1

FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA

Biological Station

St. John's, Newfoundland

Circular No. 7

TITLE

Summary report on fishery investigations and groundfish landings in Newfoundland during 1959

AUTHORSHIP

Compiled by

A.M. Fleming

CONFIDENTIAL section of this Circular should No be quoted without permission of the authors.

Dated

SFPTEMBER, 1960

QUEEN'S PRINTER and CONTROLLER OF STATIONERY OTTAWA 87 F ISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA

Biological Station

St. John's, Newfoundland

Circular No. 7

TITLE

Summary report on fishery investigations and groundfish landings in Newfoundland during 1959

AUTHORSHIP

Compiled by

A.M. Fleming

CONFIDENTIAL No section of this Circular should be quoted without permission of the authors.

Dated

SFPTEMBER, 1960

QUEEN'S PRINTER and CONTROLLER OF STATIONERY OTTAWA 82 Preface

The Biological Station at St. John's is operated by the Fisheries Research Board of Canada for research on the fisheries in the Newfoundland area, especially on the important commercial groundfish species: cod, haddock, redfish, plaice (flounder) and witch flounder (greysole). The Station is responsible for the operation of the 177-foot research trawler A. T. Cameron for about two-thirds of the year and in addition, 3 other research boats, the 82-foot Investigator II, the 62-foot i'larinus and the 50-foot Parr. These vessels are used almost entirely in groundfish investigations, but considerable attention is devoted to hydrography and some research is undertaken on plankton and commercial invertebrates. Technicians of the groundfish investigations work throughout the year at St. John's and Burin, important landing centres for the offshore fisheries, and at various other ports which are important centres for inshore and offshore fisheries. In these areas landings are sampled and information gathered on the catch, including catch location, fishing effort and sizes and amounts of fish caught. Close co-operation is maintained with the Economics Branch, Department of Fisheries, Newfoundland Area, in the collection and compilation of Newfoundland groundfish landing statistics. In the preparation of this Circular, summaries of work by various members of the Station's scientific staff during 1959 have been used. This Circular is compiled primarily for the information of fishermen, fish plant managers, plant operators, etc. of the Newfoundland fishing industry, many of whom have assisted us throughout the years in carrying out our work.

A. M. Fleming

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sr Sr 50• 45". Reports on investigations, 1959

Haddock Haddock survey. The annual otter-trawl survey for haddock was made by the Investigator II on the southern half of the Grand Bank during the period Aay 1-9 in depths ranging from 25 to 100 fathoms. The positions where sets were made are shown in Fig. 1. All drags were of a half-hour's duration and a No. 36 otter trawl with the codend lined by 1 1/8-inch nylon netting was used. Bottom temperatures were unusually law, particularly in depths of 50-100 fathoms along the southwestern slope, where a tongue of cold Labrador Current water with temperatures less than zero degrees Centigrade is presumed to have penetrated the entire slope area. This cold layer originates from the eastern branch of the Labrador Current which flows along the eastern side of the Grand Bank and bends westward around the southern tip of the bank. As a result catches of haddock were generally poor over the entire area, except at one station in 50 fathoms about midway along the southwestern slope where a catch of 4,840 pounds was obtained in a half-hour drag (Table 1). While the Investigator II was carrying out the regular survey of the shallow areas of the bank, the A. T. Cameron explored the deeper areas of the southwestern slope, primarily for redfish. The A. T. Cameron used a No. 41 net and carried out half-hour drags. Haddock were present in all drags from 80 to 175 fathoms. Concentrations were found in 125 fathoms where catches of 2,300 and 4,000 pounds per half-hour's dragging were obtained at 2 locations just below the cold intermediate water layer (temperature approximately 00C.) which is present at 100 fathoms along the southwestern slope. Less than a month prior to the Grand Bank survey commercial draggers fished very dense concentrations of haddock in 120-140 fathoms and obtained very large catches in 10 to 20 minute drags. The otter-trawl survey over St. Pierre Bank was made by the Investigator II in June, and bottom temperature conditions were similar to those of the Grand Bank survey more than a month earlier. The positions where sets were made are shown in Fig. 1 and the catches obtained are listed in Table II. As in the surveys of 1957 and 1958, catches of haddock in 1959 were poor. The 4 largest catches per half-hour's dragging ranged from 360 to 900 pounds in 80-110 fathoms on the southwestern slope of the bank. There has been very little commercial fishing for haddock by Newfoundland trawlers on $t. Pierre Bank since the winter and early spring of 1956. It appears unlikely that there will be a fishery for haddock there in the near future since no year-classes have survived significantly since that of 1949. Length and age composition of Grand Bank haddock from research vessel cruises. From an examination of the sizes of haddock caught and age readings of otolith samples obtained from the Grand Bank haddock cruise in early Aay 1959 the most abundant

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Table 1. Grand Bank haddock surveys, April 30-May 8, 1958 and May 1-9, 1959.

Catch per 2-hour dragging (lb) Statio n Depth (Fath.) Temp. ( °C.) Cod Haddock Redfish number 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959

Line B 9 41 4o 0.9 -0.5 45 385 -- __ .11M ■ •••■• 8 42 40 1.4 0.2 90 180 -- -- 7 39 38 2.2 0.4 255 70 12 -- -- -- 6 40 38 2.3 0.2 400 115 1,800 -- -- 5 43 39 2.7 0.4 27o * 90 * __ * 4 48 49 3.7 0.4 300 10 1,800 * -- -- 3 65 65 3.2 0.7 -- 15 15 115 88o * 2 80 82 4.1 0.7 * lo 425 8 1,52o 4o 1 101 1.2 10 20 30 Line D 9 38 36 1.4 0.8 25 N.D. -- N.D. -- N.D. 8 36 32 1.8 0.9 6o 135 -- 170 __ __ 7 40 38 2.2 1.2 95 180 245 630 -- -- 6 40 40 2.8 0.9 265 270 855 20 -- -- 5 44 43 3.0 1.3 215 15 1,980 250 -- 4 49 50 1.7 0.3 85 45 1,440 4,840 -- 3 65 65 2.o -0.1 90 135 3o 45 400 5 2 80 80 2.0 -0.1 15 855 30 45 1,920 800 1 loo 0.6 475 90 1,95o Line F ■■ 9 33. 33 2.3 0.0 25 35 - - 8 27 26 2.6 1.0 360 270 ■ IN* ■ 7 32 32 2.4 1.5 90 135 30 225 6 35 36 2.3 1.7 140 115 200 160 5 40 39 2.8 2.0 35 205 900 315 4 43 51 2.0 -0.3 7 70 80 10 3 65 65 0.7 -0.5 180 115 5 5

2 80 84 0.4 -0.3 7o 655 5 80 8 1 100 3.2 430 810 2,350 Line H 8 31 26 3.0 0.2 5 25 35 -- - -- 7 32 30 2.6 1.3 10 180 180 225 -_ -- 6 32 32 1.9 1.8 8 45 80 520 -- -- 5 41 32 0.8 -- 5 180 * 565 -- -- 4 49 50 0.5 -0.4 15 5 6 - - 3 65 65 0.2 -0.5 * 305 -- 8 -- 2 8o 81 0.4 -0.5 90 90 -- 5 * * 1 101 -0.2 250 * 350

* Less than 5 lb N.D. MB net damaged Table II, St. Pierre Bank haddock surveys, May 17-25, 1958 and June 19-23, 1959.

