BULLETIN No. 109
The Bonavista Longlining
Experiment, 1950 ·1953
By
WILFRED TEMPLEMAN and A. M. FLEMING
Fisheries Research Board of Canada
Biological Station, St. John's, Nfld.
PU BL I SH E D BY THE FISHE R I ES RESEARCH
BOARD OF CANADA UNDER THE CONT ROL OF
1_
THE HONOURABLE THE MI NISTER OF FISHERIES
__
-
.,AWA, 1956
p.
50
cents
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BULLETIN No. 109
The Bonavista Longlining
Experiment� 1950 -1953
By
WILFRED TEMPLEMAN and A. M. FLEMING
Fisheries Research Board of Canada
Biological Station, St. John's, Nfld.
PUB L I SH ED BY THE F I SHERIES RESEARCH
BOARD OF CANADA UNDER THE CONT ROL OF
THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES
OTTAWA, 1956
w. E. RICKER
N. M. CARTER
Editors
(ii)
/
Bulletins of the Fisheries Research Board contain popular and scientific
information concerning the technology of catching, handling and preserving fish ,
and concerning the biology of fish stocks.
In addition , the Board publishes the following:
An ANNUAL REPORT of the work carried on under the direction of the
Board.
The JOURNAL OF THE FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF
CANADA, containing the results of scientific investigations.
ATLANTIC PROGRESS REPORTS, consisting of brief articles on
investigations of the Atlantic stations of the Board.
PACIFIC PROGRESS REPORTS, consisting of brief articles on investi­
gations at the Pacific stations of the Board.
The price of this Bulletin is 50 cents (Canadian funds, postpaid) . Orders
should be addressed to the Queen 's Printer, Ottawa, Canada. Remittance
payable to the Receiver General of Canada should accompany the order.
For a complete list of the Board's publications, write to:
Fisheries Research Board of Canada,
Publications Office,
Ottawa, Canada.
(iii)
76021-1!
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f
CONTENTS
PAGE
ABSTRACT.
.
. . . .......... . . . . .. . . . . .. . . .... . ... . . . . .... . ... . .. . ... (vii)
..... . . ... ... .... .. .... .. .... ...... .... ...... .. ...
1
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4
Q UALITY OF FISHING BY EXPERIMENTAL LONGLINERS
1950 season
1 95 1 season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1 953 season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
17
21
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24
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34
1 95 1 - 1953
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35
Commercial catches, 1 952- 1 953 . . .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
36
INTRODUCTION.
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BOATS AND GEAR.
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LOCATION AND
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COD SIZES.
BAIT..
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COMMERCIAL LONGLINING BY BONAVISTA FISHERMAN,
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COD CATCHES IN RELATION TO TEMPERATURE AND DEPTH
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
43
HYDROGRAPHY AND LONGLINING
Bonavista, July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Yearly temperatures-east coast of Newfoundland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
45
THE GENERAL PICTURE OF THE COD FISHERY IN THE BONAVISTA AREA..
49
.. .. .. .... .... .... ... ... .. .... .. .... . .. .. .. . .
53
... .. . .. . ... ... .... ..... ... ...... .. . ... .... ... .. .. .
54
.. .. .. . .. .. ... .... ... ....... ... ............ ....... . . ..
55
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
REFERENCES.
ApPENDIX.
.
.
( v)
45
ABSTRACT
Longlining experiments were carried on from 1950-1953 at Bonavista, using Cape Island-type
longliners from Nova Scotia. These boats were larger than those typically used in the trap,
handline and inshore linetrawl fishery on the east coast of Newfoundland.
In 1950 the operations were wide-ranging and exploratory. From June to August catches
of cod by the experimental boats were extremely low close to shore, and in depths less than 100
fathoms ; but 18 to 20 nautical miles to the eastward of Cape Bonavista, in the deep water, excellent
new cod fishing grounds were discovered, which yielded large catches. In the autumn the inshore
grounds 5 to 8 nautical miles from land were fished successfully, though the catches were not as
high as from the offshore fishing.
In 1951, from early June to mid-December, a commercial fishing trial was carried out to
compare the financial returns from a 42-foot boat with a 3-man crew, and a 5 1-foot boat with a
4-man crew. The catch of the smaller boat was 398,000 pounds of marketable fish valued at
$9,600 and the crew received $1,800 per man. The catch of the larger boat for the same period
was at the rate of 500,000 pounds valued at $ 1 1 ,900 and each man's share was $1,800.
In 1953, two 55-foot longliners fished the offshore grounds in May. Their excellent catches,
amounting to 1,300 lb. of cod per 12-line tub (600 hooks), demonstrated that longlining on a
commercial basis could be successful throughout May and probably in April.
Bonavista fishermen, stimulated by the successful fishing of the experimental longliners,
began longlining either in converted boats or ones expressly built for longline fishing. From
three boats in 1951 the local fleet increased to 10 during 1952 and to 14 in 1953. Though there
was considerable variation in the yearly total catch from longline boats fishing mainly offshore,
the yearly catch per unit of gear showed little variation from boat to boat, and those which fished
50 to 60 trips (50 to 60 days fishing) were financially successful.
During June and July, when landings of cod from traps, handlines and linetrawls are at their
peak, the proportion of the total catch attributable to longliners is small. Following this, the
longliner proportion of the catch increases with advance of the season until toward the end
longliners are landing the bulk of the cod. In many years longline boats could fish the deep water
profitably in May and early J une, and sometimes in April, while the large inshore cod fishery by
other methods usually begins late in June.
It is apparent that the largest concentrations of cod in the deep water are close to the O°c.
(32°F. ) junction between the cold intermediate water and the warmer bottom water. The best
fishing, which is probably on the warmer deepwater side of the O°c. (32°F.) line, can be about
20 fathoms shallower or deeper and several nautical miles further inshore or offshore in different
years, depending on the amount of cold water present. Because of this, it is important to take
bottom temperatures to locate the junction area, particularly at the beginning of the season.
In the longline fishing, squid proved to be a highly superior bait to frozen herring and fresh
or frozen capelin, catching from 50-100% more fish than these other baits.
The average gutted and giIled weight of a thousand fish from trap, handline, inshore linetrawl
and offshore longline was about 2,900; 3,700 ; 4,600; and 6,600 pounds respectively.
(vii)
,I
I NTRODUCTION
On the east coast of Newfoundland large catches of cod are made in shallow
water mostly less than 50 fathoms deep, and usually within 1 to 6 nautical miles
from shore. The boats typically used are unprotected open boats, 20 to 30 feet
in length , with low speed and short range. Fishing is by trap, handline with a
single hook, and longline hauled by hand. The availability of cod in the shallow
inshore area, and especially in any one area, is highly variable from year to year,
and the fishing season usually does not extend beyond 5 to 6 months.
Shortly after the confederation of Canada and Newfoundland, the Federal
Department of Fisheries determined to find out whether somewhat larger boats
and better equipment could improve the supply, by catching fish over a larger
area and range of depths. This in turn might be expected to make the catch
more uniform from month to month and from year to year, and to extend it
over a longer season. Also, if the fishing operations of the larger boats were
shown to be profitable, their greater mobility could contribute somewhat to
local centralization ; this would favour the development of better establishments
for handling the catch , and better community services for the fishermen.
A program of longlining fishery experiments was therefore planned for the
east coast of Newfoundland. The place selected to begin the experiments was
Bonavista, a large center for the inshore cod fishery, where bait and fresh-fish
plant facilities were available.
As the plans developed, Captain Vernon MacDonald, an experienced
longlining skipper from Lockeport, N.S., and M r. D. N. Fitzgerald, a technician
from this B oard 's Biological Station at St. Andrews, N.B . , were sent to New­
foundland during the winter of 1 950. They concluded, after examining many
Newfoundland fishing boats, that almost none then in use were readily adaptable
to longlining operations, being generally too small , under-powered and unsuitable
in lay-out.
Through the St. Andrews Biological Station, arrangements were made for the
charter of two 42-foot "Cape I sland" boats. These boats and their skippers
had been successful in longlining from Lockeport, N .S. The decked Robert and
Donald, Captain Vernon ·MacDonald, and the open-type O-Johnny-O, Captain
Russell Decker, were chosen. It was hoped that the longlining method with
power-hauling techniques would prove more efficient than fishing by traps,
handlining, and longline hauling by hand. In this paper the use of the baited
longline hauled by powered gurdy will be referred to as "longlining" , while the
use of a similar longline hauled by hand will be called "linetrawling". The
longline with its gangings and hooks is usually called a "trawl" , by both the
linetrawl and the longline fishermen.
1
76021-2
This was not the first time that longlining had been carried out in Newfound­
land waters. D uring the period 1 935-1940 the Lutzon, a steamship of about
300 gross tons with a steam powered gurdy, and the Young Harp, a diesel vessel
of about 100 tons with a diesel operated gurdy, were engaged in longlining for
halibut off the east coast of Newfoundland and Labrador for the St. John's
firm of Job Brothers & Co. Ltd. The Lutzon fished during one year, the Young
Harp during the two following years. The operations were discontinued after
meeting with little success.
In 1 946 the Investigator II made three longlining trips for halibut. Two of
these trips, in August, explored the area from Cape Bonavista to 240 nautical
miles northeast of this Cape. During these trips, although large halibut hooks
were used, in addition to the occasional halibut, all sets produced cod, sometimes
in moderate quantity. One set of 60 lines, about 1 7 nautical miles northeast of
Cape Bonavista in water 91 to 1 2 7 fathoms deep, with bottom temperatures
ranging from - 1·50 to 0·65°C. (29·3 to 33·2°F.), produced 650 lb. of large cod.
In another set of 54 lines, 135 nautical miles northeast of Cape Bonavista in
1 5 6 fathoms, with a bottom temperature of 3 . 30°C. (37·9°F.), 1, 700 lb. of large
cod were caught.
The Icelandic vessel Richard, chartered by the Government of Newfoundland ,
made several good catches of cod by longline in the shallow inshore waters of the
Bonavista area during December, 1 949.
For periods in 1 950, three longliners were operated by Fishery Products,
Ltd. on the southwest coast of Newfoundland, where they fished principally for
cod. They met with moderate success, but were no more productive than the
two-dory schooner-type "J ack" boats fishing the same area.
The longlining experiments began at Bonavista in June, 1 950, and the
proj ect h as since been continued under the supervision of the Fisheries Research
Board of Canada through its Biological Station at St. John's. Boat and crew
costs have been financed by the Industrial Development Service of the Depart­
ment of Fisheries, and the Station has provided direction as well as biological
and technical personnel.
In 1 950 the operations were wide-ranging and exploratory in nature. As a
result, excellent new deepwater codfishing grounds were discovered about 1 8 to
20 nautical miles from Cape Bonavista, and enough information was secured on
the availability of cod to j ustify a commercial trial.
This commercial trial was undertaken in 1 95 1, again using Cape Island-type
boats. The trials proved successful, and were followed by the establishment at
Bonavista of local longlining on a commercial basis. In 1952, except for a short
period of experimental work at Bonavista, the longliners explored other areas of
the N ewfoundland coast.
I n 1 953, two 55-foot Robar-type longliners fished successfully at Bonavista
during May. This indiGated that longlining in deep water can yield good
catches of cod for at least 1! months before the beginning of the Bonavista
inshore fishery.
2
At Bonavista there is an extensive, underwater coastal shelf extending
seaward to the 1 00-fathom line. The coastal shelf, both at Bonavista and in the
northeast coastal area generally, slopes within a short distance further offshore to
water depths over 150 fathoms.
The shallower parts of the inshore area warm up gradually during the
summer. The water at about 1 20 to 150 fathoms and deeper is moderately
warm both in summer and winter. In the intermediate depths between these
two levels there is a layer of very cold Labrador Current water with temper­
a tures below O°e. (32°F. ) , and often below - 1·5°e. (29·3°F.).
3
76021-2!
