups Fig. 4. Length frequencies of cod caught by linetrawl and gilln et in the commercial fishery based at Port au Choix, September 1966. Numb ers of fish in brackets.
- 23-
caught appears to have steadily increased for the period 1947-66. There is also an indication tha- t fish taken by linetrawl in early fall are somewhat smaller than those taken in ea: rly summer. However for gillnet, proportionately more larger fish of about 80.- 5 cm in length were available to the fishery in September than were present in Ji me. These larger fish may represent the migratory portion of the Gulf stock I& Leh is offshore in summer and inshore at PAC before moving south and out of - the Gulf in the late fall.
Offshore Gulf of St. Lawrence) Althol /61-1 no systematic research vessel cruises were undertaken to study the Gulf st( )ck of cod for age, growth and length distribution studies until 1965, catch( 3S of cod were usually made incidentally during cruises undertaken in the Gulf for other purposes (i.e. cod tagging or redfish surveys) during the period 1947-64. The length and otolith data have been studied and the length and ag( 3 frequencies determined. Data have been considered according to gear used (lin( )s or otter trawl) in the following 5-year intervals; 1947-51; 1952-56; 1957-61; 1962-66. This allows an intelligible assessment to be made of the otherwise f 3mall individual samples. Data were not available for every year within the 5.y ear intervals.
(662) 10
(2961) (261) 1957 collerdon; 2-yr-olds (195f, yr-class) - 10
8 10 12 14 3 49 61 3 85 years Length - 3-cm groups Fig. 5. Age and length distributions of cod caught by research vessel otter trawl in ICNAF Divisions 4R and 4S (west coast of Newfoundland and northeast Gulf of St. Lawrence) during the periods 1947-50 and 1957-61. Numbers of fish in brackets.
wolial■•■ - 24 -
In Fig. 5 are given the age and length distributions of fish taken by otter trawl during the 2 periods 1947-50 and 1957-61. Fish between about 35 and 70 cm and aged 2-8 years formed the majority of the combined samples for 1947-50 and the decline in the ages greater than 5 years was a gradual one. In the 1957-61 samples most of the fish were between 40 and 55 cm and aged 4-6 years. Fish aged 7 years and over were relatively scarce when compared to the distribution for 1947-50 and hence mortality has apparently increased for this section of the population during the 6 years between the 2 sampling periods (i.e. the mid 1950's). A high proportion of fish, 20-28 cm long and 2 years old, was present in the 1957 collection and indicates a strong year-class for 1955.
In Fig. 6 are given the age and length distributions of fish taken by longline during the 2 periods 1953-55 and 1963-64. The 2 leng th distributions
1953-55 10 (697) (13,160
0 ; 8 10 12 14 16 46 94 1 6 15 1963-64 (821) (6882
10
4 8 10 12 14 16 45 57 69 '81 ' 93 ' 105 Age - years Length - 3-cm groups
Fig. 6. Age and length distributions of cod caught by longline in ICNAF Divisions 4R and 4S (west coast of Newfoundland and Gulf of St. Lawrence) during the periods 1953-55 and 1963-64. Numbers of fish in brackets. -25-
have similar mode s at about 60-64 cm but in the 1963-64 sample the larger fish decline in importance more rapidly than do those of the 1953-55 sample. The age distribut ions demonstrate a similar trend to the length distributions. In 1953-55 most o. C the fish were 5-8 years old but older fish from 9 to 16 or 17 years old w ere still reasonably well represented. In 1963-64 the dominant ages wer a from 5 to 11 years but fish above the latter age were progressively les! 3 apparent and the general decline in older cod is more rapid than in 3.95, 3-55.
ICNAF 4S (78) (447)
20- - 10
10 5
(532)
10
4R 48 Combined - 10 (610) (1270)
10 - 5
-"*"
1 ,,,,, 111111111 lllll 0 4 6 8 10 12 14 Age - years Length - 3-cm groups
Fig. 7. Age and 1 ength distributions of cod caught by small-mesh otter trawl in Gulf of St. Lawrence, November 1965. Numbers of fish in brackets.
ufill11■_
-26-
Thus, in both otter-trawl and linetrawl samples there is an indication that an increase in mortality has probably occurred since about 1955 or 1956 in the older age groups. In November 1965 and October 1966 cruises by the A. T Cameron were undertaken to obtain length, age and maturity data for the G ulf stock of cod. The age and length distributions of the catches for Nov ember 1965 are shown in Fig. 7 for the two ICNAF Divisions 4R (Newfoundland side of the Gulf) and 4S (Western south Labrador and Quebec shore). Thes e data indicate that in the late fall the cod on the Quebec side of the Gulf are predominantly 45-60 cm in length and 4-7 years of age whereas fis h on the Newfoundland side are distributed over a wider range of lengths and ages. For the 4R cod, fish 30-70 cm long, aged from 3 to 9 years, are r elatively well represented in the sample. In the 1966 sample, a similar di sparity is apparent between the characteristics of the fish present on the ttwo sides of the Gulf in the fall. Fig. 8 shows that, in 4S, the fish were predominantly 50-60 cm in length. In 4R however, the cod were spread over a wi • range of lengths from 30 to 60 cm. Previous work at the St. John's Station has indicated . that cod along the Quebec shore are mostly of the Gulf stock which migrate s out of the Gulf beginning in late fall each year. Should the fish camel t in 1965-66 be representative of the migratory portion of the Gulf population . it is indicated that those fish which migrate may form a non-resident g roup which are of specific lengths and ages. Evidently, not all of the pop elation is involved in the migration to the Quebec shore of the Gulf since younger and older fish are poorly represented in the 4S samples shown in Figs . 7 and 8.
16
DIVDivisions2l :1 4S 14 (b) ICNAF
12 - Division 4R (441 ) 1966 10
8
6
4
2 n , r,,, 22 34 46 58 70 82 94
Length - 3 - cm groups
Fig. 8. Length distributions of cod caught on a research vessel cruise into Gulf of St. Lawrence, October 1966. Numbers of fish in brackets. -27-
The 1965 age distribution for 4R and 4S otter-trawl samples combined (F ig. 7) can be compared with the age distributions for 1947-50 and 1957-61 otter-trawl samples (Fig. 5). The increased mortality indicated between 195 0 and 1957 (see above) is somewhat suggested in the 1965 sample but neverth eless the decline in older fish suggested by the 1957-61 collection is not so strongly indicated for 1965. Apparently older fish may be sury iving a little better now than they did in the mid 1950Is. M. Wiles -28-
HADDOCK
Appendix No. 6
Southern Grand Bank
The regular groundfish survey of the southern Grz a Bank was carried out by the A. T. Cameron in May to determine distriba ztion and abundance of haddock, cod and other groundfish in the area. Half-hour drags with an otter trawl having the codend lined with small mesh were made at numbers of stations on the regular survey lines (Fig. 1). Catches of haddock and cod were very small at all stations. Bottom temperatures on the bank in depths of 50 fathoms or less ran ;ed from 2.1 to 3.2°C while on the slope in depths of 65-150 fathoms, temperatures ranged from 2.8 to 3.8°C.
The length distribution of haddock taken on the Grand Bank during the survey is shown in Fig. 2. The peaks at 28 and 4F ) cm are composed mainly of fish of 2 and 4 years of age respectively. Neither of these groups is very abundant.