Catch per i-hour dragging (lb) Station Depth (fath.) Temp. ( °C.) Cod Haddock Redfish number 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959

Group 1 A 33 31 3.2 1.4 90 90 8 -- -- - B 60 60 1.3 -0.6 810 270 * * -- -- C 81 78 1.4 -0.6 90 70 35 25 * -- D 110 110 4.6 2.6 45 70 115 900 120 400 E 160 140 4.8 4.5 * * 15 90 200 225 Group 2 F 30 3.1 N.D. N.D. N.D. G 40 40 2.5 -0.3 360 90 * * -- -- H 60 62 2.0 -0.5 210 135 -- * -- I 80 78 2.8 -0.7 20 360 45 720 -- -- J 110 108 4.7 1.3 -- 25 360 140 440 K 160 140 4.2 4.1 8 -- 20 30 400 40

Group 3 L 25 25 4.6 3.6 160 70 80 ------M 28 24 4.1 3.0 25 360 10 * -- -- N 29 28 3.4 1.0 90 N.D. * N.D. -- N.D. 0 28 29 3.2 1.7 125 115 * -- 1 I mo 11••••■• P 28 28 4.0 1.5 90 90 100 ------Q 25 27 4.2 3.2 * 160 * -- -- Group 4 R 29 28 4.1 1.8 90 N.D. 35 N.D. N.D. S 35 29 3.1 0.7 90 115 5 ------T 41 35 1.9 3.7 15 25 -- -- U 33 35 2.3 0.4 90 180 -- __ -- Group 5 V 30 30 3.0 0.3 30 115 ------W 23 21 5.0 2.9 N.D. 1,485 N.D. 10 N.D. -- X 25 25 4.2 1.1 2,340 70 * -- -.. -- Y 26 24 4.9 3.2 405 1,620 15 25 -- -- Z 33 26 2,8 3.5 190 205 -- 10 -- -- a 34 29 1.8 2.0 20 160 -- * -- -- Group 6 b 62 62 1.8 0.5 45 90 25 * -- __

c 80 81 3.4 0.1 170 205 80 65 * -- d 110 110 5.8 0.7 * 270 90 360 1 2 200 425 e 160 139 5.5 4.3 -- 5 -- 10 690 1,040 Group f 30 28 3.2 0.9 30 170 2.10 -- -- __ g 38 32 1.5 0.7 ------h 37 37 1.6 -0.1 135 45 -- -- __ * Less than 5 lb N.D. I, net damaged group presE nat was the 1955 year-class (4-year-old fish), with greatest nuImbers at about 13 inches in length, which accounted for nearly 50% by number of the research vessel catch (Fig. 2). The once VE ?ry abundant 1949 year-class (10 years old in 1959) has become red'. Iced significantly in numbers and accounted for only 7% of the c atch, whereas the moderately abundant year-classes of 1952 and 1S 53 together comprised 28% of the catch. The 1956 year-class which showed some promise in 1958 did not survive well, and initial .ly was probably not more than one-fifth as abundant as that of 195 ;5. The 1957 brood appears to have been a complete failure and the same is true of the 1958 year-class. n a survey of the deep-water areas along the southwestern slope of th e Grand Bank, the 1955 year-class (4-year-old fish) was

abundant at , all depth ranges from 47 - 50 fathoms to 117-196 fathoms, but it was evident that there was an increase in the numbers of older haddc ;ck as the water became deeper (Fig. 3). A cruise in July to the , shallowest part of the bank found very large concentrations of haddock of the 1955 and 1956 year-classes in capelin spawning

areas at 23 fathoms on the Southeast Shoal of the . Grand Bank, year- classes old er than that of 1955 being almost completely absent from the ca tches. it would appear that movement away from the bottom or o ther movement of haddock from the deeper wintering areas to th e shallower water of the Southeast Shoal of the Grand Bank in 195 9 was made principally by the younger year-classes, whereas the older mature haddock remained in the deeper water along the s lope and did not migrate so extensively. This is similar to the habits of cod off northeastern Newfoundland - the large older fish remaining all summer in the deep water and the younger fis h moving up in the water toward the shallower water which, in t. he east coast area, is only to be found inshore. ength and age composition of haddock in landings from

Newfoundlan d commercial trawlers, 1957 - 59. The length and age composition of the commercial landings of haddock from 1957 to 1959 indica to the rapid reduction in abundance of fish of the once very a bundant 1949 year-class. Those of 1952 and 1953 were moderately successful and contributed significantly to the catches during 1957 , 1958 and the early part of 1959, but they are declining i: n abundance rapidly (Fig. 4). In 1960 the 1955 year- class is till e only very abundant one on the Grand Bank and fish of this yea r-class have not all yet reached a marketable size. There is no evidence of any significant survival of year-classes sin ce that of 1955, and even if the 1959 brood has been successful in survivin; g, the 1955 brood alone cannot be expected to maintain the haddock fishery at a high level for the 5 years required for haddock of 7 the 1959 year-class to grow to marketable size. ausual occurrence of large quantities of haddock inshore.

Large quant ities of small Grand Bank haddock 12 - 16 inches in length appeared in shore along the eastern shore of the Avalon Peninsula during late June and July 1959 and were caught in large numbers by cod traps. They appeared to move northward along the east coast of Newfound: Land and did not remain in one place for more than a few days. The appearance of haddock along the east coast is unusual and may havi a been due to cold Labrador Current water, unsuitable -0--

2 .00 1956 Cruise - 50 C 100

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2001 47-50 fath 5 drags 3,382 fish caught

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Fig. 3. Length and age distribution of haddock by depth on the SW slope of the Grand Bank, A. T. Cameron cruise, May 1959. 200 1957 60 Jan. -June 40 100- 20

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1957 July-Dec. 40 g 100- 1 4.) 0 20 ,g -(1 • -1

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100- 1959 Jan. - June

12 16 20 24 Age (years) Length (inches)

Fig. 4. Length and age distribution of haddock landed in Newfoundla

by commercial trawlers, 1957 - 1959. for haddock, covering the bottom of the Grand Bank in early summer, thus forcing the haddock to move away from the bottom to the warmer water near the surface. (Bottom water temperatures on the southwestern Grand Bank in the summer of 1959 were much colder than usual and relatively unsuitable for haddock.) When the haddock are in the rather shallow surface layer of warm water, over water too cold for them to pass through to bottom, the vertical movements are restricted and the horizontal movements greatly increased until finally the haddock reach the only shallow water available near the western Grand Bank region i.e. the water near the coast of the Avalon Peninsula. On the eastern side of the Grand Bank in the shallow water of the Southeast Shoal there were also great concentrations of haddock of the same sizes as were found inshore. In October and November otter-trawlers were catching haddock on shallow banks in the vicinity of Cape Race. Catches of up to 5,000 lb per set were obtained. These were probably part of the schools which had moved northward in the summer and

by late autumn had moved southward again. , , i4o-cidcov

fiedfi s h Age and growth. A study, based on otolith age readings, of redfish age and growth in Hermitage Bay indicates that at the smallest length at which redfish are acceptable in the Canadian fishery, 10 inches, male redfish are about 10 years olcland female redfish approximately 9 years old. At a length of 12 inches males are about 16 years and females 12 years oa age. At 14-15 inches, which represents the usual peak sizes of the larger redfish from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the southwest coast of Newfoundland, male redfish are on the average more than 30 and females 19-25 years of age. Some specimens of both sexes apparently live to 50 years of age or more but in Hermitage Bay only about an inch additional growth in length occurs between 24 and 48 years of age.

