FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF

Biological Station

St. John's,

Circular No. 6

TITLE

Summary report on fishery investigations and groundfish landings in Newfoundland during 1958

AUTHORSHIP

Compiled by

A.M. Fleming

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

Dated

SEPTEMBER, 1959

QUEEN'S PRINTER and CONTROLLER. OF STATIONERY OTTAWA 82 ISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA

Biological Station

St. John's, Newfoundland

Circular No. 6

TITLE

Summary report on fishery investigations and groundfish landings in Newfoundland during 1958

AUTHORSHIP

Compiled by

A.M. Fleming

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

Dated

SEPTEMBER, 1959

QUEEN'S PRINTER and CONTROLLER OF STATIONERY OTTAWA 81

Preface

The Biological Station at St. John's is operated by The Fisheries Research Board of Canada for research on the fisheries of Newfoundland, especially on the important commercial groundfish species: cod, haddock, redfish, American plaice (flounder) and witch flounder (greysole). The Station operates two research trawlers, the 82-foot Investigator II and the 62-foot Marinus. In addition, the new 177-foot research trawler A. T. Cameron, which began working for the Fisheries Research Board in November 1958, is under the direction of the St. John's Station for two-thirds of each year. During 1958 three additional vessels were chartered for special projects, with financial support from the Industrial Development Service of the Department of Fisheries, Ottawa. The Matthew II conducted researches and explorations on herring, the Fortune Breeze on shrimp, and the Sandy Point on scallops. Technicians of the groundfish investigations work througho iut the year at St. John's and Burin, important landing centres for the offshore fisheries; at Bonavista, an important centre for the shore cod fishery, throughout the fishing season; and at other ports which are important fishing centres. In these ar .eas, landed catches are sampled and information is collecte d on catch, including catch location, fishing effort, and size z and amounts of fish caught. Close co-operation is maintained with the Economics Branch, Department of Fisheries, Newfoundland Area, in the collect i on and compilation of Newfoundland groundfish landing statisti CS. In the preparation of this Circular, summaries of work by vario us members of the Station's scientific staff during 1958 have bee m used. This Circular is compiled primarily for the information of fishe men, fish plant managers, plant operators, etc. of the Newfound land fishing industry, many of whom have assisted us through: ut the years in carrying out our work.

A. M. Fleming

650 600 55. 50° 4.5 0

60 600

Lake Melvi116 ----1 Hawke Bay Cape Bauld Hare Bay White Bay Notre Dame Bay Cape Freels Bonavista Bay Cape Bonavista Trinity Bay Conception Bay St. John's 55 St. Mary's Bay 55° Burin Isle aux Morts

I d QUEBEC / / 3 K 50 Jr/ 50°

OF; ' ) 1, 10 it.'1AwR44c4 NEWFOUNDLAN s-1„ ...... , 13 3L .1\ H V .1 cYsiypr,4 rt, ♦ V CAP?

4VN na ; \ ' 1riT J.Ei , r GRAND BANK . ,.„ ... 1 AkiN K., , 1) . , .,. e,.. / .a \ \ \... ••., ',fry c., .,,, . 3M fr.. 1 .5.._/.:4-. CS\ , \\ 1..S r —..4..4 l I ■ /-.....1•••;.• • ••• r-•••••, ‘ ,:...„) , ,-, 5° , .%:, ..-..:J \ .1. --- . • 30 ; 1/4.... , 1.- ••••■ ,,., ,.. ,'‘.) ps i - s',, ;-",!.' '.,.t...;.-;--.).: .c..------.,.-- \ • ... t i/Y 3N i I, ,...... , p •• •• ...... - . 1 ",., ‘, \ \ 4): It. ti s'.41:' : .., . .

\ --',.1.•'"' ■ Map of Newfoundland area showing ICNAF Subdivisions Reports on investigations 9 1958

Haddock Haddock survey. The regular otter-trawling surveys for haddock were carried out in May by the Investigator II on the Grand Bank and St. Pierre Bank. Although the Grand Bank survey in 1958 was nearly a month earlier than in 1957 9 water temperatures at the bottom were, on the average, higher in 19580 As was found in 1957 the haddock had already moved northeastward from their winter quarters in the deeper water of the southwest slope of the Grand Bank and were spread over much of the southern half of the bank. As a result they were not abundant at any station fished by the Investigator II (Fig. 1). In the area, as a whole 9 haddock were not quite as abundant as in 1957. It seems that 9 because of the more favourable temperature conditions over the bank in 1958 9 the haddock scattered over the area earlier than usual. The principal commercial fishery for haddock on the Grand Bank occurs when the haddock are concentrated on the southwest slope, and declines when they disperse over the shallower parts of the Bank.. In 1958 decline in haddock landings from the Grand Bank occurred about a month earlier than in 19570 On St. Pierre Bank the survey for haddock was carried out five weeks earlier than in 1957. Bottom temperatures were found to be favourable over the entire bank. However 9 as in 1957 9 no significant quantities of haddock were taken, indicating that there has been no significant survival of haddock on St. Pierre Bank since the extremely abundant 1949 year-class, which was heavily fished during 1954 to 19560 V. M. Hodder W. Templeman

Sizes and ages of Grand Bank haddock caught by research vessel. In catches of the research vessel Investigator II from the Grand Bank in May 1958 9 haddock of the 1955 year-class (three- year-olds in 1958) were the most plentiful. Most of these were about 12 inches in length and made up more than 50% of the number of haddock in the research vessel catches. In 1957 haddock of the 1955 year-class were mostly about 10 inches in length. The once very abundant 1949 year-class of haddock has been very much reduced in numbers, and accounted for only 10% of the number of haddock in the research vessel catches. The 1952 year-class (mostly about 15 inches in length) and the 1953 class (mostly about 16 inches in length) 9 which made important contributions to the 1958 commercial fishery, were found to be on the decline. The year-classes of 1956 and 1957 did not appear to have survived very well (Fig. 2).