An estimate' of the fecundity of mature female had dock from gonads collected in 1965 and 1966 was lower than that given i .n a recently published study. Ovaries and counted samples were dried in
Sr 57• 56• 55• 5•• 53•' 52• 50• rT r T T r T,T / T. 71-• 1. 1/ /7 -7T —rTFT IT T 7,11.1 • 7• — 47• NFLD
3L ✓ GRAND BANK • 6. - • VI i f • 8° g • J ,'GRE EN B • : 't BANK 9 1.1 _
WWII. E /4 : 9 :/ ° A' 7" 'A die ,.• 5 „ • / E • • 5. / 9 3 • • 5. _ • . / ' 4 cr • 8 / \ --, s F .:-: - • . 1 / / / G 09 1 ••• - • ,• •5 6 • 4",• • 3P— S 7 0.4, /6 /4 W • \ 1,p2 • 5 , :, "; 1 u 41• Caw.. STAT104. DEPTH „ , ••• 50 1•• 3 65 IRK 1( ' I( 7/2./ 100 NO 2 80 Nth \' / •' ICMAI 100 Nth ICNA, roMm•ITToT 0% 125 lofty 150 I of 11
• 3' 43. 4V— S 30 3N
..... .1 ..... 1, 1 , ,,,,, 1 11 58. 55. 54. 53• 52• 51., 50• • 9•
Fig. 1. Survey lines and stations normally occupied by research vessels during the spring otter-trawl surveys on the Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank. 29—
1564 fish
22 32 42 52 62 Length — cm
Fig. 2. Length distribution of haddock on the Grand Bank in 1966. The shaded section represents mature fish. an oven until constant weights were reached. Validity studies suggest that reproducible results may be obtained by this method for Grand Bank haddock. R. Wells — 30
REDFISH
Appendix No. 0 7 co vi, Nova. Scotian Shelf This area was previously examined by the A. T. Cameron in 19620 During the period Nov. 11—Dec. 4, 1966 the following lines were examined (Fig. 1) A, B, D, G in toto and Line J excluding the deep sets at the seaward end of the line. On each of these lines fishing took place from a depth of about 75 fathoms at the coast through the various hollows and depressions in the shelf to the seaward edge where an attempt was made to fish at standard depths of 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 fathoms. Because of the steepness and irregularity of the bottom contours, this was not always possible and often we had to be satisfied with a series of depth ranges. A 41-5 otter trawl having the codend lined with lb-inch nylon 0 mesh was used throughout the trip and all sets were of 30 minutes duration. Fishing continued only during the daylight period between dawn and dusk. In this area, redfish may be found in depressions on the shelf or on the seaward edge of the shelf where the slope becomes rather steep and the depth increases very rapidly to depths greater than 1000 fathoms. At the shallowest parts of the banks, depths are generally too shallow or the temperatures too high for redfish and here no fishing was carried out although a BT cast was usually made to determine the thermal structure of the waters Depressions in the shelf. It has been noted previously that the distribution of redfish over the Nova Scotian Shelf seems to be quite strongly correlated with the prevailing temperature conditions at redfish depths. The depressions on the southern (western) part of the shelf are '0 usually characterized as containing rather warm water at their lowest portions, with the result that redfish catches at the deepest parts are usually rather small and that the best redfish catches are to be found on the inshore edge where the influence of the cold inshore current becomes apparent. Such was the condition found on Line A in 1959 and on Lines B and G in 1962. In 1966, however, colder water was much more widespread and below 3°C water was not only confined to the inshore area but extended as a layer from about 40 m to 60 m over the complete shelf in the area of Line B (Fig. 2). At the deepest part of the depression on Line B the temperature was 5.3°C at 100 fathoms and 346 lb of small redfish were obtained. U On Line D rather similar conditions were found in the Emerald Basin where bottom temperatures of 5.0° to 5.7°C prevailed in depths of 75-140 fathoms. Best redfish catches here were obtained during sets on the edge of Sambro Bank where catches of 1900 lb at 55 fathoms,
2330 lb at 68-78 fathoms and 103 . 0 lb at 67-72 fathoms were obtained. These were fair sized fish which averaged 0.9, 1.2 and 0.8 lb respectively. A line through the depression that is bounded by Roseway, Ia have and Sambro Banks, Line C, once again showed significant catches of redfish cni at the edges of the depressAon. Although a catch of only 124 lb (688 fish) was obtained at the western edge, on the eastern edge, on Sambro Bank, 804 lb of redfish were obtained at 95100 fathoms. 45° / -
V,- 1 . ..\ • 1..../ • •
• -
• / Line J 144° , • / 31^. sable S1
fatb- 1.00
Line G 143 °
• Redfish survey • Bathythermograph • Sets by Halifax personnel x Beam trawl * Isaacs Kidd
)42° 66° 64° 62° 6o° 58°
Fig. 1. Location of set positions on lines fished by the A. T. Cameron, November 11-December 4, 1966.
-32-
\O C-- CO 0\ 0 E-I E-4 E-4 0 Fathg 54 al CO Ccl 0 Arfazzgiff 11/ IN 1111/1/11,W.4 7RI, NMI/ MoNg .f4flkillaw"-- ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,, ,,
LI on" r 4#10 100 Altregt* / - Abwidg, i/ Depth Redfish Av. wt. --om Set (fath) (lb) (ib) 403 8 0.2 200- 55-61 404 78 1358 0.3 405 93-95 840 0.4 406 70 148 0.1 407 72-75 0 300 413 75-80 0.1 408 115-122 14 0.4 409 146-160 3 0.2 415 200-250 626 1.8 416 245-334 872 2.0 400- 417 400-440 2 1.5 Set numbers C co V"- c-- \.o 0 ;13 CV CV CV CV CV 04 / Illfflommitiiiilafito- Nifazfagniwnwiff/ HMV/ P
;C1B1;11, Ctci ■ Ipisraw■ ■ 100- 4 11111111 5 Depth Redfish Av. wt. Set (fath) (lb) (ib) 200- 271 80 124 0.2 272 98-101 346 0.3 274 80-85 7 0.2 270 48-54 Baby 269 75 1966 300 - 268 95-100 2 0.2 267 122-130 3 0.2 265 145-160 8 0.2 266 170-200 34 0.7 VA >6 260 175 -235 114 0.9 400- 261 230-275 726 2.0 262 300-340 76 2.5 <3 263 400-430 5 1.7
Fig. 2. Nova Scotian Shelf Line B. Comparison of temperatures (00) and catches of redfish (lb) 1962 and 1966. yr
Lines c n G H J F ath
-(2 _ 100 1 '2 I 1 1 4 3 6° 1-2 7° t 23 181 21------'/'..------14 I lam. 1 12 I ,-107 7 125 1 4510 200 5° 1 :260 936 2650 1 72 6 2982
300 1916 1 393 176 25 0 400 I I1
500 lo Fig, 3. Depth range and weights of redfish caught during standard i-hr sets on the seaward ends of the different lines on the Nova Scotian Shelf, November-December 1966. A line through the "Cow pen" (Line G) yielded a best catch of 262 lb of redfish during a set which traversed depths from 60 to 100 fathoms.
On the inside end on Line J, bottom temperatures below about 40 fathoms were all less than 3°C and often less than 2°C and catches of redfish were negligible. The seawari_edgeof the shelf. Figure 3 shows the ri elative abundance of redfish in this area in relation to depth and the p: revailing bottom temperature. As found at the inshore position of the sou . therly lines, the thermal structure of the water at the seaward edge showed ga aerally cooler conditions in 1966. Whereas water above 6°C was present 1 between about 100 and 200 fathoms in 1962, in 1966, on Lines A and B, no water warmer than 5.0°C was found at depths greater than about 75 lath OMB. Catches on these lines were not impressive, with greatest catcha S occurring in sets covering the depth range of about 220 and 280 fathoms whi ere 986 and 726 lb of redfish were caught on Lines A and B respectively. On Lines D and G warmer water was present in the sha. flower part of the redfish range and commercial catches of redfish were confined to the depth levels below about 200 fathoms on Line D and 175 fa . thorns on Line G where cooler waters prevailed and bottom temperatures 1 were all below 5°C. Greatest catches on these lines of 5260 lb in a set with depths ranging from 200 to 250 fathoms on Line D and of 4510 lb at 190-205 fathoms on Line G were of good commercial sized fish (1.( S and 1.1 lb respectively).
Bad weather caused termination of the trip before Li l le J. could be completed but a catch of 1077 lb in a set ranging from 150 to 200 fathoms was indicative of commercial redfish fishing in this area as wel: L .
No marina. redfish were taken during the trip. E. Sandeman - 35 -
PLEURONECTIDS
ppendix No. 8 Flounder investigations
American plaice The distribution of American plaice along the northeast and eastern slopes c )f the Grand Bank was studied during a regular survey of the A. T. Cameron in July-August. The survey was planned to include the southeast slope of the bar but unfortunately the trip was terminated when a piece of courlene nettin ; became entangled in the propeller thus restricting manoeuverahilitz r of the ship. however otoliths and stomachs were collected for the area sup 1.veyed.
A. Yellowtail 18 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20
CM 26 30 34 38 42 46 50 27 31 35 39 43 47 51 cm B . 40 30
20 L5 10 5
4 8 10 12
Age - years
Fig. 1. A. Length distribution B. Growth curve C. Age distribution of yellowtail from the southern part of the Grand Bank.
- 36 -
Analysis of data on feeding, tagging and distribution in relation to depth and temperature is continuing and it is hoped that part of this information at least will be ready for submission for publication during the current year. Yellowtail. Landings of this species from the southern part of th e Grand Bank in 1965 were estimated to be just over 4 million lb. Figures for 1966 are not yet available. The yellowtail landed by the local trawlers were samp led by the groundfish sampling group and length and age distribution and gro wth curve calculated (Fig. 1). The commercial catch is composed of about 6 year-classes with the greater percentage of the catch being 6-8 year olds. Yellowtail are larger at comparable ages than American plaice from the southern Grand Bank. Thus, a yellowtail at age 4 averages about 30 cm and at 6 years is about 40 cm, whereas American plaice average about 20 and 30 cm respectively. Witch or =sole Research is progressing on various aspects of the bio logy of this species. Collection and analysis of data on growth, maturity, fe undity and feeding is continuing. T. K. Pitt
Appendix No. 9 Greenland halibut (turbot) Preliminary figures indicate that landings of this species more than doubled during 1966. In 1965, approximately 15 million lb were landed and up to the end of November 1966 the total landings of this species in Newfoundland were a little over 30 million lb. From information on catch and effort from three Trinity Bay communities, it is obvious that a large proportion of the catch came from this bay.