Redfish surveys by A. T. Cameron. In 1959 the A. T. Camero n investigated 6 redfish areas which are shown in Fig. 5, In eac h area dragging was done on a series of lines usually in standa rd depths from 100 to 400 fathoms. Bottom temperatures and ba thythermograph records were obtained at each fishing statio n. Dragging was for a half-hour on bottom in each case and a No. 41 otter trawl was used with the cod end lined with 1 1/8-inch nylon netting.

During these investigations the distribution and abundance of the 2 types of redfish found in the area were studied. Aentella- type redfish are usually bright red in colour, have relatively large eyes, and, particularly in large specimens, have a pointed bony projection on the chin. These are the fish found in the deeper waters ndland which make up the bulk of the commercial catches usually. Marinus- type redfish are of an orange or yellowish colour, have a relatively small eye, and the bony projection on the lower jaw is usually quite blunt. These fish are generally found at shallower depths than the ;r, mentella-type fish. Dragging was carried out on 6 lines on the southwestern Ian slope of the Grand Bank from Apr. 29 to i4ay 14. All but 26 redfish ire were o f the mentella type. Fair catches of small redfish (1,000- 3,000 lb, with fish averaging 0.5-007 lb in weight) were obtained from 8 0 to 100 fathoms at temperatures from below 1 to 20C and again

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Fig. 5. Map showing various lines and areas of redfish survey cruises (excluding Baffin Island), A. T. Cameron, 1959. at 120-125 fathoms (1,400 and 3,100 lb, with fish of 0.9 and 0.6 lb average weight) at 4.1 and 1.7°C respectively. The largest catch (5,800 lb with fish averaging 1.3 lb) was at 290 fathoms and 4.0°C. At the greatest depth investigated, 400 fathoms, in 4 hauls the average catch was 5 redfish. Out of 19 drags between 130 and 300 fathoms, only 4 (the 5,800 lb mentioned above and 3 of 1,100-1,400 lb) produced more than 1,000 pounds of redfish. This is in contrast to the successful fishing of the Investigator II on the southwestern Grand Bank in former years when large catches of intermediate-sized red- fish were made between 130 and 200 fathoms. The shallow-water catches of small redfish in 80-120 fathoms also were much smaller than in former investigations. Here there is little redfish fishing except by United States vessels which have fished the 55. area very heavily. There appears to be a great reduction of the earlier redfish concentrations in this area, particularly between 120 and 200 fathoms. Redfish increased in size with increase in depth. Females were more plentiful than males in 125-250 fathoms but males were more plentiful in 80-100 fathoms and in the large catch at 290 fathoms. In this catch, most of the females had already spawned but at shallower depths where large males were scarce, females were mostly in a variety of stages preceding release of their larvae. The investigations on the southern and eastern slopes 0 50 of the Grand Bank were carried out between June 10 and July 21. Almost all the catch consisted of mentella-type redfish. The Largest catch, 13,000 pounds of small redfish (with fish averaging 0.7 lb), was obtained at 125 fathoms at Long. 50°3l' at the southern tip of the Grand Bank (bottom temperature 1.00C). On the southeastern part of the bank 3 large catches (9,600, 7,100, 8,400 lb; average weights 0.6, 0.7 and 1.1 lb) were taken at 165, 150 and 195 fathoms respectively, at bottom temperatures between 2 and 3°C. Northward, toward the middle and northeastern Grand Bank larger redfish were found, the largest catches being 6,000, 4,200 and 2,400 pounds at 170-175 fathoms (average weights 45' 1.3, 1.5 and 1.0 lb, bottom temperatures between 2 and 3 0 C), 4,200 pounds at 200 fathoms and 1,900 pounds at 250 fathoms (average weights 1.5 and 1.9 lb, bottom temperatures 3.0 and 3.4°C). Catches decreased gradually with depth. No commercial-sized catches of redfish were found below 250 fathoms. At 400 fathoms, the greatest depth fished, the average catch of redfish in 6 drags was 3 fish. Along the eastern slope of the Grand Bank (especially northward) commercial quantities of redfish lay deeper than on the southwestern slope and southern tip of the bank. This seems

40° correlated with the presence of very large redfish and scarcity of small redfish in the northeastern area rather than with temperature differences. with occasional exceptions, and these generally in small catches, the sizes of redfish on the individual lines increased with depth. During this survey 83 marinus-type redfish were caught, 70 of these in a single set at 125 fathoms, 2°C, at the south- eastern corner of the bank. lwith the exception of one marinus- type fish taken at 300 fathoms all the marinus-type redfish occurred in depths of 150 fathoms and shallower. On each line the large marinus-type fish occurred at shallower depths than the greatest catch of the smaller mentella-type fish. Thirty successful sets were made on the northeastern Newfoundland Shelf at and near the continental slope area from Hawke Channel to northeast of Fogo Island from Sept. 27 to Oct. 5. The 2 most northerly lines were in the area immediately south of -12-

Hawke Channel where a very great fishery for redfish was developed in 1958. In 1959, at least up to October, both commercial and research-vessel catches of redfish in this whole area proved to be disappointing. Of 30 successful sets by the Ao T. Cameron only 4 (1,700-2,600 lb per half-hour's dragging) approached minimum commercial quantity. One of these modest catches was taken at 135 fathoms (average weight 2.1 lb), 2 at 250 fathoms (average weights 1.7 and 2.1 lb) and the largest catch at 300 fathoms (average weight 2.3 lb). All 4 of these catches were obtained at bottom temperatures above 3°C. The sizes given above are of mentella-type redfish which usually made up almost all the catch. These mentella-type redfish were much larger than those of the southwestern Grand Bank and somewhat larger than those of the northeastern Grand Bank. Mentella-type redfish in this area were situated more deeply than in the areas to the south. The average catch in 4 sets at 400 fathoms, the greatest depth fished, was 26 redfish (average weight 2.1 lb). Although the marinus-type redfish were far outnumbered by the mentella type, they were considerably more abundant than in the more southern areas, and over 300 marinus-type redfish weighing 1,300 pounds (average 4 lb) were caught in 30 sets. The marinus-type fish were, as usual, considerably larger than the mentella-type. They also were found in considerably shallower depths, being most numerous at 140-200 fathoms. A total of only 12 marinus-type redfish occurred in 8 sets at 250 and 300 fathoms and none deeper than 300 fathoms. A survey of the Gulf of St. Lawrence was carried out in November when the A. T. Cameron combined with the Investigator II to carry out the biennial survey of this area. The commercial fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence began late in 1951 and the Gulf population of redfish of commercial size has evidently been seriousl reduced by the intensive fishing during the past 8 years. In the survey by the A. T. Cameron the largest catches (2,300-3,000 lb per half-hour's dragging) were at 140-150 fathoms off Bay of Islands. In the Gulf of St. Lawrence successful year-classes are extremely rare. In most years the recently extruded larval redfish are probably swept out of the Gulf by the surface current on the Cape Breton side of Cabot Strait and to a lesser degree on the Newfound- land side through the Strait of Belle Isle. A new and evidently very large successfulyear-class (with the greatest numbers about 5 1/2 inches in length) was found in many parts of the Gulf during this survey. These redfish will take about 5-6 years to reach the minimum length acceptable to the Canadian fleet and about 8-12 years to attain a length of 12 inches. It is a fair conclusion that, if fishing continues with the present mesh sizes of about 2 3/4 inches (internal measurement) and with redfish being caught at sizes even below 10 inches, because of their slow growth no significant number of these redfish will reach sizes beyond 12 inches. Only one marinus-type redfish was caught during the Gulf survey, the remaining redfish were of the mentella type. 13