2

53 0 52° 510 500 463 + 6 0

0 • —0 Deep '.2) 340 • 0

180 50 41 c". •kcji 325 ,. • 245 ) • 20---N. • $ 5 •s,725 ! 4s, z,3 2.250 . 4253., .. . x qo, • /9980 275 • \ SE (,, 200 ; Shoal 5 4-4° 4° )6 '.. \\\ °LIU ./ . \ 1,440 ,0,,---7.:'...) 014,5 4. 1 2 150. i _.,/-) V/ A 9 00 / :,:m / .,/•-) 15‘'75- \

30 OLIII" ) . 15- ,. 35 25 80-/' ' ... 1 4:----_135 25 0 % 180 -120— \ ., N-. 675 • , . 0 'b 3 ../); , • • ..... 43 430 0 0

3° 52 ° 51° 50° 49° . . Fig. 1. Stations occupied by the research vessel Investigator II and catches (lb.) obtained per i-hour's dragging in carrying out the regular otter-trawling survey for haddock on the Grand Bank in May. In each case the figure above the line is the 1957 catch, below the line the 1958 catch. 3

I I 1 1 III II II 14.0 A Length distribution / / / fo 120 11 1 1 -----1957 1:1100

C

(1)/-1 60

$-, 40 .13 a 20 •

I Ili 11111 6 8 10 12 14 1 6 18 20 inches '55 Age composition in 1957 (171 fish) 4.0

w 20 49 an '53 C) P56 O 0 Age composition in 1958 (487 fish,

40 111 ra

20 ?a '49

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Age (years) Fig. 2'. Length and age composition of Grand Rank haddock from the research vessel's cruises in 1957 and 1958. -

5 — Subdivision 30 January-March 18,277 fish 10 measured

5 0 0 ,00n 0 April-June 0 Subdivisibn 30 1.4° 10 3,801 fish 0 measured P.,

(i) 5 4-) ao %a 0 cH July-September o 10 Subdivision 3N z 2,982 fish 0 measured 4-) O 5

4-) M 0 10 Subdivision October-December:- 3N 5,740 fish 5 measured

1 III I I I 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 Length (inches) Fig. 3. Sizes of haddock landed by Newfoundland commercial trawlers in 19580 The 1955 year-class can be expected to contribute significantly to the commercial haddock fishery in 1959 and even more so in 19600 V. M. Hodder

Sizes of haddock landed by commercial trawlers. In 1958, for the first half of the year, the principal fishery for haddock by the Newfoundland commercial fleet was concentrated in the southwestern Grand Bank area (ICNAF Subdivision 30). Haddock landed from this fishery ranged in length mainly from 13 to 20 inches, with the greatest numbers being around 15 to 16 inches in length. Most of these were fish of the 1952 and 1953 year-classes. In the second half of 1958 a limited fishery occurred in the southeastern Grand Bank area (ICNAF Subdivision 3N). Haddock landed were from 12 to 20 inches in length mainly. Two main groups could be distinguished in these haddock. One, with greatest numbers about 13 inches in length, contained many of the larger fish of the 1955 year-class; and the other, with greatest numbers about 16 inches in length, was made up principally of haddock from the 1952 and 1953 year-classes (Fig. 3)0 A. M. Fleming V. M. Hodder

Redfish Flemish Cap. Large catches of redfish were obtained in the Flemish Cap area in 1950 by the Investigator II. Since then the Station has conducted research from time to time in this region. As yet, however, few Canadian commercial trawlers have attempted to fish redfish in the area, although large fishing trawlers of the U.S.S.R. have caught many millions of pounds of redfish there since 19560 In November 1958, with the research trawler A. T.

Cameron , the distribution of redfish at various depths between 112 and 410 fathoms in areas on the north and northeast slope of Flemish Cap was investigated. Investigations in various parts of the Newfoundland area have shown conclusively that two types of redfish exist in the area. The redfish which make up practically all of the catches of Newfoundland fishing trawlers are referred to in this Circular as mentella-type redfish. These are bright red in colour, have a relatively large eye, and, particularly in large specimens, a long and pointed bony projection from the chin. These are usually found in deeper water than the other type of redfish, the marinus type. The marinus-type redfish are orange or yellowish 6 - in colour, they have a relatively small eye, and the bony projection from the chin is generally very blunt and short. These are found mostly in the shallower parts of the deep water. In the Flemish Cap area marinus-type redfish were found to be abundant in the shallower water from 112 to 150 fathoms 9 and from 62 to 78% of the numbers of redfish caught in sets at these depths were marinus-type fish. In two sets at 200 fathoms, less than 2% of the fish caught were marinus type 9 at 250 fathoms less than 1% of the fish caught were marinus type 9 and at depths greater than 250 fathoms no marinus-type fish were found. The largest catches occurred during the midday period in 150 fathoms where 6 9 200 and 7 9 300 lb. of redfish were caught per hour's dragging. These catches consisted mainly of large marinus-type fish averaging approximately 2 lb. in weight. At 200 to 300 fathoms 9 the catches decreased to between 3,000 and 5 9 000 lb. of redfish per hour 9 s dragging. Here very few marinus• type redfish were present but greater numbers of the smaller 9 300 fathoms deep-water, mentella-type fish were taken. Below catches were reduced and at 400 fathoms 9 in a 40-minute drag 9 only seven fish were taken. In sets made at 150 fathoms it was found that the catch at 1920 P.M. (707 lb. per hour's dragging) was only 11% of the catch at 3010 P.M. Though these sets did not occur in the same day or in exactly the same position, the difference in the catches can probably be attributed mainly to the fish moving away from the bottom in hours of darkness. The difference in catches at the different hours was more pronounced for marinus type than mentella=type fish. E. J. Sandeman