From May to November 1966 length measurements and biological samples were obtained weekly at the fish plant at Harbour Grace. In addition to this, sampling from commercial boats took place monthly during June August at Old Perlican, Hants Harbour and Winterton. Catch and effort data were also collected from certain boats in these communities.
Surveys by N.V. Marinus
White and Notre Dame Bays. A total of 13 longlining sets of 32 lines each were made, 11 in White Bay and 3 in the central part of Notre Dame Bay. These were all "flying sets" with the gear fishing for about 2 hours. For the first 5 sets alternate lines were baited with 37—
capelin and squid. The catches indicated that capelin outfished squid by about 2 to 1.
The best catches were along the northwest side of White Bay at
175 - 195 fathoms where catches between 1000 and 1500 lb were obtained. The 3 sets in Notre Dame Bay produced relatively small quantities of this species with catches between 228 and 275 lb. Exploration of the remainder of Notre Dame Bay and the deep water of such adjacent deepwater bays as Green, Halls and Exploits is planned for the future.
Trinity Bay. Eleven gillnet and 5 longlining sets were made at various localities in the bay at depths ranging from about 120 to 288 fathoms.
Five 6 - inch mesh and five 7-inch mesh monofilament nylon nets were used and also 32 lines of longlining gear. The gillnets were allowed to fish for at least 24 hours; however, adverse weather sometimes prevented the hauling of the nets each day.
Trinity Bay appears at present to have a relatively large population of Greenland halibut. During November when the survey was carried out the greatest concentrations appeared to be located towards the mouth of the bay, with overnight gillnet sets producing about 1500 lb at 150 fathoms and 2300 lb at 128 -136 fathoms. The best longlining set was about 1000 lb at 280 fathoms.
Growth and me distribution of Greenland halibut from Trinity Bay
Fig. 1 gives the age distribution CO and a growth curve (B) from samples of Greenland halibut taken at the Harbour Grace fish plant and also from commercial fishermen at Winterton and Hants Harbour, Trinity Bay. Age determinations were from otoliths, but this method of age determination has not been validated for this species.
The Trinity Bay population is apparently composed principally of 9-, 10- and 11 fish. They become vulnerable to the fishing gear at about 40 i -45 cm when they are 6 years old. The commercial gear consists primarily of gil lnets with 6 - , 6 1/2 - , 7 - and 8-inch mesh and also longlines. In another secti on it will be shown that even with 6-inch mesh the number of fish of this spe cies caught under 40 cm is negligible. Comparison of Gr eenland halibut catches from 6- and 7-inch mesh aillnets During the survey of Trinity Bay by the M.V. Marinus five gillnets with 6 -inch mesh and five with 7-inch mesh were used. The 6-inch mesh nets caught more fish in the lower size ranges and less of the larger fish than the 7 - inch mesh nets (Fig. 2). Relating this to weight, it is found that the weight of fish caught by the 7-inch mesh averaged about 200 lb more per set than that of the smaller sized net. - 38 -
30 A.
4)
20
15
10
5
cm B.
90
80
60
`.30
10 Age - years Fig. 1. A. Age distribution and B. Growth curve of commercial Greenland halibut from Trinity Bay, Nfld. (male and female). - 39 --
180 II 7 inch 160 6 inch 140 ■ h 120 fis
f 100 o
80 bers
Num 60
40
20 \ \A
I I I I I I I I I I V- IA el ri ON IA CY1 IA \ID ■0 N— CO ON a a 0 0 I 0 I ■0 0 00 •0 -.1' C\I I'll -1' 1.r\ .o .o r--- co o.
Length - cm
Fig. 2. Uomparison of length distributions of Greenland halibut caught in 6- and 7-inch mesh gillnets. gzilarison of sizes of Greenland halibut from gillnets and longliners in Trinity Bay From measurements of commercial landings from gillnets and longliners it appears that longlining gear on the average catches the largest fish (Fig. 3). For Trinity Bay generally more fishermen apparently use gillnets than longlines. During most of the season fishermen principally used monofilament gillnets with mesh sizes 6, 6 1/2 and 7 inches, but late in the season it appeared that the 8-inch mesh started to come into more general use.
The difference between the size of the fish caught by longliners and gillnets may not be as great in the future because of a probable reduction
-40-
. Gillnets - 4453 fish measured 130 if Longlines - 1456 fish measured 120 • Gillnets 110 100 90 PD\ 80 /
70 P e,- Longlines 60 50 4 it 3 • 2 1 I> Q7. • 2*-(3,3 IVA1
C- Is\ cr\ r-1 0 \ N- 1" 00 c0 ON it e 1 1 aD 0 c0 • 0 \ \O Cs aD 00 Q\ Length - cm Fig. 3. Comparison of sizes of Greenland halibut for gillnets and longline from Trinity Bay.
in the number of larger-sized fish in the population and an increase in the mesh size of the gillnets being used. T. K. Pitt
41
COMMERCIAL GROUNDFISH STATISTICS
Appendix No. 10
Commercial groundfish landings in Newfoundland Landings
For ready reference the landings of the principal commercial groundfish species in Newfoundland, 1952-66 are shown in Table I. Brief statements on the fisheries and areas contributing to the landings from 1952 to 1965 ar e included in previous annual reports of the St. John's Station. The provisional figures for 1966 indicate cod landings to be only 1% below 1 965. The inshore fishery contributes 80-90% of the cod landed and although i t was not generally successful throughout, either geographically or seasona ily, good fisheries by various gears in many localities, with a general in creased catch in the fall, brought the total cod landed close to the level it had attained in 1965. The decline in haddock landings continues, and the 1966 total was about 36% below that of the previous year. Because of the scarcity of this speci es little effort was devoted toward catching it.
Redfish landings have increased and in 1966 were 22% higher than in 1965. Much of the increase resulted from the fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the continuing fishery on the southeast slopes of the Grand Bank, and the deepwater fishery southwest of Burgeo and St. Pierre Banks.
Plaice landings are steadily increasing annually and in 1966 were 9% higher than in 1965. More effort is concentrated by the otter-trawl fleet on catching plaice than on any other species. Witch landings increased greatly with largest catches being made together with plaice from the southern and southwestern edge of the Grand Bank.
There were a few more trips in which yellowtails were the principal flounder caught, particularly in the shallow water, increasing the small annual landing by about a million pounds. Halibut, wolffish, polloCk, and hake are landed in relatively small quantities, and are caught incidentally during the fishery for other species. Any increase which occurs, as in the wolffish landing, is a reflection of the increased effort toward the catching of some main species. The increased landing of wolffish is because of increased effort in the flounder fishery.
Turbot (Greenland halibut) are caught in the inshore areas, mainly in Trinity and Notre Dame Bays by longline and gillnet. The greatly increased catch is a result of a great concentration of effort which occurred in 1965 and 1966 following the opening of a market for the fresh, frozen product. 42
Table I. Landings of principal commercial groundfish (millions of pounds, round fresh) in Newfoundland 1952-66. The 1966 figures are provisional.
SPECIES 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Cod 482.0 419.0 540.0 463.0 465.9 482.0 358.6 510.8 Haddock 10.0 15.0 50.0 61.0 77.3 54.6 37.4 35.1 Redfish 30.8 28.0 20.0 17.5 22.1 16.0 25.9 15.0 Plaice 16.1 15.0 7.1 15.3 17.8 16.7 22.9 29.2 Witch 2.5 6.7 5.5 4.0 4.6 6.3 3.8 Yellowtail
Turbot 1. 0 1.1 1. 4 1.7 2.1 1.6 2.5 Halibut 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.8 0.5 Wolffish 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.6 Pollock 0.5 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 Hake 0.2
SPECIES 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966
Cod 501.3 402.9 454.0 488.3 449.4 418.3 414.2
Haddock 31.5 49.9 47.4 16.1 12.3 7.2 4.6 Redfish 19.1 25.5 35.7 48.7 42.1 63.1 76.8 Plaice 33.4 27.4 29.7 47.3 61.2 86.9 94.5 Witch 9.8 8.3 8.2 6.7 6.6 7.1 13.6 Yellowtail 0.2 2.1 3.4 4.6 Turbot 1.5 1.7 1.6 2.1 4.3 17.9 36.2 Halibut 0.6 0.8 1.7 1.0 1.2 0.9 1.2 Wolffish 0.6 0.8 0.7 1.1 1.1 2.0 2.6 Pollock 0.7 1.0 1.4 1.8 1.0 0.6 0.7 Hake 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.2
43
Plants boats, and gear The interest in the Labrador fishery, which was revived about 3 years ago, resulted in additional vessels (floaters) going to Labrador in 1966, totalling 85 which was 26 more than in 1965. Boats in the inshore fleet are continually being improved and new, larger ones built. As a result small longliners increased from 41 to 170, and an addition of 5 brought the larger longliners (25 tons and over) to 37.
The otter -trawler fleet is expanding and at the end of 1966 there were 48 large trawlers operating, of which 7 were new stern trawlers. In addition there were 3 small otter trawlers (less than 100 tons gross) operating.