)ed Only mentella-type redfish occurred in the catches on the Nova Scotian Shelf. Two 1Lies were completed during December (FigTMline A from the coast along the northeastern tip of ly Browns Bank and line D from off Halifax and running between Emerald and Sambro Banks. Both lines ended at a depth of 400 fathoms on the continental slope. The results confirmed our previous ideas that the greatest quantities of redfish on the southern half of the Nova Scotian Shelf were toward the coast where bottom temperatures of 3 to 4.0 are present, around elevations and the rims bordering depressions in the shelf where intermediate temperatures between 5 and 60C may be found and in deep water over 200 fathoms with e bottom temperatures between 4 1/2 and 5 1/20C. e On the seaward slope of the shelf in water shallower than 200 fathoms and with temperatures of 5.9 to 7.90C only small catches (less than 50 lb) of very tiny redfish (average weight 0.2 lb) were usually obtained. The only catches approaching commercial size were: on line A, a catch of 1,500 pounds on the continental slope at 210-250 fathoms (average weight 1.7 lb, bottom temperature 4.80C) and on line D, a catch of 1,700 pounds near the coast in 85 fathoms (average weight 0.7 lb, bottom temperature 4.20C), one of 3,200 pounds (average weight 1.6 lb, bottom temperature 5.10C) and one of 1,300 pounds (average weight 5 1.5 lb, bottom temperature 4.50C). Both of these were taken on the continental slope at 250 fathoms and 270-350 fathoms respec- tively. The 250-fathom catch of over 3,000 pounds of large redfish per half-hour's dragging indicates that in deep water in the I I vicinity of 250 fathoms on the continental slope of the central area of the Nova Scotian Shelf there may be commercial quantities if of large redfish. This was indicated by earlier investigations usly of the United States exploratory trawler Delaware. To take advantage of this fishery a trawler needs an echo sounder ranging er to 300 fathoms and a large and fast winch with long warps and heavy otter doors. During a cruise of the A. T. Cameron to Baffin Island, northern Labrador and Ungava Bay from Aug. 18 to Sept. 14, 1959, d- beginning with a line of stations off Cape Dyer at the southern end of Baffin Bay and at the northern end of the Davis Strait Ridge in Lat. 66042' to 66048'N and continuing in a group of stations, usually on each degree of latitude line as far south e as Lat. 580N, off Labrador, and also in Ungava Bay, fishing by otter trawl was carried out in depths generally of either 100 or 150 fathoms, or both and 200, 250, 300 and 400 fathoms. The lines and positions in which sets were made are shown in Fig. 6, the id On Line I off Cape Dyer only 2 small redfish were >f found and on Line II, Lat. 66.N, only one. One hundred and :h fourteen redfish were obtained on Line III at Lat. 650N and, thereafter, on more southern lines, redfish in varying numbers were usually present in the sets. Only a few small redfish, however, were found in Ungava Bay. No commercial catches of

- 14-

75* 70• 65' 60' 55. 50' 45. 70• I I I i I I I 1,1 I I I I I 1 I c : i 1 1 i• i I III I III. ".--.::,,t‘ ■ IP (N 1 % l, \ • i 1 .1 I c 1). ‘ ..1 ' ! ‘.::-:itz.,...... :::: BAFFIN BAY i —::-...... :: ii • •

D 'sN --- i 0, s Ss:\ \ t o_ D, v O r /, 1 s 2 3 4 I./ ■.N BAFFIN ISLAND ‘,9-0,3, ..., ...... h GREENLAND ‘1‘.. ... % , 1 / . I 90Valsinghorn 1\_ , Lezil II (,,..1 e, 1 ." 13 4.1 1..01.2...2 ,ilh'4, 1 sr 65' t Cape a a in 12 i t f' • i" SS i 44re) c /') "/;)u \ 1 i • ..,• •■.s. -r 14 Leybourne Is\ 0,.o■ ,, 15 c o ..0-- IV v I (-- 16 18 , %1,, (• •■t. oi Franklirt,ls. °,....7213 22 231 25 V -.: 19 21 ( 24 .-- 1-..., )=272- 27 31 0 N . 11 tr. 428. 32 VI 30 0..034 VII I_ABRADOR ' s' - \ \ 9;1X .---,...... If ;7' 33 '14°1,74i °2" -:s,- s !;438 ' . ( SEA -. Cop.? Chidley 0' 1 ie 3 0 456)3 47 X 60' . 46 VIII 3 , ,t 37 389 GAVA BAY '',' %01.1 IA 7 , ,%(t Y"49Itt ..‘° %:21 XI \,, 1.■

LABRADOR rs' ‘.■ :.

--\:----. 55. '' ,-, 1.-. 55' .,, .. ...., Th.:....\ . • . .i.

‘1 i..., 1

Coastline --- --.. •: 100 Mit ;1 ..\ 200 lath —••—••—•• —•. \ 1 NEWFOUNDLAND

1 1 . 1 i''.." .- -%1 c 1 I c" .•1 . cc 50' c Icc 70' 50 65' 60• 55• 50• 45. 40.