BOATS AND GEAR
Inshore fishing at Bonavista is generally carried on with small, open-type
boats ; these are mostly 20 to 30 feet in length, and powered by simple two-cycle,
single-cylinder, 4 - 1 2 H . P . gasoline engines. The smaller boats, about 2 0-27
feet long, (Fig. 1A), are used for hand lining and linetrawling ; the larger ones, up
to j ust over 30 feet (Fig. 1 B), are used for trap-fishing during J une and J uly,
and for hand lining and linetrawling late in the season. There is no appreciable
difference in the lay-out of boats of various sizes.
The two Nova Scotian boats (Fig. 2) used in the longlining experiments
during 1950 were the O-Johnny-O, Captain Russell Decker, and the Robert and
Donald, Captain Vernon MacDonald. Both boats were about 42 feet in over-all
length (36 and 37 feet registered lengths), and were of the type commonly known
in the Nova Scotian area as Cape Island boats. The boats are seaworthy
although they are flat-bottomed and have only a small keel. Living quarters
are forward , below deck. Behind the forecastle is the navigation cabin or
pilot-house where the steering apparatus and engine controls are located ; the
engines are situated below the floor, sections of which are removable. Aft of this
section is the area where the . trawl is hauled ; this contains the gurdy near the
centre of the boat and a roller on the starboard rail. This area is sometimes
covered by a windshield. Fish, trawl equipment, bait and fuel and water tanks
are carried in the stern section. In addition, a dory is carried on deck at the
stern. A single after mast is used to support a triangular sail which is useful in
manoeuvering the boat while hauling trawl and for increasing the speed of the
ship when sailing before the wind.
The O-Johnny-O was an open-type Cape Island boat with no permanent
deck in the stern section ; it was, however, fitted with removable hatches, which
could be taken up and the space below used for carrying fish. The area con­
taining steering apparatus, engines and gurdy was covered by a windshield with
removable sides. This gave protection to the crew while hauling the trawl. I n
the Robert and Donald, the gurdy was outside o n the open deck aft o f the pilot­
house. The deck was permanent and watertight with a hatch opening to a fish­
hold. Each boat was powered by two gasoline engines, had a speed of about
8 to 9 knots, and carried a crew of three.
I n the summer of 1 95 1 the O-Johnny-O, Captain Decker, and the Miss
Osborne, Captain Gordon Hemeon, from Nova Scotia, were engaged to carry on
the longlining operation. The Miss Osborne was a larger Cape Island-type
boat 5 1 feet over-all length (47 feet registered length), powered by two gasoline
engines, and h aving a speed of about ten knots. The pilot-house, engines and
gurdy were enclosed, but because of the larger size of the boat, the deck level was
lowered to form a well-deck in the area containing the gurdy. This places the
4
•
FIGURE tA.
FIGURE tB
\
I
.
Small inshore boats, Bonavista.
Hauling a cod trap near St. John's.
5
•
FIGURE 2A.
FIGURE 2B.
Cape Island longliner, O-Jolmny-O.
Cape Island longliner,
6
Robert and Donald.
gurdy and the roller closer to the water-line, and results in fewer fish being lost
if they come unhooked after being pulled from the water. The deck was per­
manent and watertight, and a fish-hold was located beneath the after deck.
The Miss Osborne was equipped with a depth recorder, and carried a crew of
four men.
In August, 1 95 1 , following a gasoline explosion which rendered the lVIiss
Osborne unseaworthy for the remainder of the season , Captain Hemeon fitted
and used, in succession , two rather unsuitable Newfoundland schooner-type
boats (Jack-boats) for longlining. These were the 47 -foot East Wind and the
54-foot Edward Humby. Both boats, not being built for longlining, had decks
and rails relatively h igh above the waterline, which made hauling trawl more
difficult. Each had a crew of four men.
In 1 952, two Nova Scotian longliners, the lVIarjorie Byrl, Captain M. Taylor
and the Pat and Judy, Captain J . Atkinson , were chartered to carry out experi­
mental longlining in Newfoundland waters and fished the areas off Bonavista in
early July. Th ese had the same fundamental lay-out as the older Cape Island
boats, but were larger (about 53 feet registered length) and were fully decked.
These are known as Robar boats (Fig. 3A). Because of their larger size, these
boats had better living accommodation , larger working space for hauling trawl,
greater carrying capacity and longer range than the smaller Cape Island boats.
Each boat carried a crew of four men , had a single diesel engine giving a speed of
about 10 knots, and was equipped with a depth recorder and a radio-telephone.
In May, 1 953 , two similar Robar boats of 55 feet registered length , the
Atlantic Rover, Captain R. Decker and the Gertrude & Ronald, Captain G. Hemeon
fished offshore from Bonavista.
In 1 9 5 1 Bonavista fishermen began longlining in three boats. which had
been converted for the purpose. By the end of 1 95 2 the fleet had increased to
ten . At the end of the 1 953 season , although eighteen boats had been fitted for
longlining, only fourteen were still operating, two having been wrecked and two
temporarily laid up. Of the eighteen boats fitted, nine were local schooner-type
boats which were converted for this method of fishing. These ranged in length
from 33 to 55 feet (registered), from 14 to 30 tons gross, and were from 5 to 26
years of age (Table 1). Nine boats built especially for longlining were operating
at the end of 1 953 . Two of these, built in Nova Scotia, were Cape Island-type
boats which had been formerly used in the experimental longlining at Bonavista.
Of the remaining seven , five were built on the general Cape Island plan, and two
were of the larger Robar type, with some local variations (Fig. 3B) .
The usual n umber o"{ men in a crew was four though in two o f the smaller
boats three men , and in two of the larger boats five men were sometimes carried.
The hauler or gurdy is usually mounted j ust to port of the centre line so
that the horizontal V-grooved pulleys of the gurdy head are at the same height as
the roller attached directly opposite on the starboard rail. The gurdy head is
turned by a vertical shaft, which is geared to a horizontal shaft attached to the
7
FIGURE 3A.
Nova Scotian Robar-type Iongliner.
FIGURE 3B.
Locally built longliner.
8
TABLE I . -Description of boats of the Bonavista longlining fleet, 1951-1953.
(Data from the Department of Transport, 1952 and 1954. )
Expressly built
Total
Converted
35-45
46-55
35-45
46-55
35-45
46-55
4
5
3
6
7
11
.
.
.
.
.
3
35
11
4
13
1
49
15
6
34
16
41
12
5
15
9
49
15
7
25
9
38
11
5
14
6
49
15
7
29
Number boats with
Gas engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diesel engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
1
1
4
1
2
1
5
4
3
2
9
1-9
33-37
9-12
4-5
8-1 7
2-3
47-55
14-16
5-7
25-52
5-26
38-43
1 1-13
4-6
14-17
5-18
46-54
14-15
6-7
21-30
1-26
33-43
9-13
4-6
8-1 7
2-18
46-55
14-16
5-7
21-52
Registered length - feet:
Number of boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Average per group
Age-years .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Length-feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Breadth-feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Depth-feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gross tons ... . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .
Range per group
Age-years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Length-feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Breadth-feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Depth-feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gross tons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..
..
..
..
..
power source, which may be either the main engine as in the Cape Island or
Robar boats, or an air-cooled deck engine as in many of the converted boats.
The gurdy is started and stopped by means of a clutch, and in many cases,
especially when the power source is the main engine, a gear-box is attached to the
horizontal shaft of the gurdy so that the speed of the gurdy may be regulated .
The gurdy may be constructed by fitting an old motor car differential and rear
axle with a gurdy head.
Trawl lines and gangings are made of steam-tarred cotton. Sixteen- or
1 8-pound goundlines and 4-pound gangings are generally used. The weight
designation of a fishing line is the weight of 300 fathoms of the line. The gangings
by which the hooks are attached are about 3 feet in length and are spaced about
6 feet apart along the groundline. A groundline is 50 fathoms in length and
carries about 50 gangings and hooks. Hooks used are usually No. 6/0 Pfleuger
or No. 1 7 Mustad.
Buoylines for mooring the trawl are 6- to 9-thread manila rope, preferably
steam-tarred for longer lasting ; anchors are 1 5 - to 20-lb. "dolY" anchors with
movable stock; and buoys are watertight hardwood kegs of 5- to 8-gallon capa­
city. In addition, marker staff buoys or high fliers are used. These are about
20 feet in length, are buoyed up by attached corks, and are floated in an upright
position by attaching weights at the base. For daytime observation a flag, and
for night time a lamp operated by a drycell battery, are attached at the top.
9
76021-3
For longlining from Bonavista, as many as a hundred 50-fathom lines are
used. The lines are baited and coiled in tubs (10 to 12 lines per tub) , so that the
coils of gear may be iifted out with very little entangling of baited hooks. After
the required depth is found by sounding lead or depth recorder, a buoyline, at
least 25 fathoms longer than the recorde::l depth , is attached to a keg and high
FIGURE 4.
Setting Iongline gear from tub.
flier which are dropped overboard . At th e other end of the buoyline an anchor
and one end of the groundline are attached and thrown overboard. A fisherman
using a short stick now sets the baited gear quite rapidly, coil by coil, over the
port side as the boat is travelling at about half speed (Fig. 4). Usually, when
about half the gear is set, another keg with the required length of buoy line is
attached to the grou ndline as a safety measure, so that if the groundline breaks
10
FIGURE SA.
FIGURE SB.
Cod on line.
Fisherman at roller untangling ganging and adjusting shape of hook, other
fisherman gutting cod.
11
76021-3!
/
Note rail roller.
FIGURE 6A.
Coiling behind gurdy on a converted longliner.
FIGURE 6B.
Coiling behind gurdy on Robar-type longliner.
12
while the trawl is being hauled, the middle buoyline will act as an additional
haul-up point. When the bottom is known to be rough , or currents are swift, a
number of buoys are placed at intervals along the trawl . When all the trawl is
set, another anchor is fastened to the end to which is attached the required
length of buoyline, then a keg and high flier.
The trawl is left to fish for up to 2 hours before begining to haul. Usually
the first end to be thrown out is the first to be taken in, but, if weather or tide
conditions are unfavourable, the boat remains near the last end out and takes
this back first. 'vVith the engine running at low speed , in order to keep the
boat directly over the gear being hauled and thus reduce the strain, the line is
taken in over the rail roller on the starboard rail amidships (Fig. SA) . Here one
fisherman removes fish , untangles gangings, adjusts shapes of hooks (Fig. S B ) ,
operates gurdy clutch, and , when controls are fitted a t the rail, operates engine
controls and steering wheel. The line passes in an S-turn partly around the
gurdy head, then back round a "dummy" roller attached to the gurdy head, to
another fisherman who coils the lines back in a tub (Fig. 6) . I t takes approxi­
mately one hour to haul back 12 lines.
13
LOCATION AND QUALITY OF FISHING BY EXPERIM ENTAL
LONGL I NERS
1950 SEASON
The locations fished , and the catches of cod obtained, by the experimental
boats during 1950, are summarized in Figures 7 and 8 and Tables I IA and l I B .
In this year the primary object was t o cover a wide range o f areas and tempera­
tures by experimental fishing. When commercial quantities of fish were indi­
cated, commercial trials were conducted using larger amounts of gear.
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0[LJ�
,
,
I
OOLLARMAN
BAN!<
E
§
'
�n3
\
�c/NAVISTjrv,
C>.El
\
0"\
:�o�\
�*':J �''?)
"-"'THE HARRYS
�g'='vw$
v
- -- --------
[LJ
m[]
49·
�
�-G
�
JUNE 7 - AUGUST 31,1950
BONAVISTA
�
El [LJ
�
EEl
G
Q
�
()
e
101 - 250
501 -BOO
�
801 -1100
�
1101 -1400
Il
1401 - 1700
�
o SQUID, HERRING a CAPELIN
45'
�
05'
e
51 - 100
I±l
I
BAIT
I-50
El
a
w
saulo
ZERO
0
50 '
w
�
�
HERRING a CAPEL IN
BAIT
49·
55'
e
i
,0
/".;/'
... "
0
\O
O
\'t-
(l;'
o
/
45'
40'
o
.:J
,
35 '
/
30'
1±l0
f)
W
20'1
_
I
W
I
FIGURE 7.
e
I
w
I
�
I
w
I
�
/!