New commercial redfish area off Labrador. In 1958 commercial fishing began off Labrador Subarea 2 of ICNAF) in an area off Hawke Harbour which was first fished by the Investigator in September 1951. The part of this new commercial fishing area fished by Newfoundland trawlers is about 120 nautical miles soutl of the area east of Hamilton Inlet Bank which has been fished successfully for redfish by the Investigator II 9 usually in Augu! or September. The Investigator II fished from about 140 fathoms down to about 200 fathoms in each year from 1950 to 1953 and down to 300 to 400 fathoms in 1954, 1956, 1957 and 1958• Redfish fishing in this new commercial area off Hawke Harbour has been very successful and has been participated in by Canadian 9 United States, and apparently by Icelandic 9 German, Belgian and Russian trawlers. Approximately 160 million pounds of redfish were caught in 1958 in this and the deeper areas further offshore. The Newfoundland fishery occurred mainly =7=

between 150 and 180 fathoms (occasionally 125 to 200 fathoms) in late August 1958, and resulted in a catch of between two ro and three million pounds of redfish. These catches were all from ICNAF Subdivision 2J, mainly between Lat. 52 0 45' and 52000 , N and Long. 52010 4 and 52040'W, and with good catches also about 60 nautical miles west and 40 nautical miles north of this area. The northern part of the Newfoundland fishing area was on the southeastern part of the Hamilton Inlet Bank and the more southern fishery, which was much greater, was on the fringes of an indentation in the continental shelf below 200 fathoms leading toward Hawke Bay. Sampling of some of the commercial catches from the D d area has shown that fair numbers of marinus-type fish occurred and between Aug. 25 and Sept. 25, ,1958, when 1% of a total catch of 1,491,450 lb. was examined, 11% by number were found to be marinus-type fish. Since specimens of marinus type were on the average more than twice as heavy as an average specimen of IS- mentella type, the marinus type was considerably more important by weight than by relative number. The data from this sampling program would indicate that marinus-type fisn are, in this area, relatively more abundant than we had formerly supposed and that occasionally a very high percentage of the catch may be marinus type. The results are particularly interesting because the landings from this area are the first we have seen where any ag more than the occasional marinus-type redfish has occurred. W. Templeman E. J. Sandeman

Cod Sizes and ages of cod, Isle aux Morts, 19570 Obser- In vations were conducted at Isle aux Morts on cod from the western ;or II part of the south coast of Newfoundland. Here there is a line ?a trawl fishery with several types of boats being used, including ith small motor dories and motor boats, larger longliners with mechanical haulers, and a few "jack boats" carrying two or three ;ust dories from which the lines may be pulled by hand. Fishing is as carried out 3 to 5 nautical miles from shore along a narrow )wn strip of ground generally in depths from 60 to 80 fathoms. Tagging experiments conducted by the Biological Station, St. John's, have shown that this winter fishery on the southwest coast of Newfoundland is principally for cod which move into the area from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in late autumn and early winter. In May, when•the cod are moving back into the Gulf, after spending the winter on the southwest coast grounds, the fishery declines to a very low level. 8

In the 1957 fishery fish caught ranged from about 12 to 50 inches in length. However, few fish smaller than 16 inches or larger than 36 inches were taken. The fish ranged in age from 4 to over 20 years. In March, which was the period of highest landings, when an estimated 725 9 000 fish weighing 3,042,900 lb. were landed, sampling the catches revealed that 11% of the fish were under 18 inches in length, 76% from 18 to 29 inches and the remaining 13% were larger. A study of the ages indicated that 76% of the fish in this month's catch were less than 10 years of age (Fig. 4)0 By April there was a decrease in the percentage of fish at the smaller sizes, both in the group below 18 inches and in the group from 18 to 29 inches. This is shown, also, in a decrease in the percentage of fish younger than 10 years of age. Landings during April had decreased with an estimated 497,300 fish weighing 2,615,400 lb. being landed. By early July the decrease in the percentage of cod at the smaller sizes and younger ages was even more pronounced, with only 510 of the fish being below 18 inches in length, 47% from 18 .to 29 inches in length and the remaining 48% larger. Only 42% of the fish were less than 10 years of age. The landings had dropped to a very low level by this time with only about 28,700 fish weighing 216,000 lb. being landed in the month. The fish caught during March and April were principally from the migratory stock which, after wintering in the southwest coast area, would move back into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, north- ward along the west coast of Newfoundland in April and May. On the other hand, fish caught during July would be of the much less numerous "resident" stock. The catch of cod in the southwest coast fishery in 1957 gives some indication of their relative abundance in the area throughout the season. Landings were high in February, March and April as the fish of the migratory stock congregated on the southwest coast grounds. Diminishing success in the fishery in May indicated a decrease in abundance of fish on the grounds. By June the catch was at a low level and remained low throughout the summer. The decreased summer fishery was apparently for fish of the "residentn stock which are apparently far less abundant than fish of the migratory stock which mingles with them and on which the success of the winter fishery depends;. The migratory stock is apparently largely made up of fish younger than 10 years, whereas the "resident" stock contains relatively more older fish. A. M. Fleming S. J. Olsen