Fig. 6. Map showing location of otter-trawling sets by the A. T. Cameron Aug. 24-Sept. 10, 1959. -15-

redfish 1were,\ obtained over the whole area, the greatest quantities in a half '-hour's dragging being about 500 pounds at 297 fathoms (2.30C) c m Line IV at Lat. 640N and about 800 pounds at 35 fathoms 3.80C) on Line VI at Lat. 620N. The greatest catches of redfis h. were at the 300-fathom level, especially in the northern part of the area. Apart from a total of 11 large marinus-type fish obtained (10 at 300 fathoms and one at 400 fathoms) on all lines from Lat. 650N to 620N, all redfish definitely belonged to the mentella form typical of the Labrador-northern Grand Bank areas. Many mentella-type females, of large size for this type of redfis h, up to 19 inches in length were found from Lat. 640N southward s but, although in the southern Canadian area mentella- type fema les become sexually mature at 12 inches or smaller, all females wwere immature as far southwards as Lat. 620N. Surprisingly, also, all 8 marinus-type females encountered between Lat. 650N and 620N were immature, although they ranged in length from 21 to 26 inches. At Lat. 600N off Cape Chidley, Labrador, only 3% of 148 mente lla-type females, 12-19 inches in length, were sexually mature, wwhile farther southward at Lat, 580N off Labrador, 40% of 45 mentel la-type female redfish 12-18 1/2 inches in length were sexually mature. Small 2 to 5-inch mentella-type redfish were present in the catch from Line IV off Cumberland Sound (Lat. 640N) to Ungava Bay and w ere especially plentiful (173 individuals) at 155 fathoms (1.1°C) o n Line V north of Frobisher Bay (Lat. 630N). There was a small num ber of these little redfish in Ungava Bay but none were found on the 2 lines at Lat. 600 and 580N, off northern Labrador, Since red fish larvae and fry after extrusion live in the upper water lay ers for at least several months before settling to the bottom an( I since the course of the Labrador Current is rapidly southward , it is to be expected that any larvae produced at the

580N Lati ' tude line, the most northerly point where large numbers of sexual ly mature redfish were found, will generally settle much farther s )uthward. As far as is known, mentella-type redfish do not migra ' to long distances from the place in which they settle and northward migration, especially, would be extremely slow because it would lave to be against the Labrador Current. The distribution of these ;mall redfish at the northern stations indicates that they had recen t tly settled and had not migrated from the south. It is evident, therefore, that they must have drifted as larvae from West Greenland , The source of these young redfish, therefore, is evidently West Greenland. Although ages have not yet been estimated, the length of the more numerous group, with a peak length at 4 inches, indicates that they were possibly produced in 1957, a year when, as indicated by research workers in Green- land (Hansen, ICNAF Annual-Proceedings, Val. 8, 1958), that there was probably a greater than usual transfer of West Greenland water, with a resultant shift of cod larvae further west than usual. The same westward water movement is indicated by the higher than usual temperature conditions in 1957 in the deep water inhabited by -16- redfish off Labrador and off the northeast Newfoundland Shelf. There also appears to be an age-group one year younger, possessing a peak length at 3 inches. This group is dominant in Ungava Bay and is numerous also at the 155-fathom level on Line V at about Lat. 630N. If growth in this northern area is very slow it is possible that these smaller redfish, instead of the 4-inch fish, were produced in 1957. On the northern Lines III-V there were some 6 to 7-inch redfish and on Lines III-VI fair numbers of 8-to 9-inch redfish. The 6-to 7-inch group was not represented and the 8-to 9-inch group extremely scarce on Lines X and XI off northern Labrador. Similarly the 10-to 11-inch group was moderately numerous on Lines IV-VI off Baffin Island but scarcer off northern Labrador. Thus, not only the distribution of the very young 2-to 6-inch redfish but also that of 6-to 11-inch and even of 6-to 13-inch redfish point to a settling of redfish fry in the northern area off Baffin Island, mainly between Lat. 64° and 63°N and to a spreading out, chiefly southward, from the settling area. These redfish also pass deeper with age. In some years there may be some settling southward to Lat. 62°N and some of the larvae or fry may be drawn into Ungava Bay. The scarcity of larger redfish in Ungava Bay (only one male of about 9 inches and one redfish of 5 inches in addition to the 12 between 2 and 4 inches in length) indicates that the entrance of numerous redfish larvae into Ungava Bay, or at least their subsequent survival, is a rare occurrence. Apart from 3 male and 8 female marinus-type redfish, all between 21 and 26 inches in length, the remaining approximately 2,800 redfish captured were all mentella type. Since there were no small marinus-type redfish present on the Canadian side, the large marinus-type fish, 10 from 300 fathoms and one from 400 fathots, represent the downward extension of the occasional marinus-type fish from West Greenland on Line III and either are ones which have moved southward from the Davis Strait Ridge along the deeper parts Of Lines IV-VI or have come from a population which may exist in mid-water in the Labrador Sea. Opposed to the latter idea and in favor of the former is the lack of captures of marinus-type redfish on Lines X and XI off northern Labrador. On the other hand, the evidence available indicates that the mentella-type redfish of the area investigated come as larvae or larger fish from West Greenland. Although, in the deep 300- fathom water of Line IV, Lat. 640N, there may be occasional move- ments of large mentella-type fish from along the southern edge of the Davis Strait Ridge, there is general evidence of settling of the mentella-type fry in the shallower deep water off southern Baffin Island, especially at about 150-160 fathoms in rather cold water, a little over 1°C, and a growth to larger sizes as they pass deeper and spread out southward. Northward, the coldness of the water (-1°C at 150 fathoms, -0.5°C at 200 fathoms and 1.2°C at 300-390 fathoms on Line I) prevents the redfish from extending to the north and probably decreases the chances for successful survival of the floating larvae and fry, since nowhere were the small 2-to 6-inch redfish found deeper than 200 fathoms. i4any other kinds of fish beside redfish were taken during the cruise. Cod were caught in small quantities on the southern lines only. To the north Greenland halibut (turbot) were the dominant fish caught, but the greatest quantities of any fish encountered were of the round-nosed grenadier in the deeper water on all lines except in Ungava Bay. E. J Scznde rnQn

Cod

Labrador area, 1959. Collections of cod inshore along the Labrador coast were made during July and August by means of trap and jigger. Small collections were made offshore on 2 exploratory fishing cruises of the A. T. Cameron, including collections from Ungava Bay. Age readings from otoliths indicate a fair amount of difference in the success of various year-classes, though these differences are not extreme. txcept for 2 samples taken inshore, the age distributions all over the area showed that in general the 1950 and 1952 year-classes were most abundant. The 1949 year-class was poorly represented in most of the samples (Fig. 7).

Baby cod survey, east coast of Newfoundland, 1959. In September and October 1959,- a survey was begun on the east coast of Newfoundland to gather information on the distribution and relative abundance of small cod, including those hatched during the year as well as one- and 2-year-old fish. Since young cod are to be found near the shore in autumn a small Danish seine with a small-meshed codend lined with fine-meshed nylon was used in shallow water close to various beaches. Beaches were examined at various places on the southern shore of the Avalon Peninsula, in Conception Bay, Trinity Bay, Bonavista Bay, Sir Charles Hamilton Sound and Twillingate. Bottom conditions were found to be suitable for operating the seine on 31 of 76 beaches examined. Altogether, 64 sets were made, with young cod being caught in 42. The numbers of young cod taken were generally very low, with only 5 of the sets catching more than 500 Cod taken in the seine ranged in length from about 2 to 11 3/4 inches (Fig. 8). Cod up to about 4 1/2 inches were taken in largest numbers; these are the ones hatched during the year, with the greatest numbers of them being about 3 1/2 inches in length. One-year-olds, mostly around 6 1/2 to 7 inches in length, were scarce and only a few fish of 2 or more years of age were caught by seine. However, by using a small jigger in deeper waters of the beaches 2-, 3 - and 4-year-old fish were caught. Since this is the first year of the survey it is uncertain whether the numbers of fish less than one year old caught are indicative of a high survival from the 1959 spawning. However, one-year-old cod were relatively scarce, both in the catches and around the harbours visited, indicating a relatively poor survival from the 1958 spawning. On the other hand, though only a few 2-year-old cod were taken in the seine, the fiarly large number of them in the harbours is indicative of high survival from the 1957 spawning. 2C- 2J-Inshore 2J-Inshore 0 Trap 1561 fish 608 fish 10- 10 0 2o- 2j-Gready 2J-Gready Jigger 120 fish -20 120 fish 10- 10