Table II . Sampling of various species of commercial fish landed by otter trawlers in Newfoundland from different ICNAF Divisions, 1966.
Measurements Otoliths 3N Cod 638 82 Plaice 12157 1011 Redfish 276 - Yellowtail 1145 114 Haddock 1027 188 30 Cod 506 51 Plaice 3066 220 Yellowtail 604 60 Haddock 432 42 Greysole 222 23 3L Cod 1379 134 Plaice 2558 255
3Ps Cod 2490 242 Plaice 191 19 Redfish 1298 - Haddock 621 62 Greysole 282 - 3Pn Cod 160 16 Redfish 709 4R Cod 1615 Redfish 1644
4Vn Cod 445 45 4X Haddock 500 50
33965 2758
4.4
There were 36 freezing plants in operation in 1966. lso„ 10 fresh (unfrozen) processing fish plants were operating.
Sampling Regular sampling of the landings from the otter-trawle r fleet is carried out throughout the year at St. John's and Burin, and in the autumn at other south coast plants. Table II indicates numbers of fish m easured and pairs of otoliths obtained. Catch and effort statistics related t o area and time of capture are collected regularly from the otter-trawler fle et. This program provides basic data for stock studies of the various speci es caught in the offshore areas and for our submissions to ICNAF. A. M. Fleming A. T. Pinhorn - 45 -
PELAGIC FISHES
Appendix No. 11 Herring
Investigations on herring were re-activated in 1965, beginning with a survey to locate and sample herring schools throughout the inshore waters of Newfoundland. This program was continued into the fall of 1966, when the survey was completed. Efforts were then concentrated on studies of the commercial catch.
In August 1966, in a temporary exchange of personnel with the Nanaimo Station, Dr. Hourston replaced Mr. Hodder as scientist-in-charge for a two-year period. Since that time, scientific effort has been devoted to planning and organization of an overall program, familiarization with the local situation, and the processing of data from the initial program. Analyses of the data collected beyond the preliminary stages outlined by Mr. Hodder in a report to the Canadian Atlantic Herring Fishery Conference in May 1966 entitled "Newfoundland Herring Fisheries and Research" has been postponed until the spring of 1967. By this time, the field routines should be well-established, the 1966 data prepared for processing and necessary additional electronic data processing equipment available at the St. John's Station. Consequently the scope of this report is limited to a discussion of the aims of the program, the methods of collecting the data required and of the data collected to date.
Aims and methods
( The basic objectives of the current study of the population biology of Newfoundland herring are:
1. to determine the distribution of herring in Newfoundland waters;
2. to describe the composition of the Newfoundland herring run in terms of identifying the different stocks, determining where and when they spawn, and establishing their interrelationships (if any);
3. to estimate abundance and survival rates for the individual stocks and the run as a whole;
4. to describe the utilization of the resource by the fishery and its effect on the status of the stocks;
5. to assess the role of environmental conditions in determining year-class strength. The distribution of herring in Newfoundland waters may be derived from the location of catches by commercial and research vessels and from surveys with fish-finding devices. Stocks may be identified by sampling to determine consistent ifferences in meristic characters, age composition, growth, place and time dof spawning, etc., and/or by tagging to determine the extent of mixing. -46-
Estimates of abundance may be derived from surveys wi th fish-finaing devices, catch and effort statistics and the proportions of tagge d fish in catches (when the distribution and abundance of tagged fish is known).own). Age composition for a series of random samples from the stock, when applied to estimates of abundance for the stock, gives estimates of the abun dance of each year-class. Such estimates, over a series of years, provide a means of assessing the rates of survival.
The utilization of the resource by the fishery may be described in terms of the numbers and/or proportions of fish of each year-c lass captured from each stock and the effort required to do so. Catches by yea r-class may be estimated by applying age composition from representative samp les to catches made in the same area at the same time. This involves the collec tion of detailed catch data and extensive sampling of the catch throughout the fis hing season.
The role of environmental , conditions in determining y ear-class strength may be examined by observing environmental conditions ov er a period during which survival rates have varied considerably. To obtain the data required for the above analyses, p rograme have been initiated to: 1. survey Newfoundland waters to determine where herring are pre sent, to estimate their relative abundance in the various areas, and t o record observations on the environment;
2. sample schools located during surveys and catches by the COME ercial fishery for size, age, maturity and some meristic characters;
3. place log books on fishing vessels to record location, date, time and amount of fish caught and of fishing effort expended;
4. record detailed data on landings, both present and past in a standard form;
5. gather reports on the place, time and extent of herring spawn ings from officers of the Department of Fisheries and other interested parties.
Depending on the initial results of these programs, a tagging program is planned, possibly for 1967-68, to provide more precise information on the movements and extent of mixing of the stocks.
Data Surveys. Inshore waters of Newfoundland were surveye d for herring during 11 trips by the Investigator II in 1966 and 10 tri ps in 1965. During these trips, echo-sounder surveys were carried out around the entire coast of Newfoundland varying in coverage from direct steaming al ong the coast to extensive surveys in selected areas. With the exception. of surveys off the western half of the south coast during the winter when a seine fishery was operating, very few concentrations of herring showed on the E ounder. However, experimental gillnet sets in most of the major bays visi ted during these surveys generally yielded at least a few herring and often several hundred. Thus, failure of the sounder records to show herring ir an area
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does not preclude the possibility of their being present in some quantity. Moreover, herring inhabiting these waters at other times of the year may have been absent on some seasonal migration during the survey period.
A su rvey by a modern commercial seiner with an experienced herring fishing captain is being carried out under the auspices of the Industrial Development Sery ice, Department of Fisheries, during the winter and spring of 1966-67. The results of this survey, which is being conducted in consultation wit h the writer, should provide a better basis for interpreting this type of inf ormation.
Sampling. Samples were taken from experimental gillnet sets during the survey conducted by the Investigator II in 1965-66. These were supplemented by occasional samples from the commercial catch and other sources.
Each sample consisted of up to 50 fish selected at random from the catch. For each fish, length (in mm), weight (in grams), sex and maturity (ICES s aale) were recorded, otoliths and scales were taken for age determinatio as and the specimens were tagged and salted for X-raying to prcvide count e of vertebrae and the number of rays in the dorsal, anal and left pectora. fins. (Some of these steps were omitted for some samples.) In addition, the total catch was weighed and lengths recorded (to the nearest cm) for those fi 3h not sampled. Sex and maturity were also recorded for some of these fi 3h. Gonads were weighed for some fish and ovaries were collected from s 0_ected maturing females for fecundity studies. Stomachs were collected f: mm some specimens for food studies.
Table I. Herring sampling data collected in 1966 and 1965.
1966 1965 Research Commercial Total Research Commercial Total
Samples taken 63 29 92 5 6 11 Fish sampled 3,308 1,650 4,958 539 720 1,259 Length measurements 27,831 8,150 35,981 2,814 6,555 9,369 Weights 3,025 1,600 4,625 214 55 269 Sex and maturity 7,291 2,200 9,491 325 720 1,045 Vertebrae counts 2,825 1,600 4,425 528 496 1,024 Fin ray counts 1,905 500 2,405 528 55 583 Gonad weights 2,001 400 2,401 55 55 Gonads collected 272 10 282
Stomachs collected 196 196 SS*
Late in 1966, intensive sampling of the commercial catch was begun. With the co-operation of the fishing companies and the Department of Fisheries, am .angements were made to sample, on a regular basis, the landings at Harbcour Breton and Curling, the two major ports of landing. Arrangements were also made with the Department's Bait Depot operators to obtain samples fi .om their purchases. With this expanded sampling program, IP"
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sampling procedures were reduced by eliminating: the measurement of extra fish, weighing the sample as a whole, fin ray counts, gonad weights and the collecting of gonads and stomachs. On the other hand, every attempt was mad e to recor length, weight, sex, maturity, age and the number of vertebrae fo r all fish sampled. Samples taken to date and observations recorded are s ummarized in Table I. This does not include some samples taken in 1966 and no t processe 1 at the time of writing. During the latter part of 1966, over 3300 of the near ly 5000 herring from which scales and/or otoliths were taken in 1966 were aged. Aging of the 1259 herring sampled in 1965 was deferred until the more recent s amples could be completed. Vessel log books. Standard otter-trawl log books, with modified instructions, were put aboard 4 seiners for the 1965-66 herring season. Returns were received from 2 of these. At the beginning of the 1966-67 season, new log books designed specifically for reporting herring catches and related information were distributed to all seiners known to be fishing in Newfoundland waters (some 25 in all). Additional books were left with fish plants and Department of Fisheries officers who were assisting with their distribution. Efforts were made to visit these boats and encourage the return of completed log sheets. Catch. Detailed catch data by port of landing were supplied for 1966 by the Economics Branch of the Department of Fisheries. These can be converted to area of catch on the basis of log book information, and to fishing year (June-July) from calendar year from the monthly breakdowns. (The winter seine fishery, which took the major portion of the catch in 1966, takes place from November to April. For population studies, these catches should be included in a single fishing year. Since catches for the previous 8 years show a sharp drop in July, this was considered to be the most appropriate time to begin a new fishing year.) Considerable effort was devoted in 1966 to compiling past catch data as a gross index of distribution and abundance in past years. Since 1952, the Economics Branch of the Department of Fisheries has compiled catches by month and by area of landing. Catch data for years prior to 1952 are largely limited to annual catches for Newfoundland as a whole. Catches for the period 1910-51 were taken mainly from various compilations by other staff members of the St. John's Station from information supplied by the markets and Economics Branch of the Department of Fisheries. These involved conversion of product weights or units to landed weight. Similar procedures were applied to catch data given in the Journals of the House of Assembly (Nfld.) for the period 1862-1909 using the same conversion factors and others derived from the tabulations in these journals. Alternative sources of catch data for some periods (Newfoundland Fisheries Board Bulletins 13, 14 and 16 for the period 1936-48, Annual Report of Marine and Fisheries for 1931 and 1932 and Journals of the House of Assembly, Nfld. for the period 1910-30) were compared with the more detailed sources and found to be in general agreement. A manuscript incorporating the results of this work is currently in preparation. It is proposed to update this report annually in the future.