- 9

Percent at different Percent at different sizes a es 10 IO 0 inches and 75 over Above 9 years

50 g to 29 inches 25 2, 4 to 9 years >11 elow 18 in. Mar. Apr. Jul. Mar. Apr. Jul. Landings millions Landings, thousands of b. 750 of fish

500

25G

Mar. Apr. Jul. Mar. Apr. Jul.

Ly Landings, January to October, 1957 a- (Millions of lb.)

Jan, Fah Man Apr. May Jun. JuL Aug. Sep. Oct. Fig, 4. Amounts, sizes and ages of cod landed in the fishery on the southwest coast of Newfoundland, 1957. 10

Labrador cod. Age determinations of cod collected off Labrador between 1950 and 1951 indicate that there is not equally good survival of new year-classes each year. The samples examined, mainly from offshore Labrador in depths from 100 to 200 fathoms, show that there was good survival of the year-classes produced in 1942, 1945 and 1947, and relatively good survival in 1944 and 1946. The fairly large number of older fish found to be present in the samples is probably an indication of a low level of fishing intensity in the years before the sampling period. A. W. May

The cod fishery at Bonavista. In 1958 the emphasis on better sampling of the inshore cod fishery was continued. Observations were continued throughout the fishery at Bonavista, which is one of the most important centres of the inshore fishery on the east coast of Newfoundland. With the inshore fishery in Newfoundland generally poor in 1958, only about 8,700,000 lb. of cod were landed at Bonavista, compared with 15,300,000 lb. in 1957. Of the 1958 total, 40% was landed from handlines, 26% from traps, 4% from linetrawls, and 30% from longlines. The 1957 landings were made up as follows handlined, 50%; trapped, 24%; linetrawled, 2%; longlined, 2-4h. For a successful inshore fishery it is necessary for cod which come to shore in the warm, surface layer to be concentrated inshore and prevented by cold water of the coastal portion of the Labrador Current from descending to depths beyond the range of the gears used. This portion of the current exists in summer as a cold, intermediate layer below the warmer, surface water. This cold layer, with temperatures below 00C. (32°F0) was not as close to the surface in 1958 as in 1957. In addition, severe, early-summer storms mixed the inshore waters to such an extent that cod were able to move much deeper than would be possible during a calm summer. The apparent lack of concentration of cod in depths within the fishable range of any of the inshore gears is reflected in the much lower catch per unit of effort of all gears generally throughout the season as compared with 19570 Also, the fishery with baited lines was severely hampered by an extreme shortage of fresh bait. The longline fishery in 1958 began on May 8, whereas in 1957 the fishery began on June 18. In 1958 the landings from the longline fishery at Bonavista were 45% lower than in 1957. Although there were 11 boats in the fleet, only 10 operated fairly regularly throughout the year. The catch per unit of effort, both offshore in the deep water and inshore in the shallower water, was much reduced as compared with 1957. In fact, the average catch per line and per boat per day for the fleet were lower in 1958 than for any other year since the 1 1 Average size _ 20 - 1952 2909 in. 1000 Aug. 2,444 fish 10 _ 500 Number of boats --- Average size 1953 2901 in. _ 800 July 1000 1,453 fish 600 500 Number of trips 400 U) 1954 Average size Jul 270B in. _ 1000 co 1,673 fish a)

100 - Offshore - 500 r-i 0 0 75 0 7'-,,__---- Inshore 1955 Average size rH e' 2805 in. _ 1000 $-1 50 ∎ . July 1,606 fish 02) Catch per 50-fath ifn&'(lb.) 500 "0) at Offshore Average size 1956 27.2 in. - 6 - Jul 1000 0 1,$00 fish .--Inshore 4-1 4 ,_-- 500 ° . , . . .____ S-4 2 Catch per trip Average size (thousands of lb.) 1957 2604 in. _ July 1000 3,021 fish 500

3 1958 Average size 2 July 2601 in° 1000 Total catch 2,252 fish (millions of lb0) 1 500 111111 1 1 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 16 24 32 40 48 Year Length (inches) Fig. 50 Catch and effort and length distribution of cod in the commercial longline fishery at Bonavista, 1952© 19580 Weights are of head-on, gutted fish. 12 fishery began (Fig. 5). The deep-water grounds are much more heavily exploited now. When the fishery began in 1952, the deep- water stocks were of fish which had not been fished previously, and until 1956 the Bonavista longliners were the only boats fishing the area. In 1956 a few large European otter trawlers began fishing in the area and in 1957 and 1958 a much larger concentration of effort by a larger number of otter trawlers occurred. In addition, a fleet of longliners from the Faroe Islands and from Norway fished off Bonavista and in neighboring, deep-water areas in 1957 and 1958. Length measurements were obtained from cod landed by longliners since 1952 and comparisons made of the length distribution in summer of each year. In the first year of fishing, 1952, a large proportion of the fish landed measured 32 inches and larger, with an average length of about 30 inches. In each following year, the proportion of these larger fish in the catch has been reduced and by the end of July, 1958, their contribution to the catch was a minor one. The average size of the cod has been reduced by about four inches in the 1952-58 interval and the fish landed in 1957 and 1958 were mainly between 20 and 32 inches in length, with greatest numbers at 24 inches. In 1958 it is apparent that even these fish were caught by the Bonavista longliners in smaller numbers than in 1957. A. M. Fleming