C-- 0 204. 2J-Venison 20 4 Tickle 2J-Venison 4) a) Jigger Tickle 10 as403 - (> 600 120 fish fish H \ 0 co 2C 20 & 2H - 20 20 & 2H-Inshore 0 Inshore 600 fish -Pm 1C- Jigger 10 4) 600 fish ni +.) 4) a) 0 0 30- 30 2H-Hopedale S.4 a) a) Jigger ta .-14 20- 2H-Hopedale 20 120 fish ... 120 fish 10- 10

.-[\-- 0 28_ Baffin L. & Baffin I.& Ungava P $ Ungava Bay Bay 10 10- Tr wl 0 $ - 186 fish 0 0 0. °14 .._8 6 fish--,,r-- 2G & 2H-Offshore 181 fish 20° 2G & 2H - Offshore 0 ___ Trawl 2J-Offshore 10 10- -182 fish Trawl - 194 fish _ --.. ...-- 0 0 2 4 10 12 14 10 15 2 2 Age (years Length (inches)

Fig, 7. Age and length distribution of cod, combined by area and method of capture, Labrador, 1959. Length distributions are of all fish measured. Yer cent at each lengt h. 1958. about themiddle ofAugust.Catcheswerenotconsistently good even thoughthetotal trapcatchwasslightlyhigher thanin first weekinJune,withfishermen usingjiggersandbaitedhooks. remainder ofthe fishing period. and 15,300,000poundsin at Bonavistain early partoftheseasonanddid not improvegreatlyduringthe Catches weregenerallybelow1,000 poundsperdayfishedinthe from handlines(bothjiggersand baited hooks),30%fromtraps, as showninFig. longlines. the degreeofimprovementinBonavistaareawasquitesmall fishery. AlthoughtheshorefisherythroughoutNewfoundland 5% fromlinetrawlsoperatedbyhand fromsmallboatsand20% observations werecontinuedatBonavistaduringmostofthecod showed considerableimprovementin Fig. 8.aizesofBabycodcaughtbyseineinthesurvey, 0 1 2 3 2 The trapfishery began lateinJuneandcontinued till In The commercialcodfisheryatBonavista.In 1959 1959, 9. the small-boatfisherydidnotbegin untilthe About 9,600,000poundsofcodwerelanded 5 compared with8,790,000poundsin 1958 1957. 6 Length (inches) 7 Of the 1959 8 3,047 over thepreviousyear, 1959 9 fish total, 45%was 10 11 I 1959 12

1959.

-20-

Catch in millions of lb (fortnightly) 2.

1.5 1958.

1.0

Storms ti (1958) • 0.5 •

I \ Storms .3torm4 \ (1958) - . - (19L5_8) May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov

Fig. 9. Total catch by all gears in the Bonavista cod fishery, 1958 and 1959.

Linetrawl catches from late August to November were low, generally below 1,000 pounds per day fished. Fig. 10 compares results of fishing by handline in Bonavista from 1952 to 1959 and Fig, 11 shows the sizes of fish caught each year. From an examination of the sizes of fish caught on handlines from 1952 to 1959 it is obvious that the success of the fishery increased during these years with the entrance of a new group of fish to the fishery, indicated by the peak in the sizes around 20-21 inches in 1952 (Fig. 11). During the period 1953-1958 this group of fish made up the bulk of the handline catch, with the peak in the sizes increasing from just over 20 inches to about 25 inches as the fish grew from year to year. In 1958 the catches were considerably below previous years. This unusually low catch level was unioubtedly partly the result of bad weather and the lack of good bait for fishing. However, even with more favourable conditions in 1959 catches were still low. This was apparently due to the reduction in

-21-

Average catch per boat per day fished

2 '3 '55 '(:) Year Fig. 10 Average catch of cod per day in the handline fishery during July at Bonavista, 1952-1959.

numbers of those fish which had supported the handline fishery in past years. The future success of the Bonavista handline fishery will depend on a new group of fish indicated by a slight peak at about 20 inches shown in the size distribution of the handline catch in 1959. Fish of this size formed a major part Y, of the trap catch in 1959. The longline fishery in 1959 began on May 22; 9 boats operated fairly regularly for most of the season. The fishery .e was generally considered to be unsuccessful with a 27% decrease in cod landings compared with 1958. However, larger than usual catches of wolffish and American plaice, amounting to about 12% of the total, were made by the longliners in 1959. The large ish catch of American plaice indicates that the longliners were fishing in water too cold and too shallow for optimum catches of cod. The catch per unit of effort in 1959 was the lowest in the history of the fishery (Fig. 12). Though the yield per unit ulk of effort on the offshore, deep-water grounds has always been from greater than on the inshore grounds the difference between them year is considerably reduced, with the offshore unit-effort catch us declining rapidly toward the inshore level. There has been y the little change in the inshore catch per unit of effort in the past 3 years. In 1959, as in the 2 previous years, the offshore longlining areas were heavily exploited by large European otter

-22-

50 August, 1952 546 fish 2 5 (per day'S fishing7 0

25 0 75

50

ho 25

to 0 50 to • 25 Cd • 0 ,a) " 75 July, 1956 En •f 787 fish cH o 25

1) 0 50 July, 1957 493 fish 25

0

25 July, 1958 212 fish Fi 0 July, 1959 25 450 fish t 0 t a I i al I m r. 14 l 22 26 30 34 38 1 Length (inches) a 1.1 r

Fig. 110 Sizes of cod caught in the handline fishery, Bonavista 9 1952-19590 125

100 ffshore

75 Inshore -0- 50

25 Catch per line of gear (lb)

ffshore

nshore _ - -0,

Catch per trip (thousands of lb)

4

3

Total catch (millions of lb)

'52 '53 '54 '55 '56 '57 '58 '59 60 Year

Fig. 12. Catch and effort in the longline fishery, Bonavista, 1952-1959.

trawlers and longliners. These vessels began fishing cod in the deep-water grounds before the usual migration of large numbers of these cod to the coast had begun. Thus, it seems logical to assume that many of the fish which would have migrated inshore in June were caught earlier by the European vessels. This may have been a contributing factor in the relatively small concentrations of cod which occurred inshore in the Bonavista area in 1959. -24-

Between 1952 and 1958 the average size of cod caught by longliners at Bonavista was reduced by about 4 inches (Fig. 13 ). In 1959 the average size increased somewhat due to a further reduction in the numbers of smaller cod in the catch relative to the larger fish above 31 inches. The longline fishery for the past 4 or more years has depended largely for success upon the group of cod most of which are from 25 to 25 1/2 inches in length. Both inshore and offshore, fish of these sizes have been so reduced in numbers that it is likely that catches depending upon them must necessarily be low. A group of young fish entered the commercial trap fishery in 1959 but will probably need 3 or 4 more years before large numbers of them will remain in the deep offshore water through- out summer where they will be available to the longline fishery.