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Spawnings Late in 1966, arrangements were made with the Department of Fisheries to enlist the co-operation of their field officers in reporting the location, date and extent of herring spawnings. A few of the 1966 spawnings were recorded in this way but it is not expected to have sufficient coverage for reporting until the 1967 spawnings. Thereafter it is proposed to report annually on herring spawnings.
Environment Observations of environment have been limited to temperature (BT and hydrographic casts) data for each set made during the coastal survey. Development of this project will depend largely on the success of the other programs. A. S. Hourston
Appendix No. 12 Capelin
Capelin research was reinstated as part of the research activities of the St. John's Station in May 1965 and research investigations were expanded in 1966. As part of the sampling program, fish from all areas were measured, sexed, aged and examined for parasites as well as being examined for their meristic composition to evaluate any differences which might exist between capelin from the different areas.
Materials and methods The Grand Bank sample, consisting entirely of pre-spawning fish, was caught from May 2 to 16, 1966 by the A. T. Cameron using an otter trawl with the codend lined by 1/2-inch nylon shrimp netting. Most of this sample came from ICNAF Subarea 30. The inshore samples, consisting mainly of beach-spawning capelin, were collected from selected areas of the south, east, and northeast Newfoundland coast and from the Labrador coast. These were caught mainly by castnet.
Table I. Number of capelin measured and examined from all areas sampled in 1966.
Area sampled Number in sam le Number measured /umber examined
Grand Bank 711 711 711 Pack's Hr., Labrador 200 200 200 St. Anthony 222 222 222 Twillingate 220 220 220 Outer Cove 279 279 279 Grand Beach 2264 2264 237 Miscellaneous catches 150 150 150 Total 40.35 4035 2019 -50-
Results, Agecomposition. The age composition of the capelin samples from all the areas sampled in 1966 indicated a radical shift to spawning schools dominated by 4-year-old capelin rather than the usual predominance of 3-year-old fish (Table II), This is corroborated by the larger sizes in 1966.
The 1962 year - class which dominated the spawning schools in 1965 continued to remain dominant in 1966, suggesting a very poor 1963 year-class or, more likely, a high post-spawning survival of the 1962 year-class in 1965.
Table II, Age composition of capelin samples from selected areas of the Newfoundland coast and on Grand Bank, 1966.
Locality Date Sex AQe composition No. in 1966 2 3 4 5 samp le
Grand Bank May 2-16 9.89 90.11 47 5 F 0.42 15.68 81.78 2.12 23 6
Pack's Hr., July 7 3.00 96.00 1.00 10 0 Labrador 5.00 84.00 1100 10 0 St. Anthony July 6 19.33 80.67 102 F 30.39 68.63 0,98 109 Twillingate June 23 2.75 97.25 10 9 F 8.11 89.19 2.70 11 1
Outer Cove June 15, NY 0.85 99.15 11 7
16;, 22 0.96 95.19 3.85 10. Grand Beach June 2529 M 47. 71 52.27 132 F 4.76 69.52 24.76 0.95 10 5
b.fizecomposjtis2. Comparison of the length distributions from the various areas sampled indicated that the largest capelin were from the Grand Bank and Labrador, capelin from the east and northeast coasts were of intermediate size, and those from the south coast were the smallest (and youngest) (Table III). However, the decrease in size with the progression of the spawning season makes it difficult to assess the true relative sizes of the capelin from the different localities.
Homoeneiga. thecaelinopLiation. An investigation of the vertebral number and number of fin rays (anal, pectoral, pelvic) indicated that there was no significant meristic differences between the Grand Bank capelin and the inshore capelin nor between the capelin of the various bays of the Newfoundland coast (Table IV).
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Table III. Relative sizes of male and female capelin from the Grand Bank and selected areas of the Newfoundland coast in 1966.
Average length Locality Date (cm) Average length Number 1966 Males Females Males & Females in sample
Grand Bank Kay 2-16 19.40 17.92 18.91 700 Pack's Hr., July 7 19.56 17.86 18.71 200 Labrador St. Anthony July 6 18.40 16.40 17.48 222 Twillingate June 23 19.10 17.20 18.15 217 Outer Cove June 15-22 19.18 16.70 17.92 279 July 11 Grand Beach June 25-29 18.11 15.99 17.20 2264
Total 18.50 16.75 17.99 3882
Table IV. Vari ous meristic averages for selected areas of Newfoundland coast and on the Grand Bank, 1966.
Locality Date 1966 Vertebral number Anal fin Left pectoral (M & F) rays (N) rays (M)
Grand Bank May 2-16 65.70 23.51 Pack's Hr., July 7 65.63 23.56 18.99 Labrador St. Anthony July 6 65.57 23.66 18.98 Twillingate June 23 65.70 23.60 19.07 Outer Cove June-July 65.67 23.48 19.04 Grand Beach June 25-29 65.66 23.55 18.92
Table V. Relat ive infection and incidence of capelin from various parts of the Newfoundland coast and on Grand Bank.
Locality Date 1966 % infected Degree infection Average (M F) per infected fish size (am)
Grand Bank May 2-16 47.42 1.61 18.91 Pack's Hr., July 7 53.10 1.46 18.71 Labrador St, Anthony July 6 36.10 1.46 17.48 Twillingate June 23 45.90 1.38 18.15 Outer Cove June-July 32.10 1.56 17.92 Grand Beach June 25-29 21.67 1.31 17.20 -2—
24414ai.lea 0 An attempt was made to obtain comparative incidences of infection by the larval nematode Contracaecum spe in capelin from the areas sampled. The results obtained indicated that this roundworm has its highest incidence on the Grand Bank and Labrador with the east and north east coasts having an intermediate rate of infection while the south coast ha s the lowest rate (Table V). However, because of the increase in nematode inf ection with capelin size, the differences in nematode incidence between the v arious areas may only reflect differences in the size composition of the sampl es. G. H. Wint ers
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HYDROGRAPHY
Appendix No. 13 Sea temperatures and salinities, 1966
At St tion 27 near St. aJohn's (Fig. 1) the deeper water temperatures were higher than usual throughout the year. Also, winter temperatures in both 1966 and early 1967 were higher than usual from surface to bottom. Upper water temperatures in summer-autumn were about average.
Salinities were slightly higher near the bottom. They were lower in the upper part of the water column in late autumn-early winter of
JAN. I FEB. (MARCH I APRIL I MAY JUNE JULY I AUG. I SEPT.I OCT. NOV. I DEC. JAN. FEB. I. -0.3 -0.3 -0.2 0.6 6.6 10.2 11.9 10.611.0 7.9 4.4 1.2 0 1 1 T I I IV -1- I I 1.1./ 1 1 1 121 1 1 10 -0.8 11 0 I 20 -10 8 30 -0.3 -0.71 0.5 - • 2 - 2I q 0 I 50 -1.3 - 3C 0 1 2 0 I r 75 i.0.3 -1 1.4-0.51 -0.6 -0.1 -0.9 -0.7 0.7 '" 4( cn 0 U -1 - 5( iLMO -0-8 -0.5 -0.8 -0.5 -0 -3 0.5 2 - 6C
125 - -0.4 -0.3 -0.5 -0.8-1.1 -0.9 -0.6 -0.5 0.4 - 7C -I -11 - 8C 150 -0.1 -0.4 -0.4-0-6 -0.3 -0-5 -0.3 -0.6 0.1 -0-5 -0.3 0 --... ,-----/ - 9C 0.3 0.5 -0.3 -1 11:1.2---7-4 0-21afa4 0.3 0-5 -p.1 -0-2 0.1 176 96
JAN. FEB. MARCH I APRIL MAY JUNE JULY I AUG. I SEPT. I OCT. NOV. I DEC. JAN. FEB. 32.2 32-3 32-2 32.2 32-0 I 321 31-8 I 31.8 I 314 31-5 31-7 I 31-6 31-7 0 I 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 11 ‘....„)(1 ti 1 1 1 I 1 1 I I 10 -32.3 32.5 32.0 31.9 \ 31.4 31. 20 - 32.2 321 32-4 31.6 31.6 - 10 30 -32.3 32.3 32 4 364 31.9 31.7 - 20 32-....___, 50 -32.3 ( 32.4 32 • 32.5 32-7 32.6 31-732.3 31-6 31.6 - 30 32-5 32.5 32.5 32. / 75 - j2 326-. 326 326. 328. 327 3 . 6 319. - 40 32.5 0 ,..., 2 O rc - 50 Li 1 00 - 327 32.8 70, 327 32.8 32.1 LL - 60
125 -32.9 32.9 32.8 33.2 32.7 33.1 \ 32.9 32,,- 33.0 32.6 327 - 70 / L- -.13.0 33.0 ■..... - 80 150 .9 33.2 33.3 33 4 33.3 II ^33t...., 33 .4 - 90 33-2 3.2 33.2 3F.? 33-4 33.4 33)53 -) 33.4 / 337 33.61 33.3 33.4 176 OA
Fig. 1. Above, temperature (°C) and below, salinity (5)) from surface to bottom at Station 27 (see Fig. 2 insert), 2 nautical miles off Cape Spear near St. John's, January 1966 to January 1967.