American plaice (flounder) Grand Bank. Samples of American plaice (flounder) have been collected from Newfoundland commercial otter trawlers for a number of years. The ages of those collected from 1953 to 1956 have been determined. Fish of a particular age in commercial samples from the southern part of the eastern edge of the Grand Bank (Subdivision 3N) are larger than fish of the same age in commercial samples from the northern part of the bank (Subdivision 3L) (Fig. 6). The reason for this difference is that in their earlier years, before the plaice are large enough to be retained by the commercial otter trawls, the young fish from the southern areas of the Grand Bank grow at a more rapid rate than fish from the north. In Subdivision 3N most of the catch is of male fish 7 to 18 years of age and female fish 7 to 25 years of age. From Subdivision 3L fish in the catches are somewhat older, the males being from 10 to 18 years of age, and the females 10 to 24 years of age. The male plaice apparently die at a younger age than the females. T. K. Pitt - 13 -

Males 3 N 20 -

x 3 L x o o —o

I I I I 1 I I J. 1. I 1 _1 1 11[1 , _J 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Age (years)

7/3N 24 Females X --•••••-""IX J/'"( .-c-- Y n A v 0 ;;20 x ,x x"--)( o.-6 -4°-----°---% ...,.....o-- 'Th-1\ .c 0 ------o•° 0 0 3 L z x x...„---"" 9-1 x ,-p 0 "16 4)an 0 i-1 12

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 2'6 2 Age (years)

Fig. 6. Age-length relationship of plaice landed by commercial trawlers from ICNAF Subdivisions 3L and 3N, =14-

Squid Records from offshore, 1958. Squid were few in the inshore area of Newfoundland during the summer of 1958. Few had been taken on the southwest slope of the Grand Bank by the Investigator II in May and June. However, considerable numbers were reported seen by the Sackville south of the Grand Bank and near Flemish Cap in August, and the A. T. Cameron took 26 specimens in three trawling sets for groundfish on the Flemish Cap in November. In the latter case, at least, numerous pilot whales which feed almost entirely on squid were present. Apparently the bulk of the squid population stayed offshore throughout the summer and autumn. H. J. Squires

Industrial Development Projects Exploratory fishing for scallops, 1958. The Industrial Development Service of the Department of Fisheries continued its charter of the M.V. Sandy Point from 1957 for scallop explorations in May to September, 1958. A survey of the northeast coastal areas was begun, with 420 sets being made beginning in Conception Bay and extending northward to Cape Norman. Also, five sets were made in Lake Melville, Labrador, as part of a plan to survey part of the coast of Labrador to determine the northern limit of the giant scallop. Unfortunately, stormy weather intervened in August and September and this could not be completed. Throughout the area no giant scallop beds were found which would sustain a commercial fishery. However, small beds were apparent at Dildo, Trinity Bay; Julie's Harbour, Notre Dame Bay; and Baie Verte. Also, small numbers of scallops were taken at many places along the coast. The most northerly catch of the giant scallop was obtained near Savage Cove in Pistolet Bay. Exploratory fishing for shrimp, 1958. The M.V. Fortune Breeze, under charter by the Industrial Development Service of the Department of Fisheries for the months of May to September, continued exploratory fishing for shrimp in 1958 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to complete the survey begun there in 1957 (Fig. 7). When this was done, the vessel transferred to the east coast and began a survey which, for lack of time, was discontinued when Notre Dame Bay was reached in September (Fig. 8). (a) Gulf of St. Lawrence. The southeast part of the Esquiman Channel yielded moderate catches in two sets, but nearby in the Mingan Channel a record catch of 400 lb. in one hour's trawling was realized. Six other sets in this channel averaged about 100 lb. per hour's trawling. Numbers of whole, unsorted shrimp per pound in the random samples taken varied from 52 to 83 in this area. Giant scallop exploratory fishing on the northeast coast of Newfoundland in 1958

No, Per cent Largest Place Dates of sets with catch where 1958 Area or locality sets scallops made made

May 6-16 Cape St. Francis to Grates Pt. 46 13.0 7 only North Arm, Holyrood May 16-26 Grates Pt. to West Random Hd. 51 37.3 1 bushel Dildo Arm May 27-June 5 West Random Hd. to C. Bonavista 39 18.0, 4 only Trinity Hr. June 5-11 Cape Bonavista to Salvage 31 35.5 11 only Dumpling Cove June 12-19 Salvage to Cape Freels 3.2 40.6 13 only Loo Cove, inside Greenspond I. June 19-27 Cape Freels to Farewell I. 30 26.6 14 only Farewell Hr. June 28-July 14 Farewell I. to New Bay Hd. 64 23.4 10 only Webber Bight July 14-29 New Bay Hd. to Cape St. John 53 28.3 1 bushel Julie's Hr. July 30-Aug. 2 Cape St. John to Partridge Pt. 16 68.7 2 bushels Baie Verte Aug. 2-16 Partridge Pt. to Cape Fox 27 22.2 5 only Bear Cove Aug. 16-23 Cape Fox to Cape Bauld 20 15.0 15 only Croc Hr. Aug. 23-27 Cape Bauld to Cape Norman 11 9.1 2 only Savage Cove, Pistolet Bay Sept. 5-10 Lake Melville, Labrador 5 0.0 - 16 -