I
�
I
�
I
u
I
w
I
_
I
Catches of head-on, gutted cod per 12-line tub of gear by experimental
longliners, Bonavista, June 7 to Aug. 3 1 , 1950.
14
/
�
25'
w
1 20'
�O'
50'
45 '
4�'
40 '
40'
o
o
,
-,.
35'
POUNDS\ OF COD PER 12-LlNE TUB
).
HERRING 8 CAPELIN
SQUIO
BAtT
t' :.....
BAIT
I-50
e
�
51 - 100
'-.
�
--"§
101 - 250
EB
251
- 500
(!)
[!]
,/
501 - 800
�
�
//----801 - 1100
�
�
/'
t
1101 - 1400
IJ
f)
/
/
1401 - 1700
�
e
,/
0 SQUID. HERRING " CAPELIN BAIT
':; (��\;»
/�EB
30'
2 5'
///
•
35'
30'
25'
//
2 0;;'� ·_-=-"'L.-;;;;;- -:';:---"--;!;;--'--';-;; ;---;;"'-----d;;---;';:;-- --:';
;----!:::;---�---:'30
· �0'
0
FIGURE 8.
Catches of head-on, gutted cod per 1 2-line tub of gear by experimental longliners,
Bonavista, Sept. 1 to Nov. 4, 1950.
During the J une 7 to August 31 period longlining sets close to the shore, and
in many locations inside the 1 00-fathom line, yielded insignificant or non­
commercial catches of cod.
In the deep water of Bonavista Bay there were low bottom temperatures
'
- 1·0 to - 0·4°C, (30·2 to 3 1·3°F.) at 1 5 8 to 1 7 1 fathoms and deepwater
catches were insignificant.
Some excellent cod fishing grounds were found in the deep water to the east­
ward of the underwater projection of the Bonavista Peninsula, 1 8 to 20 nautical
miles offshore, in about 130 to 1 60 fathoms and with bottom temperatures
usually between - 0·5 and 1 , 5°C, (3 1·1 to 34·7°F. ) . The best catches were
between 1 ,000 and 1 , 500 lb. of cod per tub of gear. These were new fishing
grounds, large in area, unknown to the Bonavista fishermen and apparently had
never been fished previously, One set of three tubs further seaward , 35 nautical
15
I
miles from Cape Bonavista, on August 23, in 1 66 to 1 73 fathoms and with a bottom
temperature of 2·0 to 2·2°C. (35·6 to 36·0°F. ) , resulted in only a small catch
-370 lb. per tub. Sets by both boats 30 nautical miles ENE. of Cape Bonavista
on July 5, in 1 75 to 1 8 1 fathoms and at 2·0 to 2·3°C. (35·6 to 36· 1 °F. ) , gave a
catch of 870 lb. per tub of gear for one boat and 1 ,380 lb. per tub for the other
boat. Thus, there are probably good cod grounds further offshore beyond the
grounds now being fished .
In September there was excellent fishing on the deepwater offshore grounds.
From September onward it became possible to obtain good fishing in 45 to 65
fathoms on the inshore grounds only 5 to 8 nautical miles from land. From
October onward with shorter fishing days and stormier weather, the one small
42-foot longliner, which continued the experimental fishing, resorted entirely to
the inshore grounds. The catch per tub on these inshore grounds from September
to November was generally from 800 to 1 , 200 lb. This was not quite as good as
the offshore fishing, but the longer fishing time, and the greater amount of gear
that could. be set in the shallower water, made the shallower water fishing more
profitable in the fall months.
Tables I IA and I I B show the details of the catches of cod and other com­
mercial fishes by the two longliners in the Bonavista area in 1950. In addition to
a total catch of 156,000 lb. of gutted , head-on cod, there were only small amounts
of American plaice, halibut, redfish , striped wolffish , and Greenland halibut
TABLE I IA.-Catches of cod and other commercial fishes from experimental fishing trips by the
two experimental longline boats at Bonavista, J une 7-Sept. 2, 1950. (Weights of cod are of head­
on, gutted fish ; weights of halibut are head-off, gutted fish; weights of plaice, redfish, wolffish and
turbot are of round fish. )
Experimental
Inshore fishmg
Offshore fishing
June
No.
OF TRiPS.........
. .
TOTAL HOURS AT SEA.
..
. . . . . . . .
TUBS OF r.EAR FISHED ........
R ANGE
RANGE
. . .
. .
.
. . . .
. . . .
fathoms............ ...
TEIVIPERATURE, °C ............
OF DEPTHS,
OF
,
.
July
Aug .
to -0·4
7
95
18
110-181
-1·3
to 2·3
6t
92
19
112-186
-0·7
to 2·0
1,165
26
78
15,915
358
884
9,897
223
521 •
8
101
15
101-171
.
-
1 7
·
------- 1---1
COD
. . • . . . . . . . • .
Catch, lb.
Value, dollars.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .
Lb. per 12-line tub ................... .
1
Sept.
July
June
Aug.
, -----,----,-----,----,----,----
1
,
6
3t
69
40
4
11
8
10-36
15-60
16-49
167-169
3·1
3·6
5 ·5
0·5
to 0·4 to -1,3 to -1·1 to -1·2
3
36
1--'--'--
,
47
1
47
,
1,139
26
285
,
955
21
87
,
850
19
106
------ --- --- --- --- --- --- --
CATCH OF OTHER FISH,
Halib ut
lb.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • .
Plaice . . . .
. . . . .
Redfish . . . . . . . . .
Wolffish (striped)
Wolffish (spotted)
Turbot
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • .
6
72
98
347
47
0
340
591
o
o
195
10
16
127
447
146
25
4,360
250
o
6
o
o
o
12
o
o
o
o
o
34
o
o
32
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
TABLE I I B.-Catches of cod and other commercial fishes from commercial fishing trips by the
two experimental longline boats at Bonavist, July 1 5-Nov. 4, 1950, and totals for experimental
and commercial fishing. (Weights of cod are of head-on, gutted fish ; weights of halibut are head­
off, gutted fish ; weights of plaice, redfish, wolffish and turbot are of round fish. )
T otal experimental
and
commercial fishJng
Commercial
Inshore fishing
Offshore fishing
July
Aug.
5
74
19
117-185
-0·2
to 2·2
13
168
49
127-170
-0·8
to 2·3
Sept.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
---- --- ---
No. O F TRIPS
TOTAL HOURS
.. ....... . . ..
AT SEA . ..... ' . . . .
.
TUBS OF C:EAR FISHED.....
RAN(::E OF DEPTHS,
fathoms...... .
RANGE OF TEMPERATURE,
°e .....
R
110
29
134-168
-0'1
to 1·8
6
2
50
21
6
23
47-65
33-45
3 ·3
1·0
to -0'2 to -0·7
2
14
4
50
4·4
Offshore
fish'.ng
Inshore
fishing
JuneSept.
JuneNov.
22t
48!
239
647
56
150
10-65
101-186
-1·7
5·5
to -1,3
to 2·3
--- --- --- ---
COD
Catch, lb...... . ... . . .. . . . .. . .
Value, dollars....... . ... .
Lb. per 12-line tub .... . . .
lb.
Halibut. ..... . . . .. . . ... .. .. . .
Plaice . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Redfish... . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . .
Wolffish (striped) .. . . . ... ... . .
Wolffish (spotted). .. . . ... . . .
. ... . .. . . .. . .
Turbot .....
16.873
380
888
----
42,977
967
877
33.510
754
1,156
5,265
118
878
24,463
550
1,064
3,375
76
844
120,384
2,709
803
36,047
811
644
--- --- --- ---
CATCH OF OTHER FI�H,
168
267
123
83
455
211
81
760
51
0
5,200
322
31
185
8
158
764
184
0
16
0
0
0
0
0
30
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
511
2,084
375
266
11,314
1, 580
0
121
0
0
0
0
(turbot)! . Over 1 1 ,000 lb. of spotted wolffish were caught. In 1950 the cod
were weighed and sold, but the weights of the other fish were estimated at sea by
the field technicians. In addition to the commercial fishes shown in Tables
I IA and l I B , the following amounts (round weight) of non-commercial fishes
were caught: the broad-headed wolffish, 13,000 lb. ; thorny skate, 4,000 lb. ;
spiny-tailed skate, 3 ,000 lb.; Arctic eelpout, 1 60 lb.; common eelpout, 230 lb.;
smooth-spined grenadier, 150 lb. ; sea raven, 20 lb. ; longhorn and shorthorn
sculpins, 1 40 lb.; spiny dogfish , 400 lb.; and pollock, 2 lb.
1951 SEASON
The new deepwater codfishing grounds off Bonavista , discovered by the
experimental longliners in 1950, were tested by a commercial longlining trial in
195 1 . The operations in 195 1 resembled commercial fishing in that the skippers
were permitted to fish whatever grounds were most profitable, and the value of
the catch was shared in the usual manner among the boat and crew.
The results of this commercial trial are shown in Figures 9, 10 and 1 1 and
Tables I I I , IV and V. From J une to August 13 almost all the fishing was carried
out in deep water, generally 1 30 to 140 fathoms, 18 to 20 nautical miles from
'Common names and scientific names of all fishes and invertebrates mentioned in the text
are given in the Appendix.
17
76021-4
I
25'
49°
55 '
50'
HERRING a CAPELIN
BAIT
101 - 250
I±I
251 - 500
o
501 - 800
[.J
BOI - 1100
ILl
1101 - 1400
(]
1401 - 1700
I!I
o SOUID, HERRING a CAPELIN
JUNE 9 - AUGUST
40'
49°
I!I
.::r-.:J
,
BAI� .... IOO fathoms'"
__
\
--\\"-___
\:: �.�>
G.��..
"1
.
.(
n
<� J
!.i
8-1:J-iJ
-·�a\norn':
.. O � AP� BONAVJST�
/ :�
,
\...:
i)
'- ._ . . '
:
'-,\
\,
:
\
�IJ
{)
DOLLARLAN
BAN�
)
..,
�
.
35 '
c ..�
.
)
30'
.:.
c".:..
,
-
�
1!3�--JIIl
55'
[.J(]
[.J-1Ll [.J(]
e
[.J IJ
,., -[.J
ILl"'"
[.J I!I
.:J \.:J�
.:JI!I
ILl :
� .:J
.:J
:
rr .:J
t ( \HE HARRVS
1/
//
BONAVISTA /fAY
----------/'
EEl
o
�
�
()
e
J3.19 1 /
/
/
11/
45'
�
SOUID
BAIT
.\ :
'/f
.
. ....
.
.
"
,,
I.:J.YIJI
,!
\
"\
..,(;p
,,
o".;
��
,
[.J
[.JIJ
(j�
��
50'
45'
40'
�
35'
30'
,"
I
(../'
25'
2al
25'
,
FIGURE 9,
1m
R
Catches of head-on, gutted cod per 12-line tub of gear by experimental longliners,
Bonavista, June 9 to Aug, 13, 1951.
Cape Bonavista. Here the fishing was good , usually averaging between 900
and 1 ,500 lb. of cod per 1 2-line tub of gear. The two trials inshore gave very
poor results-between 150 and 450 lb, per tub. The bait, during the earlier
fishing, was at first frozen herring and later, frozen herring and fresh capelin.
When squid became available in quantity for bait after August 1 3 , fishing on the
offshore grounds became excellent, generally averaging between 1 ,500 and 2 , 5 00
lb. per tub, In the August 14-0ctober period, inshore sets were made on days
when weather conditions were unsuitable for fishing offshore. Three of these
inshore sets yielded below 800 Ib" one between 800 and 1 , 100 lb. and only one
between 1 , 100 and 1,400 lb. per tub.