The cod-trap fishery in the St. John's area, 1957-1959. A study of catches and sizes of fish taken in the St. John's cod-trap fishery was intensified in 1957 and continued through 1958 and 1959. Fig. 14 shows comparison of the catches and the duration of the fishery each year. The beginning and duration of the fishery varied in the 3 years. In 1957 fishing began late in June and continued to the third week in August. In 1958 fishing began early in June and the season ended before the end of July. In 1959 fishing began in the third week in June and continued to the middle of August. eater temperatures in 1957 and 1959 were lower than in 1958. In 1957 and 1959, though the fishery began somewhat later than in 1958, cod were available to the traps until the middle of August because of being concen- trated inshore in the trapping areas by the cold water layer below a shallow layer of warmer surface water. In 1958, on the other hand, the warm surface water extended deeply enough for cod to descend below the range of the traps by the end of July. Exami- nation of the sizes of fish in the catch indicated that, in 1958, the decrease in catch per haul by the end of July was due to a reduction in the numbers of fish at all sizes as they moved out of the range of the traps. In 1957 and 1959 water temperatures in June were apparently still too low in the trapping areas for successful fishing and length measurements in 1959 indicated that smaller cod, which apparently can tolerate both lower and higher temperatures than the larger cod, were generally the only ones present. By early July sufficient warming and mixing had occurred in both years for more cod to enter the trapping areas. Much higher catches were then obtained and catches remained fairly high to the end of the fishery as cod were held inshore by the closeness to the surface of the cold water layer. Length measure- ments indicated that in July and August 1959 much greater numbers of larger cod were caught by traps than in June and the presence of these large fish was responsible for the catches rising to a higher level than earlier .in the season. In 1957 most of the cod in the catch during July were of larger sizes, but by August these were somewhat reduced in numbers and the number of fish of smaller sizes increased. r-harn ;ny /1to rnaua Pinhor -25-

10 Average size: 29.9 in. 15,690 fish per 1000 _AVg. 1 1952 lines 5

0 July, 1923 Average size: 29.1 in. 5 15,090 fish

a) 0 U) July, 19 •■-1 CH 10 Average size: 27.8 in. U) 19,670 fish 5

-d 0 Average size: 28.5 in. cj U 5 20,650 fish

0

'10 Average size: 27.2 in. 22,480 fish 4.4 5 o 0

5 Average size: 26.4 in. 16,440 fish 0 Average size: 26.1 in. 5 13,880 fish

0 Average size: 27.4 in. 5 10,251 fish

0 I I • 15 20 24 2 32 36 40 4- Length (inches)

Fig. 13. Sizes of cod .caught in the longline fishery, Bonavista, 1952-1959. - 2E—

7

6

5

(n 4 z co 3 O E-4 2

1

June June July July Aug. Aug. 1-15 16-30 1-15 16-31 1-15 16-31

Fig. 14. Catch per unit of effort in the cod-trap fishery, St. John's, 1957-1959.

American plaice From the 1954 tagging on the northeast slope of the Grand Bank to March 1960 a return of approximately 5% had been recorded. Most of these were taken within a 75 mile radius of the tagging locality. However, a few returns indicated a general westward and southwestward movement; one tagged fish was recaptured near Sable Island. The St. Mary's Bay tagging of 1954 would seem to indicate no movement of plaice to offshor bank areas. One thousand plaice were tagged on the southern an southeastern slope of the Grand Bank during the past year. A study of the catch per unit of effort (hours dragging) of plaice by commercial trawlers on the Grand Bank for 1953-1958 indicates a sustaining yield in the north and northeast part of the bank, a fluctuating condition on the central eastern slope and a somewhat declining trend on the southern and southeastern slopes (Fig. 15).

Groundfish catch and effort Groundfish landings in Newfoundland from the commercial fishery, 1959. The amounts of, the principal commer- cial groundfish species landed annually in Newfoundland for the period 1952-1959 are illustrated in Fig. 16. - • -

-27-

54° 53° 52° 5I° 50° 49° 48° 47° 49° 49°

/ 1

LESS THAN 100 HOURS FISHING . ■ \.. — _ c-r 3,000 — -- -; spool- 48° O A I , 48° w 1.2,500 — L' 4000 W 3,000 P00

cr 1,500 — poo w • 1000 — x ' 1,000

<3( 500 0

47° 47. 2,500

2000 / 1,500 0"" ipoo

• 500 E 3,000 — 46' — 46• ce 2,500 — w a. x 2,000 —

• LI 1,500 —

1,000 —

500 —

45' 45•

2,000 ..... 1,500

1,000 ..... • ,... ., \ cr ...., • /500 W • \ ‘. \ 44° 5,, , \ 1 44° \ z • • S D 3000 \ • . .... w • a 2,500 x F 2000 • t 1,500

1,000 43• — 43'

54• 53• 52' 51 • 50° 49° 48° 47•

Fi g. 15. Catch per unit of effort by commercial trawlers fo r plaice on the Grand Bank, 1953-1958. -28-

,a6 - Cod Plaice - 30

(;- 2 u) 5 - 25 0 4 -20 f-4

•S'-i 3

0 2 a) 1 5

0 4 4 0 Haddock - 8 -6 -4 0

ti G

- Redfish Halibut, Woiffish - 2.0 Pollock P - 1. 5 co P W - 1.0 t. W - 0.5 rH H H H H H H 4, 4 -4— 0 54 '56 '58 5 2 `54 56 Year Year

Fig. 16, Landings of the principal commercial groundfish species (round weight) in Newfoundland, 1952-1959. Figures in columns denote portions from IONAF Subareas 2, 3 and 4.

During 1959 there was an increase over the previous year in the total groundfish landed in Newfoundland ports. This resulted mainly from a 40% increase in cod over the relatively poor landings in 1958. This increase is a reflection of a generally successful inshore fishery using traps, handlines and longlines. More favourable weather in 1959 and adequate supplies of bait throughout the season contributed greatly to -2 9-