SB 66 64 67

51 1.■

100 FAT110ms• QUEBEC

90 1245 ir:- PORT w 4, ,.., ''• • ./.4.c!Ot LAO --. e° 441044' 350 • • 0 oGs•" ...... ,33, o41 03, .... o - • "4448,1;2 4? o e• - •, . , AST PT. 700 419 CHAT .• e

NR c

62. 0 43 0

46 46

IDS EXPLORATIONS FOR SHRIMP a PANDALUS BOREALIS MV FORTUNE BREEZE 1957,'58 e CATCH IN POUNDS PER ONE HOUR'S TOWING CABOT ...... ay e STRAIT O <10 BANK CAPE O 47 (3 10 - 39 O 40-79 • 80-139 \O • 140-400 eD NET TORN e ROUGH BOTTOM NUMBERS ARE COUNTS PER POUND UNSORTED SCATARI 1. 46 te 1 62 SB

Fig. 7. Exploratory fishing for shrimp, Pandalus borealis, by the M.V. Fortune Breeze in the Gulf of 3t. Lawrence, 1957 and 1958. - 17 -

55 53 Si

105 ',EXPLORATIONS FOR sic PANDALUB MV FORTUNE BREEZE 1951 'Se CAT iN POUNDS PER ONE HOUR'S TOW1114

0 00 • a-39 O 40-79 O so-139 • 140-+00 444 sr. .44.4, 0 • NET TORN e ROAN BOTTOM - lamas AK COUNTS Pe. POMO WM. ‘134,P ED 07

) FIVMS ST 4, [Marl eoe„,,o, 111 govem

NEWFOUNDLAND

IS

..„7 , 0 8;

55

Fig. 8. Exploratory fishing for shrimp, Pandalus borealis, by the M.V. Fortune Breeze on the southwest and northeast coasts of Newfoundland, 1957 and 1958. 18

The central areas of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, most ly over 200 fathoms, could not be surveyed adequately because th e echo sounder in use only rarely gave a good record at or over this depth and the limited length of warp (500 fathoms) could not be expected to fish a net properly at depths over 200 fathoms. Also, much of the bottom in the areas explored appe too rough for a shrimp net to fish successfully. Where sets were made, the net was sometimes torn; also, the catches of shrimp were small in quantity. The Laurentian Channel, explored as far as off Cape Chat on the Gasps Peninsula, has a considerable area over 200 fathoms. Trawling sets could not be made in these depths and were made in varying depths below 100 fathoms and as close to 200 fathoms as possible. Some shrimp were taken at all sets catches did not exceed 50 lb. per hour's trawling. The shrim however, were fairly large, ranging from 31 to 48 per pound. (b) Conception Bay. Three sets were made in the tr in this bay. Bottom temperatures were below 00C. (320F.) and catches of less than 50 lb. of shrimp per hour's trawling wer realized. Numbers of the shrimp, Pandalus borealis, were fro 222 to 313 per pound, but a mixture with the shrimp, P. monta occurred in these sets and they were larger than P. borealis, averaging 82 to the pound. From this and from other data it appears that, in this area, P. montagui could be used as a commercial species of shrimp if the quantities taken in deep water were great enough. This species is taken more frequent in shallower depths than P. borealis in this area, but, like P. borealis, the individuals are generally much smaller in th shallow than in the deep water. (c) Trinity Bay and north of the Grand Bank. In se sets in this area, only two catches of over 50 lb. per hour's trawling were taken. Numbers per pound for P. borealis avera ged 232 in the greatest catch - 130 lb. in one hour's trawling but varied from 70 to 232 per pound in the seven sets made. Numb ers of Po montagui, when present, were 110 to 133 per pound. Off shor toward the northern edge of the Grand Bank, the bottom appear ed too rough for shrimp trawling and only two sets were made. (d) Bonavista Bay. Of five sets in this bay, only set caught up to 50 lb. in one hour's trawling. In this set, however, a greater proportion of P. montagui was present and these gave a number of 110 per pound while the P. borealis were counted, at 247 per pound. (e) Notre Dame Bay. Pressure of time and extremely windy weather curtailed exploration in this Bay. Also, very rough bottom prevented trawling in many areas. One set made near Little Bay Islands took only 20 lbo of shrimp in one hou trawling. Sets planned for the offshore, northeast shelf off Notre Dame and Bonavista Bays could not be carried out becaus of stormy weather during August and September. H. J. Squires 19