In November and December, only six trials were made offshore ; two good.
one moderate and three poor catches per tub, were obtained. Inshore, with
18
fishing depths ranging from 40 to 79 fathoms, catches were fairly good, usually
averaging between 700 and 1 ,400 lb. per tub. With the days becoming much
shorter, the weather more uncertain and boisterous, and the fishing apparently
at least as good inshore, the boats in November visited the offshore grounds
very little and in December not at all. Thus, the offshore grounds were not
(
fished enough in these two months for us to decide whether the rather mediocre
results obtained offshore were due to absence of fish or to chance. In these
months, however, the size of the fish caught in inshore waters showed a con­
siderable increase, while that of the offshore cod showed a decrease. It is very
likely, therefore, that a movement of some cod from deep water toward the outer
and deeper part of the inshore grounds occurs at this time.
25'
49·
55'
HERRINGBAIT
8 CAPELIN
501 - 800
[J
801 - IIOC
.:J
1 101 - 1400
IJ
1401 - 1700
�
1701 - 2260
•
o SOUID, HERRING 8 CAPEUN
AUGUST
14
- OCTOBER
SQUID
BAIT
49°
()
�
()
e
•
BAIT
31,1951
...lOO
fathom,"/
-I�..
e
e--.e e
•
//'
50'
/,//
4 5'
BONAVISTA
-------
B fY
,
,//
() .
•
•
{>HE HARRYS
«()
.t'"
i
40'
i
:�j�
to\hOml)
. �'6
,
I
I
,
I
I
:'\'"
; (
DOLlARMAN
BAN�
,.)
..1
<"
30'
,
..
/
m
.
••
•
55'
50
45 '
,
,
,
,
I
,
I
I
i
I
••
ee
ee
/.
,///'
I
..A::P
40'
,,
I
$'
....��
35'
30'
w
25'
FIGURE 10.
Catches of head-on, gutted cod per 12-line tub of gear by experimental longliners,
Bonavista, Aug. 14 to Oct, 3 1 , 195 1 .
19
7602 1 -4!
25'
49"
HERRING a CAPELIN
BAIT
55 '
G
[J
.:J
IJ
1'1
•
o
251
-
SQUID
BAIT
500
�
801 - 1100
1101 - 1400
e
()
1401 - 1700
1701
- 2260
•
�
SQUID, HERRING a CAPELIN BAIT
NDVEMBER - DECEMBER"95
50"
,
45'
49"
G
Q
501 - 800
///
,
,
,,
,
,
)DD lalham.�/
/
,/"
.. C1THE HARRYS
�e
\,
"" " " "'"
�.�.�t'(:)....
��--Q
\
\
I
I
I
I
... .J
.�
\.-.,
\
\
\
BONAVISTA ,-BAY
55'
50"
45"
I
,
,
,
I
I
I
I
I
---------_#';'
40"
40"
!
I
I
,
\
.
3D'
�\�o��
// . ...
25'f--
20'1
'!>o \
.,
t
. --. . ,:
/
/
,
/
"
",..,
.. ,.
00
,
,
,
,
I
35'
./
o,,'
f:I'�
\
30'
--125'
::/
FIGURE 11.
,\
/r-.'
..
'20'
25'
Catches of head-on, gutted cod per 1 2-line tub of gear by experimental longliners,
Bonavista, Nov.-Dec., 195 1 .
During the early part of the year, inshore longlining was not remunerative.
In October, November and December, however, catches (per tub of gear),
almost half as great as those secured earlier offshore, could be obtained 4 or 5
nautical miles from the coast in water about 40 to 70 fathoms deep.
\Nolffish , American plaice and halibut were more plentiful in the earlier
months and thei r numbers declined rapidly as the season advanced, September
had fewest fishing trips,
From J une 9 to December 15 the O-Johnny-O (registered length , 36 feet) ,
with a crew of three caught a total of 398,000 lb, of marketable fish, This
included 374,000 Ib, of cod; the remainder was mostly wolffish and American
20
plaice (Table I I I ) . During the same period the combination of the Miss Osborne
the East Wind and the Edward Humby used by Captain Hemeon, generally
with a crew of 4, produced a total of 418,000 lb. of marketable fish ; of this amount
39 1 ,000 lb. were cod (Table IV) . Owing to the destruction of the Miss Osborne
and the delay in fitting out the other boats, Captain Hemeon lost a half-month
of the best fishing of the year in August, as well as two good fishing days in
September ; or a total, j udging from the catches of the O-Johnny-O, of at least
80,000 lb. of marketable fish . Taking this into consideration, the total catch
to the end of November, if the destruction of the Miss Osborne had not occurred,
would have been about 500,000 lb. of marketable fish.
TABLE I l L-Fish catches, O-Jolmny-O, Captain Decker, Bonavista, June-December, 1951.
(Some catches of American plaice and wolffish were not sold in June but the values are entered
here. Weights of catches of cod and wolffish are of head-on, gutted fish ; weights of halibut are of
head-off, gutted fish ; weights of plaice and redfish are of round fish.)
Number of trips...... . .....
Total hours at sea .... . . ....
No. inshore trips.....
...
No. offshore trips . . .... . . .
Total tubs gear used.....
Lb. cod per tub gear ..... ... .
Inshore depths,fatitoms . .. . .
Offshore depths,falitoms . . .. .
Temperature. °e . . .. . . . . . . . .
June
9- 30
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
1-15
Total
11
162
1
10
58
8 24
15-30
1 09-157
- 1·0
to 1 ·6
13
210
1
12
73
992
12
1 92
2
10
71
1,423
22-57
121-154
- 0·7
to 3·2
7
102
1
6
32
1 ,507
53-54
120-14 5
- 0·5
to 0·9
8
104
2
6
34
1,453
4 9-63
121-155
- 0·4
to 0·7
11
123
9
4
33
4
0
49
940
60-7 9
. ..
0·0
to 0 · 1
6e>
92e>
20
46
332
. ..
15-79
88 -157
- 1· 3
to 3·2
4 0,7 25 14 ,105
28 5
8 28
210
50
0
0
0
0
41,763 14,44 0
373,67 5
B ,9le>
9,952
570
200
398 , 31 3
lb.
4 7 ,7 8 2
.. . .... ..
Cod . . . .. .
Wolffish
3,68 0
.. . .. . .
4 , 607
American plaice ... . .. . . . .
250
. . . . ..
Halibut.......
1 03
Redfish ..... . ... . . . .... . .
56,4 22
Total marketable fish .....
88-146
-1· 3
to 1 · 4
2
34
831
73
110-14 3
...
FISH CATCHES,
7 2 ,398
5,144
3,08 5
260
0
8 0,887
1 01 ,065
3,200
1,5/ 2
60
20
105,8 57
48,21 5
574
37 5
0
0
4 9,1 64
4 9,38 5
205
1 13
0
77
59,7 8 0
1 ,074
55
1 15
2S
3
29
1 ,629
77
77
26
0
2,274
48
38
6
0
133
1 ,08 5
9
9
0
0
68
1,235
3
3
0
2
81
1,018
12
5
0
0
53
353
4
1
0
0
0
8 ,668
208
248
57
1 ,301
1,920
2,4 99
1 ,1 7 1
1,324
1,088
358
9,661
VALUES TO NEAREST DOLLAR
Cod . .. . . . . . . .... . ... . . . .
Wolffish.. ..... . . . . .... . .
American plaice . . ...... . . .
Halibut..... . . .. . . .......
Redfish ..... . .. . ...... . . .
Cod liver s . ... . . .
TO t
etable fish and
I
c
.
:� ::�;
l
III
5
475
The story of the longlining experiment in 195 1 , and recommendations i n
relation t o the longline fishery and t o the fishing port o f Bonavista are set out in
considerably more detail by Templeman (195 1 ) .
1953 SEASON
The longlining boats A tlantic Rover and Gertrude & Ronald began operations
at Bonavista in M ay. The object was to determine whether longlining is
21
TABLE IV.-Fish catches, Miss Osborne, etc., Captain Hemeon, Bonavista, June-November, 195 1 .
(Some catches of American plaice and wolffish were not sold in June but values are entered here.
Weights of catches of cod and wolffish are of head-on, gutted fish ; weights of halibut are of head-off,
gutted fish ; weights of plaice and red fish are of round fis h. )
East Wind
and
Ed. Hu",by
Miss Osborne
June
11-30
Number of trips .
. . . . . . . . . . . • . . • .
.
Total hours at sea.
. . . . . . . .
.
. .
Aug.
11- 15
July
I
Edward Hu",by
Total
Nov .
Oct.
Sept.
I
10
14
6
6
9
11
56
148
230
100
111
140
127
856
0
7
9
9
4
47
323
No. inshore trips ........ . .......
1
0
0
I
No. offshore trips ....
9
14
6
5
Total tubs gear used.............
57
91
36
34
50
55
Pounds cod per tub gear .... . ....
863
1, 044
1,450
1, 552
1, 79 3
9 46
1
Inshore depths, fathoms.....
12-35
.. .
Offshore depths, fathoms
109-155
105- 160
133- 150
131-1 38
139-14 5
49 , 167
9 5,018
52, 205
52, 7 7 5
89 , 630
5, 572
7,308
2,259
425
7 83
517
16, 864
3,699
3, 7 7 5
57 4
230
429
203
8,9 10
300
67 0
95
0
0
0
1,065
48
10
0
0
0
25
83
58, 7 86
106,7 81
55, 133
53,430
9 0,842
Fish catches, lb.
Cod
.. .
.
. .... . ..
..
Wolffish ...
. . .
.
. .
. .
.
. ..
American plaice ... . ... ........
Halibut. . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
Redfish..... . . . . ........ ..... .
Total marketable fish.
.. .
. .
58-60
.
40-67
140-147
12-67
105-160
52, 020 39 0, 815
52, 7 65 417, 737
Values to nearest dollar
Cod. . . . . . . . . . .
. .
..
. .
. . . .. . . .
.
1 ,106
2,138
1,175
1 ,1 87
2, 241
1,300
Wolffish ............
84
110
34
6
12
8
254
American plaice...............
92
94
14
6
11
5
222
30
67
10
0
0
0
107
0
0
0
0
1
2
32
124
65
54
140
68
483
[ ,345
2,533
1,29 8
1,253
2, 404
1, 382
10,215
Halibut. . . . . . . . .
. .
.
Redfish . ..... . . .
Cod livers....................
Total v alue marketable fish and
cod livers. . . . ........... . .....
9 , 1 47
commercially possible in this area in May ; the Station's previous work in the
area began about J une 10, and no successful longlining by local boats had
occurred before late in J une.
From May 8-June 1, areas from 18 to 27 nautical miles to the northeast
and east of Cape Bonavista were fished (Table VI), at depths ranging from
1 05 to 1 5 2 fathoms. Good catches of cod were made in the warm, deep layer of
water, and bottom temperatures in the area with successful fishing ranged
chiefly from - 0. 5°C. to 1 . 7°C. (3 1 . 1 to 3 5 . 1 OF.) . Cod catches averaged 1 ,300 lb.
per 1 2 -line tub of gear, and all marketable fish 1 ,400 lb. per tub. The best
fishing was found from 130 to 145 fathoms.
The results of this fishing indicate that longlining on a commercial basis
could be successful throughout May. In years when there is little drift ice, it is
almost certain that longlining could begin in April.
22
f
TABLE V.-Financial returns of longlining boats, 1951.
Month
Gross
stock
Boat's
share
Expenses
Net stock
Share per
man
$
$
$
$
$
BOATS WITH NOVA SCOTIAN SKIPPERS
No. in
crew
O-Jall1lllY-O
June 9-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
July. . . . . . . . . .. . .
August . . . . . . . . • .
September . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
October . .. . . .
November . . . . .. . . .
December 1 -1 5.: . . . . .
.