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27 28 34 35 36 37 37A 38 39 40 41 42 42A 10.8 13.0 13.6 12.8 13.5 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.3 15.9 15.7 0 15 10 5 8 50 2 5.8 0 -0.7 -0.4 5 100 i- l. :0:1-..------....0.3 4.6 0
150 VA,....00 1 1 -1,41 2.8 3.8 4.3 44 _i °1 AVALON 0-2 0 011 0 CHANNEL X 10 0 200 AVALON 3.3 4•i CHANNEL
W 250 4.1 cc 0 20 40 60 FLEMISH CAP I 1 I 1 15 o LL NAUTICAL MILES 300 4. 4-1 4.1) 50° 48° 46° 44° 350 50° 50° 200
4.1 4.1 40 • 27 '''' 'fferry • 11• StJahrts.N...: 41), 41 . A 4.0 3.9 300 600 2 (3.9 3.97/ 3. 400 800 Grand Bank j air 500 1000 5a• 50° 411• 46° • FLEMISH 600 1200 CHANNEL 700 27 28 34 35 36 37 37A 38 39 40 41 42 42A 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.5 32.8 32.2 31.9 32.3 33.033.5 34.2 0 32.0 32.5
50 33.0 33. 34.0 A 33.2 33.3 33.5 34.6 34.6 5C 100 33.3 / 3 4.6 3/4-5 33•1 33.5 GRAND BANK 34-0 /33.8 Y 1 150 \ 34.7 34.7 34.6 _14 AVALON 33500 Oc0 0 CHANNEL X 100 34.5 200 AVALON \ 34-7 34.8 CHANNEL
0 20 40 60 0 1 1 1 S cc 250 1 34.8 34.9 NAUTICAL MILES FLEMISH CAP 151 LL 34.8 34.8 34. 9 300
350 2C 0
34.8 34.9 400 34.8 34.9 0 600 14.8 34.9/ 34 34-9 400 800 )9j 500 1000 FLEMISH 600 1200 CHANNEL 700
Fig. 2. A, temperature (°C) and B, salinity sections, St. John's- Grand Bank-Flemish Cap, July 25-27, 1966.
1966-67 but o therwise were generally similar to those of 1965.
D ue to lack of offshore vessel time observations were made on only one (St. John's to Flemish Cap) of the 6 sections taken annually since 1951 (Fig. 2) . Even this section was not completed east of Flemish Cap, Temperatures were higher than in 1965, and higher than usual, both in the colder part o C the Labrador Current in the Avalon. Channel and over the Grand Bank and in the wa rm slope water to the east of the Grand Bank and over Flemish Cap.
B Atom salinities in the Avalon Channel were higher than in 1965 but otherwise salinities were generally similar to those of 1965.
W, Templeman
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ANADROMOUS FISH
Appendix No. 14 amolaal&LRAPILJullmninllg! this year were concerned mainly with the welfare of fry from the 1965 egg plant, the return of adults from the 1964 egg plant, and the initiation of another experiment by planting 5.9 million eyed eggs in the fall of the year. Both the adult returns and the egg planting were the best so far in these efforts to establish pink salmon in Newfoundland.
Frisurvival
Of the 3.3 million eggs planted in the fall of 1965, it was estimated that 3.0 million survived to migrate to sea in the spring of 1966. A survival rate of 91% was determined from 35 samples of 25 eggs each which were distributed along the channel at 30-ft intervals. The fry were not counted as in previous years in order to eliminate the possibility of delayed mortality from handling. The survival rate was the highest of all plantings to date. Moderate weather conditions prevailed throughout the winter and hatching started around January 24 as compared with the earliest hatching date previously of February 15.
ET=EaffMaIt.P. The seaward migration of fry was followed by visual obse rvation. The search covered the 2-4nile stretch of river to the mouth, North H arbour Arm and Pond, and St. Mary's Bay to Point Lance on the west side and Eng lieh Cape on the east side. Fry were first seen in the river May 9 and in St. Mary's Bay May 26, The number of sightings was 55 consisting of a total of 138 thousand fry and the largest concentration was 30 thousand observed May 25 in North Harbour Arm. They were seen as far as 22 miles from the river and a s late as June 28. All the fry sighted were within 100 ft from the shore and at depths within 4 ft from the surface where water temperatures ranged from 6. 0 to 11.000. Eighteen juvenile pink salmon were taken at the head of St, Mary's and Placentia Bays. In St, Mary's Bay 3 were taken in August by dip -net and 5 in October by gillnet, and in Placentia Bay 10 were taken in 0 ctober by angling. The range in size was from 132 mm 16 g to 229 mm, 105 g. Schools of these fish were seen at Arnold's Cove, Placentia Bay, by the wharfinger from the first week of September to late in October. The schools usually contained 50-100 fish but in one school he estimated the num ber to be 500-600. This behaviour of being close to shore so late in the year was unexpected and there is no information. on how extensive it might be, predation In North Harbour River from May 2 to June 17, 10% of the seaward migrants of brook and brown trout and all eels were sampled for stomach contents as well as 35 Atlantic salmon smolts which were accidentally killed. Less than 2% of the eels and smolts, and from 8 to 13% of the trout were feeding on pink salmon fry. —57—
In North Harbour Pond and Arm from May 20 to July 20 experimental fishing produced 1919 fish of various species which were examined for stomach contents. The species represented were: Atlantic salmon, brook trout, capelin, cod, cunner, flounder, herring, sculpin, and smelt. Thirteen percent of the brook trout were feeding on fry but none of the other species were. Apparently the greatest predation in the river and estuary is by brook and brown trout and even that is not very extensive.
Adult salmon
The 1964 transplant of 3.4 million eyed eggs produced a run of 2.9 million fry in 1965 and an adult return of 638 fish in 1966 which is the best return so far in these experiments. The returns were divided as follows: 419 North Harbour River, 40 Colinet River, 178 commercial fishery, and 1 sport fishery (saltwater). The first fish was caught in salt water on June 1 but the run into North Harbour River started August 4 and ended September 27 with peak days September 6 and 16. The sexes were divided equally (206 males, 213 females) and salmon were observed spawning in the lower 4 miles of river and in one of the tributaries. All rivers in St. Mary's Bay were searched for pink salmon with Colinet, Haricot, and Salmonier receiving particular attention but strays were found in Colinet River only.
Egg nlantin
The fifth transplant got off to a good start with the planting of 5.9 million eggs, the greatest number so far. The eggs were collected by personnel of the Nanaimo Station from Lakelse River and 68 cases of eggs in 9 shipments were received between October 31 and November 11. Due to the early collection of eggs in British Columbia and the mild winter in Newfoundland the fry started hatching earlier than usual, around January 2 as compared with the earliest date previously of January 24. A. A. Blair
Appendix No. 15
Catalogue of Newfoundland strelag.
The catalogue is a summary of information about some streams of the island of Newfoundland, the fish inhabiting them, and some factors that may affect productivity. It is being prepared by the St. John's Station and the Resource Development Service of the Department of Fisheries of Canada in St. John's for publication in the Fisheries Research Board Manuscript Report Series.