Commercial groundfish fishery in Newfoundland, 1958 Landings. The amounts of the principal groundfish species landed in Newfoundland annually from 1952 to 1958 are illustrated in Fig. 9. The total landings in 1958 were considerably less than in 1957. Cod landings were less by about 25%, the result of an extremely poor inshore fishery. The trapping season was of very short duration, and yielded poor results. Fishing with all types of gear inshore was severely hampered by prevalent stormy weather, and, in addition 9 an extreme shortage of fresh bait had an adverse effect on all the line fisheries. Only a small proportion of the cod landings are from the offshore otter-trawl fishery and annual fluctuations in the offshore cod catch do not seriously affect the total cod landings. Haddock are caught by otter trawl. In 1958 the landings of haddock were about 35% less than in 1957. The fishery occurred almost entirely on the Grand Bank (ICNAF Subarea 3) and a fishable concentration of haddock occurred for a short time only, on the southwest edge of the bank, mainly in March, and again, in the vicinity of the Southeast Shoal of the Grand Bank in October. The redfish fishery, except for minor incidental catches by inshore boats, is an otter-trawl fishery. There was a large increase in redfish landings in 1958, amounting to 60% above the 1957 landings. Although the total catch from the Gulf of St. Lawrence area and from the southwest coast grounds was approximately the same for both years, the catch from the southeastern Grand Bank in 1958 was double that of 1957. In addition 9 a successful commercial fishery began in a new area off southern Labrador (Subarea 2) in late August. The main plaice fishery is by otter trawler offshore; the inshore landings constitute a relatively small part of the total. Plaice landings in 1958 were 50% higher than in 1957 and higher than at any other time in the period 1952-58. When haddock are scarce the major portion of the Newfoundland otter- trawler effort is concentrated on the fishery for plaice. In 1958 the increased effort for plaice during most of the year resulted in a large increase in landings. Greysole are caught by otter trawl and Danish seine. Landin gs in 1958 were 4.0% less than in 1957. The greysole fisher y is gradually receding into an incidental one as far as Newfou ndland landings are concerned. The greysole caught by otter trawlers are generally taken during the fishery for haddoc k on the southwest edge of the Grand Bank (Subarea 3). During 1958 the haddock fishery was of short duration with a relati vely brief concentration of effort by otter trawlers in 20

Cod Plaice 6 2 5 (2 2 _ -_ 25 06 ns 1 c 0 ,X) 20 r-1 llio i

3 15 ns f m o 2 -3 3 3 3 3 3 3 - 10 llio ds Mi

dre 1 5

Hun 77 77 77 /17 F IT 0 8a Haddock Witch

60 8 a) 6 040' U) 4 E.' 20 2 0 ••-■ Redfish Halibut, Wolffish, ••••••• ° 30 - Pollock 1 .5 ;_c_ ---.1 P P 220 -Pp..,...____ -7v W 1.o 2 0 _ 0 3 W W g X 10 5 r-1 H H H H H H 52 54 56 5 8 52 56 58 Years Years Fig, 9. Landings of principal commercial groundfish species (round weight) in Newfoundland, 1952-1958. Figures in columns denote portions from ICNAF Subareas 2, 3 and 4. 21 the so uthwestern Grand Bank area. Consequently, the greysole landin gs from the area were low. There is a minor greysole fisher y with Danish seine in St. GeorgOs Bay on the west coast of New foundland (Subarea 4)0 The 1958 landings in Newfoundland from t his fishery were approximately half the 1957 landings as more o f the Newfoundland seiners were landing in Nova Scotian ports. Halibut, wolffish and pollock, which are caught mainly during the fishery for more important commercial species, are on ly landed in small quantities annually. Fishing boats. In the inshore fishery for cod, replac ement of wornout small boats is at a low level. However, severa 1 thousands of these small boats are still used in the inshor e fishery. The number of longliners (over 25 tons) is increa sing at a slow rate, with 29 in operation during 1958° The Da nish-seiner fleet remains small, with only four boats operat ing from Newfoundland ports in 1958. The otter-trawler fleet changed very little in 1958 and consisted of 20 ships in the 15 1-500 gross tons class, one less than in 1957; three in the 51 -150 tons class, one less than in 1957; and two in the smalle st class, one more than in 1957. A. M0 Fleming Total landings of groundfish in Newfoundland, 1958 (species by ICNAF Subarea),

ICNAF Subarea

2 4 Total Cod Light salted, dried (qt1s.-112 lb.) 400 158 2 984 48 2 709 208 2 093 Heavy salted, green (cwts.-112 lb.) 79 2 938 261,442 33,421 374,801 Fresh, head-on, gutted (lb.) 39,161 102 9 648,011 4,361 9 530 107,048,702 Fresh, round (1b0) 7,421,037 50 9 549 7,471,586 Haddock Fresh, head-on, gutted (1b0) 1 2 006 2 433 60,959 1 2 067,392 Fresh, whole (1b0) 36 2 134 2 377 14,412 36 2 148 2 789 Redfish Fresh, whole (1b0) 2,334,979 14 2 875 2 799 8 2 636 2 521 25 2 847 2 299 Plaice (flounder) Fresh, whole (lb.) 22,609,796 269 2 396 22 2 879 2 192 Witch (greysole) Fresh, whole (lb.) 3,359,673 459 9 951 3 2 819 2 624 Halibut Fresh, head-off, gutted (lb.) 133,021 28,435 161,456 Fresh, head-on, gutted (1b0) 375 118 2 366 118 2 420 237,161 Wolffish (catfish) Fresh, head-on, gutted (lb.) 405 516,485 10,126 527,016 Pollock Fresh, head-on, gutted (lb.) 256 2 764 7,316 264 2 080 Hake Fresh, head-on, gutted (lb.) 177,552 13,171 190,723 -23 -

I I I I .rni _Cod 30 _

20 _

1 0 _ __—.,...wzgrArarzArAl111 111i /22,....___. 30 Haddock •020 — _ a) "ci a)1010 _ f-I r-1 Cli 4-1 0 Redfish '20 — _

0 .z10 4-) z 0 MitArawmgad AU( Jt E Plaice (Flounder) 1)15 0‘

10 •rt

°40 _ a) Witch (Greysole) 30

20

10

0 J- F AMJJ A S 0 N Months' Fig. 10. Landings in Newfoundland of the principal species of groundfish by month, 195g. (For each species, expressed as percent in each month of the total landed;) Total landings of groundfish in Newfoundland , 1958 (species by months). Weights in thousands of pounds expressed as follows: Cod, wolffish, p011ock, hake - head-on, , , gutted; haddock, r eulisn plaice s paQe, halibut - head-off, gutted.