1 . 228
1 ,9 34
2,501
1,166
1 ,324
1 ,088
358
24 6
387
500
233
265
218
72
406
437
499
261
27 3
21 5
65
576
1 ,1 10
1 ,502
67 2
7 86
655
221
192
37 0
501
224
262
21 8
74
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2,1 9 5
1 ,582
1,297
549
39 6
324
508
477
21 1
1,138
7 09
7 62
285
1 77
254
4
4
3
1,269
2,404
1 ,382
254
4 81
27 6
213
34 0
266
802
1 ,583
84 0
201
39 6
210
4
4
4
Miss ashame. East Wind and Edward H1I1IIby
June 1 1- 30, Miss Osbame . . . .
July. Miss Osbame . .
.. . . . . . . . .
August 1-1 5. Miss Osbame . . .
August 29-Sept. 1 8, Sept. 22-30 East
Wind and Ed. Hmlthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
October, Edward H1I1IIby . . .
November, Edward Humby . . . . . . . . . .
TOTALS
9 ,599
1 ,9 21
2,1 56
5,522
1 ,841
1 0,129
2,280
2,01 5
5,834
1 ,523
11 ,9 29
2,7 30
2,465
6,7 34
1 ,823
O-Joll1lny-O, June-December 1 5. . . . .
3
Miss Osban.., East Wind and Edward H1I1IIby,
June-November. . . .
. .. . . . . . . .
Total allowing for $ 1 ,800 worth
through Miss Osborne explosion
fish
ulually 4
lost
TABLE VI.-Experimental longliners-catch and effort, May 8 to June 1 , 1953.
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No. of trips . . . . .
. .
.
Tubs fished . . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
Depth, fathoms . .
. .
.
Bottom temperature range, °C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Catch, lb. (estimated)
Cod (head-on, gutted) . . .
Wolffish (round)
Plaice (round ) . . . . .
.
Greenland halibut (round) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pounds of cod per 1 2-line tub . . . .
.
.
Total pounds of fish per 12-line tub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
. . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . .
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
. . . . . .
. . . .
.
.
.
.
14
54
105 to 152
- 1 · 3 to 1 · 7
7 1 , 800
2 , 455
490
300
1 , 330
1 , 414
COD SIZES
From 1950-1953, at Bonavista, length measurements were taken of repre­
sentative samples of cod caught by the various fishing methods. The length of a
fish was measured from the anterior tip of the snout to the mid-fork of the tail.
The measuring boards used were marked in centimetre divisions, the first mark
being at 1 .5 cm . , the next at 2 . 5 cm . and all succeeding marks at similar 1 -cm.
intervals. In measuring, if the mid-fork rested anywhere within a division and
not on a mark, the length was recorded as the whole number in that division ,
e.g. 42 cm. , 55 cm. etc. I f the mid-fork rested on a line, the length was recorded
as the whole number in the next highest division. For convenience, these
measurements were further combined into 5-cm. classes for the comparisons in
Figures 1 2 ; 1 3 and 14 and Tables VII, VIII and IX. Each 5-cm. class is identi­
fied by the class median in centimetres and its equivalent in inches.
The basic length-weight relationships used were obtained from the length­
weight curve of 5 , 500 gutted and gilled cod from many Newfoundland areas. To
bring weights to ordinary gutted weights with gills in, multiply by LOS.
In June and July fishing by cod trap is the main method in use and takes
place in depths down to 10 to 20 fathoms. The cod caught by trap are of smaller
average size than those caught by the other methods. If we consider the 5 1 - to
5 5-cm . class (median 53 cm. or 20.9 in .) to be the upper limit of the scrod size ,
it will be seen (Tables V I I and V I I I ) that in 1950-1953 about 54% by number
and 34% by weight of the trap fish were of scrod size and smaller. Trap fish
during this period averaged 56 cm. (22 in. ) in length and 2 .9 lb. in weight.
Fish taken on handline at this time (June-July) are somewhat larger than
those taken by trapping. This is due partly to the selection by the large hand­
lining hooks, and partly because handlining at this time often occurs in deeper
water than cod-trapping, and more of the larger fish tend to be in the deeper
water. However, about 38% of the number and 2 1 % of the weight of the hand­
line fish are made up by fish of scrod size and smaller. Handline fish in J une­
July averaged 59 cm. (23 in. ) in length and 3 . 5 lb. in weight.
Linetrawl fishing inshore in June and J uly is carried out on a limited scale
using short lengths of lines hauled by hand in about the same depths as handline
fishing. There is a tendency for linetrawls to catch larger fish than handlines
and only 33% of the number and 1 7 % of the weight of the cod taken on linetrawls
are made up by fish in the scrod and smaller sizes. Linetrawl fish in J uly
averaged 62 cm. (24 in ) in length and 4. 1 lb. in weight.
Trapping ceases early in August. In August and September handlining is
carried on down to about 40 fathoms, somewhat deeper than in J une and J uly.
As a result of the deeper fishing, more large fish are taken than in the earlier
24
,r
o·
200
0.
..
" C?
TRAP
....
...
150
0
100
�
JULY ( 50 3 8 fish)
b. . .
..,�
50
0
.•
"
.6
0'
b..
.·
·0 . . ..
0 " ' 0 " ' 0" ' 0' ' '0' ' '0
200
HANDLINE
150
(4244 fish)
o 100
z
«
en
:::>
0
:I:
fa:
w
n.
:I:
(52,42 fish)
50
.
0
en
i;: 200
.,
. . .. . .
" '0
( 5 6 2 fish)
"-
(9496 f i s h )
0
L I N E T RAWL - INSHORE
a:
w 150
m
::I!
:::>
z
100
(5641 fish)
50
0
200
150
(3146 fish)
100
50
0
CM.
I N.
L E NGTH
FIGURE 12. N u mber of cod at each length per thousand total, from trap, handline, inshore
Iinetrawl and offshore longline, Bonavista, 1950-1953. (The numbers of cod
actually measured are bracketed).
25
TABLE VI I .-Percentages of total numbers of cod at different lengths (Bonavista, 1950-1953).
N
0\
July
inches
1 1 ·0
13·0
15 · 0
16 · 9
18 · 9
20 · 9
22 · 8
24 · 8
26 · 8
28 · 7
30 · 7
32 · 7
34 · 6
36 · 6
38 · 6
40 · 6
42 · 5
44 · 5
46 · 5
48 · 4
50 · 4
52 · 4
54 · 3
56 · 3
.
.
.
.
.
%
.
.
.
0·1
2 ·3
11·3
19 · 2
20 · 8
18·8
11 ·9
9 ·5
3 ·6
1 ·3
0·7
0·2
0·1
0·1
0·0
0·0
Total cod measured . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percen tages
Av. length, cm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Av. length, in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Av. weight, lb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Range of depths fished, fathoms
Smallest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Greatest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
.
Handline
Trap
Length
class
median
.
.
.
.
.
.
.........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
JuneJuly
.
%
.
.
.
0·2
0·8
6·7
1 1 ·9
18·4
18 · 7
19 · 1
13 · 5
5·9
2·8
1·1
0·5
0·3
0·2
0·0
.
.
0·0
0·0
0·0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Inshore trawl
Aug.Sept.
%
' "
.
0·0
0 ·4
4·0
1 1 ·0
14 · 7
18 · 1
20 · 6
17·4
7·9
3·3
1 ·3
0·8
0·3
0·2
0·1
0·0
0·0
0·0
0·0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . .
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
' "
.
.
July
%
..
.. .
....
2 ·0
10·9
20 · 1
18·5
17·8
13·2
8·4
2·1
2·9
1·8
1 ·3
0·4
0 ·5
0·2
. ..
0·2
. ..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
Aug.Sept.
%
. .
.
.
0·0
0·5
4·0
10 · 7
12·3
14·9
18·4
17·8
10 · 1
5·2
2·8
1 ·6
0·9
0·6
0·2
0·1
0·0
0·0
0·0
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Offshore longline
Oct.Dec.
%
.
.. .
0·0
0·7
3·7
6·8
7·7
10·6
14 · 9
16 · 1
13 · 3
8·9
6·8
4·8
3·0
1·7
0·6
0·2
0·1
0·0
0·0
0·0
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
May
%
. . . .
%
0·0
Aug.Sept.
%
0·0
.
0·1
0·2
1 ·0
3 ·3
7·2
14·0
16·7
15 · 1
12 · 1
1 1 ·4
8·0
5·1
2·7
1 ·4
0·7
0·3
0·3
0·2
0·1
0·1
0·1
.
.
3 , 146
100 · 0
72 · 3
28 · 5
6·2
.
0·1
0 ·5
3·0
7·3
10 · 3
16·7
21 ·5
19 · 1
11·3
5·1
3·0
1·2
0·5
0·3
0·1
0·1
.. .
,
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
' "
.
.
.
.
. .
........
.........
........
4 , 244
100 · 1
59 · 1
23 · 3
3 ·5
5 , 242
1 00 · 1
60 · 9
24 · 0
3·8
562
1 00 · 3
61 · 8
24 · 3
4·1
9 , 496
100 · 1
62 · 8
24 · 7
4·2
5 , 641
99 · 9
67 · 7
26 · 7
5·4
4 , 574
100 · 1
68 · 4
26 · 9
5·3
6 , 359
100 · 1
74 · 5
29 · 3
7·0
10 , 354
100 · 2
75 · 2
29 · 6
7·0
.........
.........
10
20
3
30
10
40
20
40
15
60
18
79
105
152
117
181
100
1 75
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
%
.
0·0
0·1
0·3
1·3
2 ·4
6·0
13 · 7
20 · 7
20 · 0
15 · 7
10 · 2
5·4
2·6
0·9
0·4
0·1
0·2
0·0
0·0
.
.
0·0
.
5 , 038
99 · 9
55 · 6
21 · 9
2 ·9
.
Oct.Nov.
. . .
.
0·0
0·1
0·5
1 ·6
5·5
12 · 4
16·8
16·9
17·4
1 1 ·9
7 ·9
4 ·5
2 ·2
1 ·0
0·5
0 ·4
0·2
0·2
0·1
0·1
0·0
0·0
' "
.
JuneJuly
' "
. .
. . . .
.
. ..
130 .
� 60
Length
class
median
cm.
28
33
38
43
48
53
58
63
68
73
78
83
88
93
98
103
108
1 13
118
123
128
1 33
1 38
143
20
TRAP
15
10
,0
5
0
:
0' , .. 0
.0
.•
..,
••
0• .
0. • • • 0 . ...0 ....
••
0. • . •0
20
HANDLINE
(4244
w
N
iii
:I:
U
<t
W
...J:
I:I:
(!)
w
15
SEPT. ( 5 242
5
0
� 20
..J
u.
0
IZ
w
u
0:
w
n.
fish)
10
(562
�
0
I-
fish )
fish)
LINE TRAWL - INSHORE
- S E P T. ( 9 49 6
15
fish).
( 5 641
10
fish)
5
0
•.
0
(4574
20
--0
fish)
LONG L I N E - OFFSHORE
15
10
O C T. - NOV. (3146
fish)
5
0
53
20·9
63
24·8
73
28·7
83
32·7
93
36·6
103
40·6
113
44'5
123
48·4
1 33
52· 4
1 43
56'3
CM.
IN.
LENGTH
FIGURE 13. Percentages of total weight of fish at each length, from trap, handline, inshore
linetrawl and offshore longline, Bonavista, 1950-1953. (The numbers of cod
actually measured are bracketed).
27
'-
TABLE VII L-Percentages of total weight 01 cod at different lengths (Bonavista, 1950-1953).
Weights are "gutted-and-gilled".
�
Length
class
median
N
00
Av.
weight
at
median
length
inches
lb.
1 1 ·0
13 · 0
15 · 0
16 · 9
18 · 9
20 · 9
22 · 8
24 · 8
26 · 8
28 · 7
30 · 7
32 · 7
34 · 6
36 · 6
38 · 6
40 · 6
42 · 5
44 · 5
46 · 5
48 · 4
50 · 4
52 · 4
54 · 3
56 · 3
0·3
0·5
0·9
1 ·3
1 ·8
2 ·4
3·1
3 ·9
4·8
6·0
7·3
8·7
10·4
12 · 2
14 · 4
16·7
19 · 4
22 · 5
26 · 2
30 · 2
35 · 1
41 · 4
47 · 5
53 · 0
Trap
Handline
I nshore trawl
Offshore longline
July
JuneJuly
Aug.Sept.