The catalogue contains a variety of information, such as, geomorphological data about the drainage basins, stream flows, bottom types, obstructions, miscellaneous survey information, counting fence data, angling catches, and data on climate. Stream flow and climate records were extracted from data published by other agencies, and analyzed for the catalogue. Much of the remaining information has had very limited distribution, and some of it is new. The catalogue will serve as an index to documents containing more -58-
detailed information, indicate gaps in knowledge, and show some relat ionships. It is hoped that it will enable biologists in this area to not only E valuate the information that is available, but also to better understand the problems affecting productivity of streams. About 4400 streams flow into the sea directly from the island of Newfoundland. Most are small and have no names, but many streams have the same names. Every stream on the island has been assigned a code number in the hope that workers in this area will adopt the names and numbers used in the catalogue. Of the 4400 streams on the island only 340 streams, with drainage basins including about 82% of the island, are catalogued. Streams not included are therefore small. All the large streams, such as Exploits, Humber, and Gander are included, as well as many small ones for which survey, angling, or other data exist. Work by the St. John's Station on the catalogue during 1966 included plotting the drainage basins on topographic maps (scale 1:50,000) and determining basin areas, axial lengths, mean widths, perimeters, and relief, as well as analyzing some climate data. In 1966 the Department of Fisheries analyzed stream flows, and summarized information about certain streams from records and reports in their files. A. R. Murray
Appendix No. 16 A furunculosis-like disease of adult Atlantic salmon
During June and July 1966, parts of 6 diseased adult Atlantic salmon were brought to the Biological Station by members of the public. The symptoms, superficially at least, resembled furunculosis. In each fish, the dorsal muscles along the posterior portion of the body cavity had disintegrated into a brownish-red pulpy mass. Muscle tissue in the flanks, ventral to the diseased portions, and in the region of the caudal peduncle, was a healthy orange color. Each fish had been gutted, beheaded, and cut into steaks, so it was not possible to examine the head, gills, fins, or contents of the body cavity. The salmon had been caught at different places around the Avalon Peninsula: 3 in St. Mary's Bay, 2 in Conception Bay, and 1 near St, John's. Five of the fish were 2 sea-year salmon, and I was a grilse. The fish had been purchased from the fishermen and the buyers said that there were no external lesions, the flesh felt firm, and the fish appeared healthy when purchased. The diseased tissue was only observed when the fish had been cut into steaks. When the diseased tissue was received at the St. John's Station, it was placed in plastic bags and taken to the Fish Inspection Lab of the Department of Fisheries of Canada. Here pure cultures of bacteria were obtained at various temperatures in the range in which the causative organism of -59-
furunculosis, Aeromonas salmonicida, grows best. These bacteria are presently being identifi ed biochemically. In addition, Atlantic salmon and brown trout parr were ino c ulated with bacteria from these cultures, held in isolated containers for . a few weeks, killed, and examined for symptoms of furunculosis, None of the pa rr exhibited symptoms of any disease s and it seems, therefore, that A. salmonicida has not been cultured. However, this does not necessarily mean that the disease was not caused by this pathogen. The tissues from which the bacteria u ere cultured had been exposed to bacteria normally present in the air and water as they were being readied for cooking. This treatment may have made it imposs ible to culture A. salmonicida. On the other hand, it is also possible that the disease may have been caused by a virus, and may not, therefore, be furunculosis. A. R. Murray --60-
COMMERCIAL INVERTEBRATES
Appendix No. 17 Lobsters
Biological sampling and fishing rates Field investigations were extended. to the northern part of the west coast and in late autumn to Bonavista Bay. Objects were to make preliminary estimates of rates of fishing, to take biological samples and to determine growth increments of males. Collections for fecundity were also made and a feasibility study for improvement of lobster habitat. Measurements of lobsters landed in the commercial fishery totalled 31,128 from 17 separate localities from Rocky Harbour to Pistolet Bay. Results from length frequency histograms of males indicated that the proportions of first-year recruits in the catches were 38 and 49% from 2 localities [Pistolet Bay (first fished commercially 2 years ago) and St. Margaret Bay], 53-66% from 11 localities and 69-72% from 4 localities (Table I). Biological samples were obtained monthly at Cow Head and Sally's Cove from May to October, from St. John Bay in July and August and from Bonavista Bay in October and November. Preliminary analysis indicated that these populations differed from those in North Arm and Port au Port Bay principally in size of crusher claw in males, coming in an intermediate position
Table I. Percentages of first-year recruits in commercial sizes of lobsters from the northwest coast of Newfoundland in 1966.
Percentage of first-year recruits No. Area (from 81-90 mm carapace length) Total Males Females males
1 Pistolet Bay 38 43 413 2 Flower's Cove Anchor Point 54 68 390 3 Black Duck Cove 53 68 823 4 Blue Cove-Bird Cove-Brig Bay 57 66 375 5 St. Margaret Bay 49 54 557 6 St. John Island Whale Island 60 58 1 1 2) 7 St. John Bay Area 61 62 1639 8 Port Saunders (Gargamelle) 69 76 886 9 River of Ponds 72 73 1370 10 Banks-Bateau Cove 72 73 977 11 Bellburns 59 56 296 12 Daniel's Hr. 65 60 1046 13 Parson's Pond-Three Mile Rock 64 62 498 14 St. Pauls-Cow Head 63 60 1416 15 Sally's Cove 63 61 1891 16 Lobster Cove 66 62 462 17 Neddies Hr. 70 71 155
- 61 - with respect t o these 2 localities although St. John Bay lobsters were very close in simil arity to North Arm lobsters.
Gr owth in cages at St. John Island indicated that increments of carapace lengt h near commercial sizes averaged 11 mm (7-13 mm) (14-17%) in males and 8 mm (6-10 mm) (9-l4%) in females. Co llections of nonovigerous, this-year ovigerous and last year ovigerous (wit h eggs ready to hatch) females were made for studies of fecundity from Cow Head, North Arm and Port au Port Bay. Preliminary assessment of methods of det ermining fecundity resolved that actual counts of eggs could be made approxima tely in the same amount of time required to calculate from volumes or wei ghts. Ea rly season storms caused the temporary wreck of all lobster gear set out this y ear on the northwest coast, but recovery of gear by fishermen to about two-t hirds fishing capacity was estimated. Since fishing rate estimates from the proportion of first-year recruits present in 1966 indicated a fishing rate for 1965 0 comparison will be made from measurements of the commercial cat ch in 1967.
H. J. Squires Feasibility study on the improvement to lobster cover, 22.221-22Iing_2111 the cliffs at Long Point„ Port an Port aay De scrip:ti.yeummary of the Long Point cliff;. Steep cliffs, standing at an files ranging from 50 to 80 degrees with the horizontal crop, are situated out a long the east side of Long Point on the west side of Port au Port Bay. The clif Cs, formed of silty limestone of the Middle Ordovician Long Point Group, r ise either directly from the sea or are separated from the sea by a narrow be, ach, usually less than 25 ft wide. The cliff-forming strata are massively jointed, only rarely sheared, and dip between 30 and 40 degrees northwest. The massive jointing and competence of these strata combined with consistent relative softness would permit rapid drilling of blast holes and a high proportion of large fragments when blasted with a fairly low velocity explosive.
No 3t of the cliffs are readily accessible to crawler type drills hence fairly arge holes, up to 40 ft deep, could be drilled at relatively low cost. Abol it 3 miles of cliff could be blasted with singular ease, Moreover the h( eight of the cliffs, 50-80 ft, and the remarkably consistent joint pattern would ensure that a high proportion of large fragments could be blasted out wards from the cliffs for as much as 70 or 80 yd. Smaller fragments, but still large enough to provide cover for lobsters, might be thrown as much as 100 yd.
Waters adjacent to the cliff range in depth from a few feet to about 10 ft and slope gently away from the shore, dropping to about 35 ft in depth at about 100 yd from shore.
In almost every respect the cliffed-shore was ideally suited for blasting.
Sea bottom in ad*acent waters. Five submarine traver ses were made across the sea bottom of 5 suitably situated cliffs. At each pla ce examined the nearshore up to 100 yd seawards was covered by abundant talus ranging in size from that of a book to 8 by 6 by 2 ft or even larger. These talus fragments would provide abundant shelter for lobsters. Indeed si milar talus in St. John Bay in northern Newfoundland and zones with much less talus in Port au Port Bay are commonly frequented by 'Deny lobsters. The ttalus slopes on the east side of Long Point however are distinguished by few 1 obsters, if any.
Additional comments.° Fauna included many Cancer crab s, flounders (main)y in the zone where tha talus becomes intermittent with san dy patches), shorthorn. sculpins (mainly in shallow water, 5-15 ft deep, on the seaweed- covered talus). The most abundant seaweed was a fuzzy light-brown alg, a. This alga covered more of the bottom than any other. On many of the large flat slabs in 4-5 ft of water fairly large patches of Chondcal and a pink corra. line were present° The water in the area was very murky. The entire but tom seemed to have a film of slub (silt, algae, etc.). It is possible that lob sters avoid areas where these conditions prevail even though the bottom is su itable in other respects. In most, if not all, of the places where sizable lobster populations have been found the bottom seemed to be cleaner, i.e. with no noticeable film of slub, and murky conditions occur only after prolonged heavy inshore winds. In good lobster fishing areas there are rel atively few seaweeds; if they are present it is usually in scattered cluar, ps. A noticeable exception to this is in North Arm where only a narrow band of bottom is available to lobsters, and they have been found living on tulx, slopes where there were very dense growths of Eugga, Luainaria, Amum and Asco2111112 sPP. q2aalaki2aa. (1) The shore and adjacent waters on tl ne east side of Long Point already contain abundant talus capable of providing cover for lobsters. (2) The talus is distributed within what may be eallec 1 the normal lobster range for Port au Port Bay. (3) Whereas several excellei it sites are present along the Long Point Cliffs, even the most effective blas ting would hardly increase the amount of cover by more than 10 or 15 percent, ) Factors other than the available cover govern the sparse distribution of : obsters along this shore. The feasibility study of cliffs and possible lobster 1 labitat improvement at Long Point led us to conclude that improvement of obster habitat in general should be undertaken only if adjacent to densely popul c ted lobster grounds° JusJust such an area was suggested by Prof. H. D. Lilly in North Arm, Bay of Islands, where a cliffed-shore overlooked an area of poor : obster habitat with few lobsters burrowed in. Nearby the lobsters were reatiy crowded in the available sover.