the success of the shore fishery. AS usual, the otter-trawl fishery offshore contributed little to the cod landings. haddock form one of the most important species in o t ter-trawler catches. However, the catch by Newfoundland vessels has been declining since 1956 and landings from the 1959 fishery were about 10% lower than in 1958. The 1959 fishery was almost entirely on the Grand Bank but concentrations of haddock sufficient for commercial fishing occurred for only a short period, mainly in March and April, when about 50% of the year's total was landed. Redfish are an important part of otter-trawl catches. In 1959, however, the total landed was about 40% less than in 1958. In fact, the 1959 landing of redfish was the smallest for a number of years. There was no fishery by Newfoundland ships in the Labrador area (ICNAF Subarea 2) in 1959. The fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (ICNAF Subarea 4) was extremely poor, with landings amounting to considerably less than half the 1958 total. Also, though as a result of the poor fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence there probably was additional effort concentrated on the Grand Bank (ICNAF Subarea 3), the catch of redfish from this region was smaller than in 1958. The principal plaice fishery is by otter trawler on the eastern and northern parts of the Grand Bank. Plaice landings in Newfoundland increased again in 1959 and were about 25% higher than in 1958. Heavy concentration of effort occurred for plaice from late spring to the autumn during the period of haddock and redfish scarcity. This concentration was the major factor in the increased larding of plaice in 1959. Greysole (witch) are caught by otter trawl and Danish seine. The otter-trawler catch is made principally during the fishery for haddock on the southwest edge of the Grand Bank and when the haddock fishery is of short duration, as in 1959, the total otter-trawl greysole catch is generally low. Thus, in 1959 the landings of greysole by otter trawlers were less by about 30% than the 1958 landings. Much smaller landings were contributed by the Danish seine fishery. This was principally in St. George's Bay again in 1959, but most of the fish caught Les were landed in Nova Scotian ports. The Newfoundland landings in 1959 were only about one-third as great as in 1958. Since there is little special effort devoted to the ca tching of halibut, wolffish and pollock, the landings of these sp ecies continue to be small, considerably below the potential av ailable. on Fi shing boats Les Several thousand small open boats (25-35 feet, less th an 25 tons) are used in the inshore fishery for cod. New co nstruction for the inshore fishery generally consists of a -30- larger type of boat, around 50 feet in length and around 25 tons gross. These, however, are being constructed in small numbers only, and with the retirement of many of the older con- verted boats, the overall increase in numbers is small. The Danish seine fleet, as is to be expected from the relatively small fishery, consists of a few boats only, with 6 operating into Newfoundland ports during 1959. A small increase occurred in the otter-trawler fleet, 2 ships being added to the 151-500 gross-tons class late in the season; this was somewhat offset by the loss at sea of one ship of this class. In the 51-150 tons class there were 3 ships, the same as in 1958; and one in the 0-50 tons class, one less than in 1958. fi- Fic /)3.9. Statistical Summary

Commercial groundfish landings in Newfoundland, 1959 •

-32-

50

40

30 1958 20

10

0 ma. a) 71 30 r 20

O 10 4.)

0- u 1959 Redfish • 20 1958 10

COa) 0

•ri 43 2 0 a) 0 10 a)

40 Witch 30 1958 20

10

■ ■■■ •• •••• 0 M M J J Months Landings in Newfoundland of the principal groundfish species by month, 1958 and 1959. (For each species, expressed as per cent in each month of the total landed). Total landings of groundfish in Newfoundland, 1959 (species by months). Weights in thousands of pounds round fresh.

Month uod Haddock Redfish Plaice traitch Halibut Volffish Pollock Hake

Jan. 1,513 7,904 282 548 154 17 10 77 19 Feb. 2,680 2,772 306 365 260 15 32 44 9 Mar. 4,484 7,789 139 1,345 49 20 96 94 12 Apr. 6,350 11,354 77 237 987 110 111 64 22 May 7,097 2,544 1,490 2,965 484 109 41 217 48 June 84,677 215 2,757 3,639 255 152 119 137 92 July 239,284 83 2,634 2,824 144 128 143 33 11 w1 Aug. 89,768 226 3,317 2,827 138 36 117 16 9 w Sept. 45,452 49 2,888 3,565 89 18 123 47 24 1 Oct. 22,207 492 482 4,689 118 24 94 58 28 Nov. 5,231 1,418 276 3,060 136 16 38 27 29 Dec. 2,068 222 325 3,165 57 6 12 14 6

Total 510,811 35,068 14,973 29,229 2,871 651 936 828 309

Conversion factors: Halibut round to head-off gutted weight, multiply by 0.74; cod, haddock, wolffish, pollock and hake to head-on, gutted weight, multiply by 0.83. • • •

4 ).. Cod 1958 3 Y- _2 2 1- 1959 1 >-- pm--, al t / a) 7 7:1 sr- Haddock r= Hc 3 H 2

-I-) o 1

CH ."1-1 -,,-- ----• • 3 )- o 2 Hedfish ig 7 "-I 1 -cs 0 4 3 r (.) Plaice ctia, 4 ).- E3 ',. a 2 , 4-3 1 (T) A C.) P w: . A , - - a) Witch 3 .._ 2 1 - ,.....- % , wir'i FM H JKLMNO P-N P-3 H T V-N 2 3

Landings in Newfoundland of the principal groundfish species from various ICNAF Subdivisions, 1958 and 1959. (For each species, expressed as per cent from each Subdivision of the total landed.) Landings of groundfish in Newfoundland, 1959 (species by ICNAF Subdivision). Weights in thousands of pounds round fresh. Subdivision God Haddock Redfish Plaice Witch Halibut Wolffish Pollock Hake

2G 7 2H 2,915 -- 2J 38,654 -- -- Total 41,576 3K 124,041 -- 5 2 -- 3L 193,906 1,434 72 16,742 21 19 439 1 3N 1,945 5,257 16 36 3 16 30 2,667 26,306 3'1592,127 9, M 1,339Y3'39 96 103 67 21 3PN 10,807 71 23 47 1 209 53 -- -- w1 3PS 78,154 1,734 5,668 2,787 1,092 161 281 725 268 ..n Total 411,520 34,802 11,049 28,958 2,621 503 912 795 306

4R 57,540 155 2,941 207 181 144 21 6 3 4S 16 2 974 1 8 3 3 -- 4T 130 60 9 60 60 27 4VN -- -- 1 1 4VS 29 49 2 1

Total 57,715 266 3,924 271 250 148 24 33 3 Total All Subareas 510,811 35,068 14,973 29,229 2,871 651 936 828 309

Conversion factors: Halibut round to head-off gutted weight, multiply by 0.74; cod, haddock, wolffish, pollock and hake to head-on, gutted weight, multiply by 0.83. Landings of groundfish in Newfuandlandi 1959 (species by type of boat). Weights in thousands of pounds round fresh

Cod Haddock Redfish Plaice Witch Halibut Wolffish Pollock Hake

Inshore boats (small, open boats and longliners below 26 gross tons) Subarea 2 41,576 -- __ -- -- Subarea 3 389,497 251 70 1,192 8 155 189 391 154 Subarea 4 56,826 22 85 117 8 — Total 487,899 273 70 1,277 8 272 197 391 154

Otter trawlers (40 - 399 gross tons) Subarea 2 Subarea 3 15,591 34,494 10,941 27,422 1,967 216 487 392 123 Subarea 4 595 242 3,924 168 164 15 11 32 3 rn Total 16,186 34,736 14,865 27,590 2,131 231 498 424 126

Danish seiners (29 - 54 gross tons) Subarea 2 -- -- Subarea 3 27 10 27 5 646 1 4 18 Subarea 4 5 1 10 86 1 Total 32 11 27 15 732 1 5 18 Longliners (26-50 gross tons) Subarea 2 -- -- Subarea 3 6,405 47 11 339 -- 131 232 12\ 11 Subarea 4 289 1 8 -- 16 4 1 Total 6,694 48 11 347 147 236 13 11 Total All Boats 510,811 35,068 14,973 29,229 2,871 651 936 ''.828 309 Conversion factors: Halibut round to head-off gutted weight, multirlh by 0.74; cod, haddock, wolfish, pollock and hake to head-on, gutted weight, multiply by C.3.