J uly
Aug.Sept.
Oct.Dec.
May
JuneJuly
Aug.Sept.
Oct.Nov.
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
...
0·0
0· 1
1 ·4
5·2
9·3
14 · 8
21 · 2
21·9
12·4
6·3
2·9
2·1
0·8
0·7
0·5
0·1
0·1
0·3
0·2
....
....
....
. . . .
...
0·6
4·8
11 ·9
14 · 1
17 · 1
15 · 5
12 · 3
3 ·8
6·1
4·6
3·7
1·3
2·2
0·9
....
0·0
0·1
1 ·2
4·6
7·0
10·9
16 · 9
20 · 2
14·4
9·0
5·7
3 ·9
2 ·5
1 ·9
0·9
0 ·4
0·2
0·3
0·2
' " .
....
0·0
0·7
5·0
11· 7
17·0
19 · 8
15 · 8
15·5
7·4
3·3
2·1
0·8
0·3
0·3
0·2
0·1
' "
.
....
....
. . . .
....
' " .
. . . .
....
0·0
0·2
2 ·5
6·1
12 · 5
16·4
21 · 1
18 · 4
10 · 0
5. · 8
2 ·8
1 ·6
1·1
0·8
0·1
. . . .
....
0·2
0·2
0·2
. . . .
....
....
.
. . . .
.
. .
.
' "
.
1 ·2
....
....
. . . ' "
. .
.
..
0
"
' "
•
.
....
....
0·0
0·1
0·9
2·3
3·5
6·1
10 · 8
14 · 4
14·9
12 ·0
11·0
9·4
6·7
4·4
2 ·0
0·8
0·2
0·2
0·2
0·2
' "
.
....
....
....
....
0·0
0·1
1 ·0
3·3
6·0
12 · 3
19·5
21 · 7
15 · 6
8·3
5·9
2·7
1 ·4
0·8
0·3
0·6
0·2
. . . .
. . . .
.
. . .
0·2
....
0·0
...
0·0
0·0
0·3
1 ·2
3·2
7·8
1 1 ·5
13 · 0
12 · 6
14 · 2
1 1 ·9
8·9
5·6
3 ·4
2·1
)
0·9
1·1
0·8
0·5
0·7
0·5
....
.
...
. ...
0·0
0·0
0·1
0·5
2 ·4
6·9
11·4
14·4
18·0
14 · 7
11·6
7·9
4·5
2 ·4
1 ·3
1·1
0·7
0·8
0·5
0·5
0·1
0·1
.
....
0·0
0·0
0·1
0·4
0·9
3 ·0
8·6
16 · 1
19 · 4
18 · 6
14 · 3
9·1
5·1
2·0
1 ·0
0·3
0·7
0·1
0·2
. . . .
0·2
. . . .
... .
Length
class
median
em.
28
33
38
43
48
53
58
63
68
73
78
83
88
93
98
103
108
1 13
1 18
123
128
133
138
143
"
Total cod measured . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percentages
. . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Av. length, em . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Av. length, in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Av. weight (gutted and gilled ) , lb . .
Range of depths fished, fathoms :
Smallest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Greatest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
N
\Q
.
.
. .
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
5 , 038
100 · 0
4 , 244
100 · 0
5 , 242
100 · 3
562
1 00 · 1
9 , 496
100 · 3
5 , 64 1
100 · 1
4 , 574
99 · 9
6 , 359
100 · 2
1 0 , 354
99 · 9
3 , 146
100 · 1
55 · 6
21·9
2 ·9
59 · 1
23 · 3
3 ·5
60 · 9
24 · 0
3·8
61 · 8
24 · 3
4·1
62 · 8
24 · 7
4·2
67 · 7
26 · 7
. 5·4
68 · 4
26 · 9
5·3
74 · 5
29 · 3
7·0
75 · 2
29 · 6
7·0
72 · 3
28 · 5
6·2
10
20
3
30
10
40
20
40
15
60
18
79
105
152
117
181
100
1 75
130
60
period and only 30% of the number and 1 6% of the weight of handline fish are
scrod and smaller. Handline fish in this period averaged 61 cm. (24 in .) in
length and 3 . 8 lb. in weight.
From September onward the inshore cod retreat still deeper, and line­
trawling becomes the most important method of fishing, the fish now being
generally too deep for profitable handlining. In the August-September period
28% of the number and 1 3 % of the weight, and in October-December 19% of the
number and 7 % of the weight of fish caught on Iinetrawl are scrod and smaller.
Linetrawl fish in the earlier period averaged 63 cm . (25 in. ) in length and 4.2 lb.
in weight and in the later period 68 cm . (27 in. ) in length and 5.4 lb. in weight.
Fishing with linetrawl now occurred down to 75 to 80 fathoms. In the October­
December period, longline and Iinetrawl fishing are often carried on in the same
inshore areas at similar depths. When this occurs, cod of similar sizes are
caught by both methods. For October-December, therefore, the length measure­
ments of longline cod caught in the inshore area have been included with those
of the cod caught by the inshore trawl .
The offshore longline fishery is mainly for the larger cod which have remained
in the deep warm water beneath the cold layer. In May, however, in depths of
105 to 1 5 2 fathoms, the average length of 68 cm . (27 in. ) and the average weight
�
fish
TR A P ( 1 0 0 0
80
/ \.......-- H A N D L I N E ( 1 0 0 0
\
70
o
�
'"
:::>
o
:r:
: /\:
: / /:1',
/ \"
'\
60
: d
J
I- 50
II:
'"
Q.
�
i;:
0,
r;J" 1�
\,
i " �LlNE
,
i "/ \
fish '
\
TRAWL
\.
3676 lb.)
- I NSHORE (1000 fish '
.
_LONG LINE - OFFSHORE ( 10 0 0
...
..
.
, ':.
\q
...
o
II: 3 0
'"
m
::!:
:::>
2946 lb.)
'0,
,
\
\"
40
=
fish :
4635 lb.)
6587 1b:
\
",
'\
\
\
\
\
",
\ ',.
�
1.
'\
\, ...., '.
\\
'
\ 0" " \0\
z 20
/:1
\"
10
o
28
1 1 '0
38
15'0
48
1 8, 9
58
22·8
68
26·8
78
30·7
'0,
ZI,
\
" .'0' '0'
.�.
,,
"0 • •,
0..........
•
•
�,+ i:":j:-:;;,'\U.Vl\i>:..o.MC--O--o--o
88
34·6
98
38'6
108
42'5
1 18
46,5
128
50,4
138
5 4 '3
148
58'3
eM.
I N. '
L E NGTH
FIGURE 14, Number of cod at each length per thousand total, from trap, handline, inshore
trawl, and offshore longline, Bonavista, 1950-1953. Weights per thousand fish
shown in body of Figure are of gutted and gilled fish
30
f
of 5 . 3 lb. are considerably below the averages for later periods, with 1 1 % of the
number and 4% of the weight being made up by fish of the scrod and smaller
sizes. Fewer large cod over 90 cm. (35 in. ) occur in May than in any of the later
periods.
I t is apparent that cod, which appear inshore with the capel in in late June
and in J uly, are abundantly available in the deep water in May, at least one
and a half months before they move inshore to shallow water. From June to
September, cod caught by longline offshore, in depths of 100 to 1 8 1 fathoms,
were of large size, averaging about 75 cm. (29 in. ) in length and 7 . 0 lb. in weight
with only from 2 to 5% of the number and about 1 % of the weight consisting of
fish of scrod size and smaller. In the October-November period for the longline
fish there was a slight reduction in average length to 72 cm. (28 in. ) and in
average weight to 6.2 lb., which may be due in part to the return to the deep
water of some of the smaller cod from the inshore areas. However, only 4%
by number and j ust over 1 % by weight of the cod were of scrod and smaller
SIzes.
In Figure 14 and Table IX, length frequencies from the different times in the
year have been combined for each method of fishing, to show the average
differences between the sizes of fish taken by trap, handline, inshore linetrawl
and offshore longline. One thousand gutted and gilled cod landed by each of
these methods would weigh about 2 ,900 ; 3 , 700 ; 4,600 ; and 6,600 lb. respectively
(Fig. 1 4) .
31
I
-,
TABLE IX.-Percentages of total number and of total weight of cod at different lengths (Bonavista, 1950- 1953).
Weights are "gutted-and-gilled".
Trap
----
%
inches
W
N
1 1 ·0
13 · 0
15 · 0
16·9
18·9
20 · 9
22 · 8
24 · 8
26 · 8
28 · 7
30 · 7
32 · 7
34 · 6
36 · 6
38 · 6
40 · 6
42 · 5
44 · 5
46 · 5
48 · 4
50 · 4
52 · 4
54 · 3
56 · 3
Percentage o f total weight o f cod
at different lengths
Percentage of total number of cod at
differen t lengths
Length
class
median
.
.
.
.
0·1
2·3
1 1 ·3
19 · 2
20 · 8
18 · 8
11·9
9 ·5
3 ·6
1 ·3
0·7
0·2
0·1
0·1
0·0
0·0
.
.
.
.
. . .
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
. .
.
Inshore
trawl
Offshore
longline
Trap
Handline
Inshore
trawl
Offshore
longline
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
.
.
. .
0·1
0·6
5·2
1 1 ·4
16·3
18 · 3
19 · 9
15 · 6
7·0
3·1
1 ·2
0·7
0·3
0·2
0·1
0·0
0-0
0·0
0·0
0·0
.
. . .
0·0
0·6
3·8
9·3
10 · 9
13 · 5
17·1
17·0
11·2
6·4
4·2
2·8
1 ·6
0·9
0·4
0·1
0·0
0·0
0·0
0·0
.
.
.
.
.
.
'
"
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . .
.
. . .
.
. . .
.
Handline
.
0·0
0·0
0·1
0·2
1 ·2
3·2
6·9
13 ·8
18 · 1
17·3
14 · 7
10 · 3
6·7
3·8
1 ·9
0·9
0·4
0·3
0·2
0·1
0·1
0·1
0·0
0·0
. .
.
.
0·0
0·7
5·0
11·7
17·0
19 · 8
15 · 8
15 · 5
7·4
3·3
2·1
0·8
0·3
0·3
0·2
0·1
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . .
.
.
.
0·0
0·1
1·8
5·6
10 · 7
15 · 5
21 · 1
20 · 4
1 1 ·4
6·1
2·8
1 ·9
0·9
0·7
0·3
0·1
0·1
0·2
0·2
0·1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . .
.
.
.
...
0·0
0·1
1·1
3·6
5·7
9·0
14·4
17·6
14·5
10 · 1
7·9
6·2
4·3
2 ·9
1 ·4
0·6
0·2
0·3
0·2
0·0
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
0·0
0·0
0·0
0·0
0·3
1 ·2
3·3
8·2
13·2
15 · 7
16 · 2
13·5
10·5
7·0
4·1
2·3
1 ·2
0·9
0·7
0·6
0·4
0·4
0·2
0·0
Average
weight
at
median
length
lb.
0·3
0·5
0·9
1·3
1 ·8
2 ·4
3·1
3·9
4·8
6·0
7·3
8·7
10·4
12 · 2
14·4
16·7
19 · 4
22 · 5
26 · 2
30 · 2
35 · 1
41·4
47 · 5
53 · 0
Length
class
median
cm.
28
33
38
43
48
53
58
63
68
73
78
83
88
93
98
103
108
1 13
1 18
123
128
133
138
143
Total cod measured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percentages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99 · 9
99 · 8
100 · 0
100 · 3
Av. length, em . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Av. length, in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Av. weight (gutted and gilled), lb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Range of depths fished, fathoms :
Smallest
.
.
.
.
Greatest
.