[We regret to report the death of Prof . Lilly in an automobile acc ident in early September, 1966.] H. D. Lilly G. P. Ennis H. J. Null es
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Sc alipins have been studied because they are predators of lobsters and are import ant elements in the lobster habitat which is also under study. Spawning and embryo development periods of shorthorn sculpins have been observed by Scuba divir Lg. Spawning took place in late November at 3°C. During development of ' the embryo minimum temperature recorded was -1.2°C. Hatching occurred in l ate March at 1°C. Depth and temperature relationships, age and growth, season al migrations and comparison of stocks are being investigated. Sampling montI Lly through summer and winter has progressed from 1964 to 1966, and approximat ,e2y 900 specimens of 5 species have been examined. Sampling has been effec ted by Scuba diving from 0 to 70 ft and collections obtained from Bay Bulls (1964-66), Port au Port Bay, Bay of Islands (1965), Cow Head, St. John Bay ( 1966), and Freshwater Bay, St. Johnvs (1966). Lobster and sculpin habitat classification includes observations on bottom types relevant to lobster shelters (sedimentation, rock types, topography) and related types of shoreline in Newfoundland. G. P. Ennis
Appendix No. 18 Oysters Mortalities Free plantings of oysters in Two-Guts barachois pond were examined in August. Twelve counts per square metre of adult and 9 of seed oysters revealed mortalities of 20% (11% last year) in adults and 4% (0% last year) in seed. In trays mortalities were 16% in adult and 1% in seed oysters.
Table I. Condition of oysters (Crasso trea) in Two-Guts barachois pond in 1965 (year of plantings and in 1966: percentage showing condition index.
Butler Adult oysters Seed oysters index Aug. 1965 Aug. 1966 Aug. 1965 Aug. 1966
1 24 22 53 4 2 36 27 35 26 3 26 29 12 30 4 12 9 22 5 2 9 7 6 4 11 7 8 9 10 64
Biolo ieal samples
Oysters from free plantings of seed and adults in August showed an improvement in condition over last year's samples (Table I), Growth
Measurements of oysters were repeated in October but mid-summer measurements were similar and indicated moderate growth of the shells of oysters in the trays.
H. J. Squix es
Appendix No. 19
Giant scallop
During the summer of 1966 biological investigations of the giant scallop [Placopecten magellanicua (Gmelin)] were conducted in Port au Port Bay, Newfoundland.
The Boswarlos bed was selected for intensive biologica 1 study because of its nearness to the shore. Weekly samples of about 100 scallops were obtained from the and of May through September; 2 further s am ples were obtained in October and November.. A total of 2171 live scallops was examined from the Boswarlos bed. Age, growth and maturity are of special i nterest in the present study. Samples of gonads were fixed in Bouin's soluti on for later histological study. An estimate of the condition of the scallop was attempted using the relationship between the weight of the adductor muscle ( the "eye") and the size and age of the scallop. All shells have been retaine d for age determination using the annual rings on the shell and for checking this with corresponding marks in the calcareous parts of the resilium.
Present fishing methods in Newfoundland are relatively primitive and dragging is largely carried on by small lobster-fishing boats. The Port au Port Fishermen's Producers Cooperative has, however, int'', oduced a larger boat which has been rigged specifically for scallop draggin g. Fishing in the Port au Port area is confined to 3 beds. The total landing s of scallop meats during the summer of 1966 were 7000 lb.
Casual observation by fishermen and from log book retu: ns indicate a definite decline in fishing effort since 1955. This is probably due to the opinion that the beds have been rendered commercially non-inviting by Nova Scotian draggers. A study of the efficiency of the fishing 0] Derations and of the fishing effort in the bay is also planned in an attempt to appraise changes in stock abundance.
K. S. Naidu.
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Appendix No. 20 Irish moaa Beds of Irish moss, Chondrus grispus, were surveyed in selected localities in Newfoundland during the summer of 1966. The moss was usually found growing in clumps on individual rocks and not forming continuous beds on bedrock. The exposure of the shore is believed to be important in limiting the distribution of this species. Areas of study on Newfoundlandls west coast included Port au Port Bay, Cow Head, Port au Choix, and Reefs Harbour in St. Margaret Bay. Major areas on the east coast were Wesleyville, Bonavista Bay, and Salmonier Arm, St. Mary's Bay. The physical environment and the associated flora and fauna were observed by boat and by snorkel diving. Fifty samples of Chondrus, from the low tide level to 3 fathoms, were hand-picked, and examined during the fall. Length and extent of branching of the fronds were measured to give an indication of size distribution in the populations. Estimates were made on the extent of encrustation by bryozoans and Spirorbis, and on the occurrence of epiphytic algae. A major portion of the work was an analysis, partly pantitative„ of the larger epifauria found on the fronds. It is hoped that this work will provide a description of the habitat of Irish moss in Newfoundland, and an indication of the kind and abundance of impurities which might be found on harvested moss. Observations were made on drifted seaweeds on beaches in St. Georgels Bay and north of Bonne Bay following storms. The major component of the masses of driftweed was Ptilota sp. Several other species were present including kuun sp., Laminaria sp., and Chondrus sp. Interest in these large quantities of seaweed has been expressed by industry who will make analyses of its marketable content. G. Lilly H. J. Squires
Appendix No. 21
Cephalopods Biological studies on the bait squid (Illex illegagmaug)
Nfld. south coact. A 30-ton vessel, the M.V. Rita Maxwell, was chartered from late June to mid-November and operated in Fortune and Hermitage Bays. Squi d were collected by means of a Japanese jigging apparatus. Sampling was don e in the field for length, sex and maturity, and parasites, and samples were preserved for laboratory studies of stomach contents, ova
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diameters, weights, etc. A total of 7300 squid was examined.
Hydrographic conditions were monitored from single lines of 5 stations in each of the 2 bays. Standard hydrographic sets comprised a BT cast and surface and bottom temperatures and salinities by means of Nansen bottles with attached reversing thermometers. In addition, temperatures and salinities were taken on the jigging grounds using a Beckman salinometer.
Nfld. east coast. A program was initiated at Holyrood, Conception Bay, this year to attempt to relate catch-per-unit-effort of squid to physical factors. Catch data were obtained by a casual employee working at Fishery. Products Ltd. Continuous records were kept of surface temperatures (using a Ryan thermograph), current speed and direction, and water temperature at 3 m and 15 m (using 2 Hydro Products Model 501 in situ recorders). Continuous wind records were obtained from nearby Golden Eagle Ltd. which maintains a Department of Transport anemometer.
Because of delays in obtaining equipment, this year's operation was largely preliminary in nature and complete data are not available. The program should be continued and concluded in 1967.
In addition, biological sampling continued at Holyrood where about 4500 specimens were examined.
The 1966 fishery in Newfoundland. Total landings in Newfoundland for 1966 were 10.5 million lb, down from 18 and 22 millions respectively in 1965 and 1964.
No forecast of abundance was made to the industry during the spring since none of our vessels were fishing on the southwest slope of the Grand Bank after May 15.
New England. In collaboration with Dr. Roland L. Wigley (Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass.) all available collections and data on Illex from New England (mostly collected by Wigley) were worked up. A paper on the distribution, growth and feeding of Illex in the New England area is now in preparation and should be ready for submission this summer.
Systematic studies on cephalopod collections
Work continued on the collections of odd species of cephalopods held in the St. John's Station; additional. material was obtained from the National Museum of Canada and St. Andrews and Nanaimo stations. It was found that with little additional work the report could be made complete for all species of the area and almost monographic in nature. The report dealing with the cephalopods of arctic and eastern Canada will resolve several systematic and nomenclatural problems but the status of some forms is still in doubt and must await revisional work. Because of this, description of the material will have to be rather detailed.
About 30 species have been taken so far. The collect! on is dominated (50 percent) by oceanic pelagic squids of wide distribut ion. Benthic species (mostly octopi) from the continental shelf and slope are n ext in -67-
abundance (40 percent). Remaining are only 3 species: 1 neritic, the other 2, bathypelagic slope forms. Undoubtedly as we allocate more of our fishing effort to the oceanic pelagic zone many additions will be recorded. M. C. Mercer