Month Cod Haddock Redfish Plaice Witch Halibut Wolffish Pollock Hake Jan. 3, 9 125 910 968 1,606 294 13 35 22 20 Feb. 1,985 6,896 540 204 434 42 3 1 4 Mar. 5,197 10,035 379 126 330 49 15 15 3 Apr, 6,575 5,762 625 1,748 510 66 20 52 13 May 10,056 3,004 2,895 2,827 268 29 43 28 15 0 June 77,188 14 3,679 3,500 19 69 105 28 16 July 112,253 112 5,152 2,876 23 14 97 7 3 Aug. 48,213 424 3,488 2,787 127 32 122 15 5 0 Sept. 20,993 1,630 4,189 2,197 57 33 55 26 9 Oct. 9,994 5,148 879 1,961 155 11 25 14 66 Nov. 2,452 920 2,309 2,856 225 4 6 24 25 Dec. 796 2,575 744 191 1,378 1 1 32 12 Total 298,827 37,430 25,847 22,879 3,820 363 527 264 191

•

- 25 -

40- Cod 3C>- /0/

20- 7

10- a %/ 7

— Haddock 60 — W5 0—

3 0 4.) 4?) 20- cHO 10- o 0 •r-I Redfish •r4 20\--

• f-4

— f, 50- Plaice a)cts 0_ E 2 30 4.) Za- Z • 10- G14

40 Witch 3 0 — 20— 10 -

oTsTs Wm, G H L M N 0 P-N R S T 2 3 4 ICNAF Subdivisions Fig, 11, Landings in Newfoundland of the principal species of groundfish from various ICNAF Subdivisions, 195. (For each species, expressed as percent from each Subdivision of the total landed.) (U (.11 I C)

Landings of groundfish in Newfoundland, 1958 (species by ICNAF Subdivision). Weights in thousands of pounds expressed as follows Cod, wolffish, pollock, hake

head - on, gutted; haddock, redfish, plaice, witch - whole; halibut - head-off, gutted.

Subdivision Cod Haddock Redfish Plaice Witch Halibut Wolffish Pollock Hake

2G 1 ■•••• CID 2H 2,847 2J 17,067 -- 2,335 NM CIO

Total 19,915 - 2,335 _ •■•■ * *

3K 60,906 -- 1 1 -- * _ •••• CM, 3L 125,629 78 747 12,509 5 3 363 •M• gm* 3M 1 -- 19 5 _ * *- 3N 1,714 10,470 3,358 7,985 1,181 9 11 10 6 30 2,662 26,323 3,934 394 1,638 119 10 65 15 3PN 10,599 185 179 20 * 50 34 * * 3PS 42,941 287 6,638 1,695 536 53 99 182 157 Total 244,452 37,343 14,876 22,609 3,360 234 517 257 178 4R 34,055 84 2,662 261 363 126 8 * * 43 290 1 5,883 4 38 3 2 7 13 4T 89 2 73 5 1 * * 4VN 26 * 18 58 * * Total 34,460 87 8,636 2,70 460 129 10 7 13 Total All Subareas 298,827 37,430 25,847 22,879 3,820 163 527 264 191

* Indicates amounts less than 1000 lb.

Landings of groundfish in Newfoundland, 1958 (species by type of boat). Weights in thousands of pounds expressed as follows: Cod, wolffish, pollock, hake - head-on, gutted; haddock, redfish, plaice, witch - whole; halibut - head-off, gutted.

Cod Haddock Redfish Plaice Witch Halibut Woiffish Pollock Hake Inshore boats (small, open boats and longliners below 26 gross tons) Subarea 2 19,913 -- -- -- -- Subarea 3 232,558 229 46 902 85 176 87 100 Subarea 4 32,617 -- 75 _... 121 1 -- Total 285,088 229 46 977 -- 206 177 87 100 Otter trawlers (40-399 gross tons) Subarea 2 2. -- 2,335 * * -- Subarea 3 6,986 37,050 14,824 21,380 3,072 142 118 169 70 87 154 145 5 6 7 13 N) Subarea 4 1,469 8,635 -..) Total 8,457 37,137 25,794 21,534 3,217 147 124 176 83 i Danish seiners (29-54 gross tons) ■ NM 0 Subarea 2 •• • MM. 101 NMA Subarea 3 17 1 4 2 288-- * - - - - Subarea 4 13 1 2-5 315 .0 VIM

Total 3,0 1 5 27 603 ••■ * IMO IIMID ••• Longliners (26-50 gross tons) Subarea 2 ------Subarea 3 4,891 63 2 326 -- 7 222 1 -; Subarea 4 361 -- 15 -- 3 4

Total 959 ()1 2 1L1 MI= 10 226 8

Total All Boats 298,827 37,430 25,847 22,879 3,820 363 527 264 191

* Indicates amounts less than 1000 lb.