. . . .
w
w
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
'1' . . . . . . . '1'
.
.
. . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
'
. . . . . . . .
1
.
.
.
'
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
'1'
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
'1
.
5 , 038
100 · 0
9 , 486
100 · 0
15 , 699
100 · 1
24 , 433
99 · 9
55 · 6
21 ·9
2 ·9
59 · 6
23 · 5
3·7
64 · 5
25 · 4
4·6
73 · 4
28 · 9
6·6
10
20
3
40
15
79
100
181
1---- 1 --
BAIT
Table X indicates the relative importance of the different kinds of bait
used in the deepwater fishing. Frozen herring, fresh capelin, and squid frozen
the previous year gave moderately good commercial results of close to a 1 ,000 lb.
of cod per tub of gear. Squid caught and frozen in the c�rrent year was used
from early August onward. The advantage of this squid was obvious, more
than doubling the catch per tub in the first half of August and probably giving
approximately 50 to 1 00% advantage until November, when apparently the
deepwater cod are temporarily reduced in numbers through movements toward
shallower water. The catches in June indicate that, even on old squid frozen
the previous year, twice as much cod can be caught as on frozen herring. Bait
experiments carried out in 1 949- 1953 off the Canadian Atlantic coast by M artin
and McCracken ( 1 954) , also showed squid to be superior to other baits in catching
cod. The one set in the Bonavista area made with frozen capelin was un­
successful, and , in experimental fishing in other Newfoundland areas, frozen
capel in bait was found to give very poor results in deepwater longlining.
TABLE X.-Catches of cod on different baits in water 120 fathoms and deeper i n 195 1 .
data are for 195 3 ; bracketed figures are number of 12-line tubs of gear.)
(May
Average lb. of head-on, gutted cod per tub of gear
Date
1951
Frozen
herring
Fresh
capelin
Frozen
capelin
Frozen
squid
May
1-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1 , 265 (8)
May
1 6-3 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1 , 162 (39)
J une
1-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June
16-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
J uly
1-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
July
1 6-3 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
900 (61 )
1 , 1 1 7 (48)
494 (21)
293 ( 1 )
757
(3)
1 , 033 (10)
1 , 480 (3)
1 , 149 (10)
2 , 445 (12)
Aug.
1-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aug.
1 6-3 1 . .
1 , 962 (29)
Sept.
1-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1 , 981 (26)
Sept.
���:�: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : I: : : : : : : : : : : : : :: : : : : : : : : : : : : :
�:�. ���:�: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : I: : : : : : : : : : : : : :: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :: : : : : : : : : :: : : :
Oct.
Nov.
1 6-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
928 ( 133)
1 , 090 (20)
34
293 ( 1 )
1 , 630 (2 1)
1 , 734 (30)
1 , 839 (41)
1 , 089 (9)
1 , 108 (9)
1 , 662 (227)
COMM ERCIAL LONGLINING BY BONAVISTA FISHERMEN
1 9 5 1 - 1953
GENERAL
I n 1 95 1 , stimulated by the successful fishing of the experimental lingliners,
three local boats began longlining at Bonavista, one in August, the others in
September. These met with fair success, but were not well adapted to this
method of fishing. They were manned by inexperienced crews, with the result
that large amounts of gear were lost.
In 1 95 2 , as a direct result of the experimental work of the two previous
years and the discovery of new and suitable offshore fishing grounds, longlining
by local fishermen increased. During the season the longlining fleet consisted
of ten boats from 35 to 54 feet in length, and included five expressly built for
longlining. Two of these were Nova Scotian built and three 10caIly built, one of
the latter being a smaIl boat suitable only for inshore fishing. The remaining
boats were of the schooner type which had been converted for longlining.
Eight boats operated fairly regularly throughout the season, though they
were late in starting. Only three of the boats were ready and began fishing in
the latter half of J une ; most of the others began fishing in J uly.
In the early part of the season, with only three boats operating, there was
little local anticipation of a successful longline fishery. One boat was bringing
in small catches totalling about 2 1 ,000 lb. of cod for seven trips ; another, 1 6,000 lb.
for six trips ; while a third was having little success, landing only about 6,000 lb.
of cod for four trips. This was due in part to the inexperience of the fishermen
in operating longlining equipment and the resulting loss of considerable amounts
of gear.
On July 8 two of the experimental longliners began a short period of fishing
at Bonavista. Favourable bottom temperatures of 0.5 to 0. 9°C. (32.9 to 33. 6°F.) ,
and good fishing were found at depths somewhat greater than 1 45 fathoms,
from 2 1 to 25 nautical miles off Cape Bonavista ; the catches f or three trips
averaged over 1 , 200 lb. of cod per 12-line tub of gear. In depths less than 1 45
fathoms, in approximately the same area, temperatures below O°c. (32°F.) and
poor fishing were found. The local longliners during most of the June fishing
period had been fishing not more than 20 nautical miles from Cape Bonavista,
where the depths were somewhat shallower, with unfavourable temperatures
below O°c. (32°F .) and poor fishing for cod. By the end of July, seven local
boats were operating, fishing mainly in 1 45 to 1 60 fathoms where better results
were obtained. The average per trip was over 6,000 lb. of cod for J uly, whereas
for J une it was about 2 ,500 lb.
The O°c. (32°F.) j unction between the cold intermediate and the deep
warm bottom water, and consequently the best deepwater fishing grounds, will
35
be about 20 fathoms shallower or deeper, and several nautical miles shoreward or
seaward , in different years, depending on the amount of cold water present.
Because of this, it is important to take bottom temperatures, particularly at the
beginning of the fishing season.
I n 1 952 most boats began operations late in the fishing season and made
only a few trips. Even then, lack of experienced crews and mechanical troubles
caused considerable loss of fishing time. During the peak of the inshore fishing
season, the plant was sometimes unable to take fish from the longlining boats
which, as a result, were forced to remain in port. October was unusually stormy,
with no boat making more than six trips during the month.
During the 1 953 season the longlining fleet increased to fourteen boats,
ranging in registered lengths from 33 to 55 feet ; eight were built especially for
longlining, and six were renovated schooner-type boats. Four new boats built
locally for longlining were added to the fleet, one of which being under 35 feet in
length was not suitable for offshore fishing.
In both years offshore longlining was usually carried out 1 8 to 22 nautical
miles from Cape Bonavista, in depths from over 1 00 to 1 80 fathoms, with the
good fishing usually being from 1 30 to 1 70 fathoms. I nshore longlining was
usually 3 to 6 nautical miles from shore in 40 to 80 fathoms. On each trip,
boats normally fished 50 to 80 lines of 50 fathoms each, with hooks about a
fathom apart. They left port early in the morning, returning the same evening.
The bait preferred by the longliner fishermen was frozen squid. Fresh squid ,
fresh capelin and frozen herring were used on a few occasions.
COMMERCIAL CATCHES ,
1 952-1953
I n 1952 the total monthly catch of the longline boats increased with the
advance of the season, reaching a peak of over 670 ,000 lb. in September when the
greatest number of trips was made (Table X I ) . The monthly average landing
per trip increased up to August, after which a continual decrease occurred. I n
the early part o f the season most fishing trips were to the offshore grounds.
High catches, averaging around 1 , 200 lb. of cod per 1 2-line tub of gear, were
obtained trip after trip by the successful boats, while returns from inshore
fishing trips were generally much lower. One smaller boat fished exclusively
inshore and the lower catches obtained, averaging 600 lb. of cod per 1 2-line tub of
gear, are an indication of the lesser yield to be expected, in this area, from long­
lining inshore during summer.
From September onward, trawling inshore becomes more profitable than in
the earlier months, and , weather conditions being somewhat unpredictable for
offshore fishing, more trips are made inshore. An increasing number of inshore
trips from late summer to autumn results in a lower yield and a progressive
decrease in the monthly average landing per trip.
The boats which fished mainly offshore obtained high enough average
catches of cod per tub to assure a successful season, if a sufficient number of trips
had been made. With the catches obtained, from 50 to 60 trips would be
36
.�
TABLE XL-Effort and catch in the Bonavista commercial long line fishery, 1952 and 1953.
Month
May . . . . . . . . . . .
<.N
......
No. of boats
1952
..
1,953
2
No. of men
1952
. .
No. of tripsa
1953
1952
1953
Total marketable fish
Av. cod per trip
Total codb
1952
1953
1952
1953
1952
1953
lb.
lb.
lb.
lb.
lb.
lb.
3 4 , 500
.. . .
5 , 750
.
8
...
6
. .. .
3 4 , 500
.
.
J une . . . . . . . . . .
3
4
12
16
17
27
49 , 454
1 69 , 636
42 , 740
166 , 752
2 , 514
6 , 1 76
July . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
7
29
28
65
78
40 7 , 436
585 , 908
399 , 8 1 0
565 , 2 1 7
6 , 151
7 , 246
August . . . .
7
12
29
48
77
171
5 0 1 , 428
923 , 529
491 , 41 0
888 , 22 7
6 , 382
5 , 194
September . . . . . .
9
11
38
44
107
1 18
670 , 848
658 , 0 1 7
658 , 295
652 , 329
6 , 152
5 , 528
October . . . . . . . . .
9
12
38
47
36
136
1 7 1 , 433
5 1 2 , 041
1 66 , 7 1 0
505 , 398
4 , 63 1
3 , 716
November . . . . . .
8
12
25
47
35
82
87 , 722
268 , 392
87 , 687
261 , 75 2
2 , 50 5
3 , 192
December . . . . . . .
4
6
17
23
5
12
14 , 055
3 6 , 695
14 , 055
35 , 865
2 , 811
2 , 989
Total . . . . . . . . . . .
10
14
41
55
342
630
1 , 90 2 , 376
3 , 188 , 7 1 8
1 , 860 , 70 7
3 , 1 10 , 040
5 , 441
4 , 937
aTrips are all of less than one day's duration.
beod weights are of head-on, gutted fish.
..
necessary for good economic success. Only two boats made over 50 trips (one 59,
one 6 1 ) and their total landings amounted to about 40% of the total for all the
longliners to the end of the year.
In 1 953 the monthly total landings by longline boats reached a peak in
August of over 920,000 lb. and then decreased each month to the end of the
season. The averages per trip in June and July were much higher, and in August,
September and October lower, than for the same months of 1 952 (Table X I ) .
The higher average catches i n June and July, 1 953, may b e attributed to a
greater familiarity with the grounds, improved boats, and increased experience
in handling boats and gear. The lower averages in August, September and
October are the result of an increased number of fishing trips inshore. In August
some of the smaller longliners found good codfishing inshore about 6 to 8 nautical
miles southeast of Cape Bonavista in 50 to 60 fathoms. Following this, more
trips were made inshore than offshore in August, September and October. Good
catches were made in the area, resulting in a higher inshore catch of cod in 1 95 3 ,
averaging 8 2 8 l b . per 1 2-line tub of gear, compared with 600 l b . in 1 95 2 . It is
apparent that, in the inshore areas, temperatures favourable to cod extended
more deeply earlier in 1 95 3 than in 1 952. However, since the average yield per
trip inshore is usually smaller than for offshore, the ultimate effect of the increased
inshore fishery was the lowering of the average landing of cod per trip for the
months in which it occurred.
In November and December, almost all fishing occurred inshore, and the
catch per trip was approximately half the average catch per trip from May to
September.
About 40% of the total landings was made up by the combined total landings
of three boats which began operations early in the season, two in May, the other
in June. The low total catch of the other boats can be partly attributed to their
late starting date. Excluding the boats which fished exclusively inshore, the
catch per tub did not vary a great deal from boat to boat.
In the offshore fishing, there was an insignificant difference in the two years
between the average catches per tub of gear. Examination of the total effort,
however, shows the catch per tub in 1 953 (994 lb.) to be lower than in 1 95 2
( 1 , 1 1 9 lb. ) . This was due t o the larger number o f trips inshore i n 1 953.
The longliners caught small amounts of marketable fish, other than cod,
especially in deep water. The striped and the spotted �pecies of wolffish were
accepted by the plant. These wolffish landings amounted to about 1 .5 % of the
total yearly landings of all marketable fish. Plaice, redfish and halibut together
made up about 0 . 5 % of the total landings during the period. A few Greenland
halibut (turbot) were landed also.
The principal fish caught, which, though not accepted by the plants at
present, may in the future be marketable, were the thorny skate and the spiny­
tailed skate. These skates, especially the latter, are large enough for the wings
or pectoral fins to have some value.
38
Landings of cod by longliners as percentage of total cod landings at the fish plant, Bonavista,
in 1952 and 1953.
TABLE XI I .-Commercial longline
fishery.
.
Month
J une" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
<N
\C)
1952
1953
1952
1953
lb.
lb.
%
%
6
23
1 72 , 655
Fishing days
Longline landings
as percentage of
total landings
Total
landingsb
3 5 1 , 341
1953
1952
I nshore
boats
Longliners
I nshore
boats
1
1
4
4
18
23
Longliners
. . . . . . . . . .
3 , 031 , 463
2 , 568 , 958
14
24
19
25
August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 , 1 2 1 , 861
2 , 90 1 , 777
23
31
22
21
20
21
September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 , 0 1 3 , 602
1 , 7 1 6 , 940
34
38
17
18
17
18
October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
388 , 5 10
1 , 254 , 059
44
43
11
10
19
17
.
.
222 , 5 72
446 , 1 1 7
41
64
11
9
12
10
December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23 , 120
39 , 360
75
100
2
1
4
0
7 , 973 , 783
9 , 278 , 552
24
33
83
85
94
93
July
. . . . . . . . .
.
.
November . . .
Total . . . . . . . . .
'"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
. . . . .
.
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"June 30, 1952 ; J une 25-30, 1953.
bHead-on, gutted cod.
The importance of the longline fishery, compared to the inshore fishery by
small boats, becomes increasingly evident with the advance of the season.
During the trapping and early handlining season iOn June and July, when the
peak of inshore landings is attained, longliners land only a small portion of the
total. Following this, however, the proportion landed by the longliners increases
with the season until late in the year, when the majority of the fish landed comes
from longliners (Table X I I ) . If the longlining boats fished in April, May and
early June, before profitable inshore fishing for cod begins, fish taken offshore by
longline would be almost the only groundfish landed at this time.
The proportion of the total landed by the longliners is all the more significant
when numbers of men are considered. Longlining crews totalled about 41 men
in 1 95 2 and 55 in 1 953, while the total number of fishermen in the Bonavista
area is estimated to be 400 to 500.
The longliners have not shown for the two years under consideration that
they can fish more days per season than the smaller inshore boats. On many
days or parts of days when it is too stormy to fish offshore, and unprofitable for
inshore longlining, some small inshore boats can fish more sheltered grounds
close to land . However, by beginning fishing earlier and continuing later, both
of which are feasible in most years, the longliners could extend their season
considerably and fish many more days than the inshore boats.
,
40
COD CATCHES I N RELATION TO TEM PERATURE AND DEPTH
TEMPERATURE
Table X I I I shows cod catches at various temperature ranges, and Table
XIV cod catches at various depths, from May to November.
Temperatures were taken with a Norwegian, Bergen-Nautik type of fisher­
men's reversing thermometer. Thermometers were checked before use. The
thermometer was used on a 1 6- to 1 8-lb. cotton line with a 1 4-lb. lead weight.
The line was carried on a special drum temporarily attached to the longline gurdy.
The thermometer was attached one fathom from the lead ; the lead was allowed to
touch bottom, then pulled up a half to one fathom on calm days and about two
fathoms on rough days, so that the thermometer tested the water one and a half
to three fathoms off bottom. The thermometer was allowed to remain in posi­
tion 6 minutes before sending the messenger and 3 minutes were allowed for the
messenger to strike. In smooth water the time of striking could be felt, and in
rough water ample time was allowed for this to occur. Longline fishermen are
accustomed to sounding with the lead, and usually were able to manoeuvre the
boat so as to hold the line straight with no angle. Before sending the messenger
down, the lead was generally lowered to touch the bottom again and then drawn
back to the normal position. As a rule the lead was in the expected position
with relation to the bottom. All the observers concerned with these longline
temperatures have considerable confidence that the temperature readings taken
usually represent real near-the-bottom temperatures.
The experimental fishing was deliberately designed to find fish in quantity,
and not to determine exact relationships between temperature and cod abun­
dance. It was soon found that cod were abundant below the 1 00-fathom line
near the j unction between the cold Labrador Current and the warmer, deeper
water. Thus, in the deepwater fishing it became deliberate policy to begin with
the first end of the longline in water below O°e. (32°F.) at the lower edge of the
cold layer, and set to cross the O°e. line into the deeper and warmer water. The
line was typically 3 or 4 miles long and consequently the temperature, from one
end of a string of gear to the other, often had a range of several degrees. While
it can be said, therefore, that the successful deepwater fishing was close to the
O°e. (32°F.) line between the cold and warmer water, or in some cases a little
further out in slightly warmer water, no exact fish and temperature relationship
can be worked out from the data available.
Most of the temperature information came from the experimental fishing in
1 950. I n the commercial fishing by the experimental boats in 1 95 1 , temperatures
were taken only occasionally.
41
-�
TABLE X I I I .-Average catch of cod (pounds, head-on, gutted) per 1 2-line tub of gear, at various bottom temperature ranges, in deepwater fishing ( 110190 fathoms) by experimental longliners May, 1953 and June to November, 1950-195 1 . ( B racketed number is number of 1 2-line tubs of gear;
C = capelin, H = herring; S = squid bait ).
Temperature at end of line, DC.
Temperature at
beginning of
line, DC.
- 1 · 2 to
-0·9
120
(2, H )
- 1 · 2 to - 0 · 9
�
N
- 0 · 8 to
-0·6
.
.
.
.
- 0 · 5 to
-0·3
650
(5, C H )
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- 0 · 5 to - 0 · 3
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- 0 · 2 to
0 ·0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
0 · 1 to
0 ·5
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
0 · 6 to
1 ·0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . .
.
.
.
.
1 · 1 to
1 ·5
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . . .
.
. .
. .
.
. .
. .
.
.
.
.
1 · 6 to
2·0
.
.
.
. . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
680
(6, C )
1,280
(8, S )
1 , 730
(9, CHS)
1,370
(4, S)
850
( 1 6, CHS)
1,090
(9, CH)
580
( 7, CHS)
. . .
80
(1, C)
.
. .
. ,
.
. .
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0 · 1 to
1·0
0 · 1 to
0·5
460
( 7, S )
90
(2, H )
- 0 · 8 to - 0 · 6
.
- 0 · 2 to
0·0
.
.
.
-
.
-
.
.
.
.
.
.
2 · 1 to
2 ·5
. .
.
.
.
830
(3, C H )
.
1,510
( 1 1, HS)
900
(6, CH)
..
1 ,560
( 7, S)
1,040
(17, C H )
7 70
(2, H)
1,180
( 2 1, CHS)
1,500
(9, CHS)
1,280
(4, S)
1,500
(9, HS)
990
( 4, H )
1,210
(9, S )
860
( 7, HS)
1,330
(4, S )
(4, C H )
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
820
(6, CHS)
760
(22, CHS)
.
. . .
1 · 6 to
2·0
1 · 1 to
1 ·5
.
. . . .
650
( 15, CHS)
1,310
(4, H )
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1, 190
( 2, C H )
.
. . .
1,000
1,030
(3, H )
.
.
..
710
(5, CHS)
I n considering Table X I I I , due allowance must be given for the usually
higher catches on squid bait. Almost all the good catches had a temperature
ranging between - 0.2 and 2 . 5°e. (3 1 . 6 and 36.5°F.) at the warmer, deeper end of
the string. Sets in which both the beginning and end of the line were in tempera­
tures below - 0.3°e. (3 1 . 5°F.) did not usually have good catches. Some good
catches were made when temperatures along the whole line were between 1 and
2°e. (33 . 8 and 3 5 . 6°F.) . Many of the successful sets occurred in cases where the
longline extended from - lee. (30.2°F.) and lower, across temperatures of O°e.
(32°F.) to deeper water of 0.1 to 1 . 5°e. (32.2 to 34. 7 °F.) . I n these cases there
were typically very few fish on the parts of the longline in water colder than
- OSe. (3 1 . 1 °F. ) .
I n the area where most of the Bonavista longlining was carried on, near the
lower border of the colder part of the Labrador Current, it was often possible to
catch cod in quantity in water with a temperature of - 0.5°e. (3 1 . 1 °F.) . There
were some indications that moderate catches could be made in water of lower
temperature. ' In this borderline area, however, there would be as many bodies of
warm water included among the cold, or cold water areas in the warm water.
Also, temperatures were usually taken at each end of the 3- to 4-mile groundline ;
both depths along the ground line and the j unction line between the cold and
warm water are irregular ; and the temperatures are at best taken in depths a
fathom or two above the bait. Thus, it is not possible to argue closely, to within
a fraction of a degree, regarding cod and temperature relationships.
At Bonavista and in our studies of longlining and otter-trawl fishing in other
parts of the Newfoundland area, there was typically a catch of very few or no
cod whenever the fishing has been carried on in water near - 1 .0°e. (30.2°F.) or
lower, at a distance of several miles or more from the deep or the shallow j unction
of the cold and the warm water layers. The small number of cod occasionally
obtained at these low temperatures may have been caught in the warmer water
above the cold layer.
DEPTH
I n May the fishing was carried out in 1 953 only, while for June to November
the fishing was in 1 950-195 1 . The minimum depth at which good fishing occurs
will naturally vary with the thickness and coldness of the layer of cold Labrador
Current water. This may differ significantly from year to year. Good fishing
was present in 1 3 1 to 150 fathoms (May, 1 953) , in 1 2 1 to 150 fathoms in June,
August, October and even between 121 and 1 70 to 1 90 fathoms (July, September) .
Poor catches were obtained in water deeper than 150 fathoms in J une. I n the
months other than J uly-September, water deeper than 150 fathoms was not
investigated ; it is possible, therefore, that in these months also, quantities of fish
could have been caught deeper than 150 fathoms (Table XIV) .
I n the shallower water, catches were low in June and July, with some small
catches in the 1 1 - to 20- and the 2 1 - to 30-fathom ranges. At this time cod were
abundant in 10 to 20 fathoms, but the interference of the local inshore fishing
43
TABLE XIV.-Average catch of cod (pounds, head-on, gutted ) per 12-Jine tub of gear, at various
depths, by experimental longliners, May, 1953 and J une-November 1950-195 1 . (Bracketed
number is number of 1 2-line tubs of gear ; C = capelin ; H = herring; S = squid bait) .
Average catch of cod
Depth
range
June
May
July
(lb.) and bait
Aug.
Sept,
Oct.
Nov.
fathoms
1 1-20
360
(3, C)
460
(I, C)
2 1-30
310
(II, C)
180
(4, C)
70
(3, CHS)
100
(I, C)
600
(8, S)
31-40
41-50
1,070
(2, S)
730
(6, S)
40
(1, C)
5 1-<i0
1,010
(3, S)
850
(10, S)
500
(10, S)
930
(12, S)
990
(22, S)
61-100
680
(6, C)
101-110
.
.
. . .
.
......
1 1 1-120
620
(5, S)
121-130
330
(3, S)
1,120
(31, CH)
790
(24, CH)
1 ,000
(6, CH)
1,940
(5, S)
2 ,000
(4, S)
610
(5, S)
13 1-140
1 .560
(15, S)
950
(32, CH)
1 , 130
(52, CH)
1,620
(75, CHS)
1.540
(18, S)
1,290
(5, S)
760
(4, S)
141-150
1,220
(16, S)
970
(13, CS)
1,570
(12, CH)
1,000
(32, CHS)
950
(8, S)
1,610
(14, S)
300
(15, CH)
990
(4, H)
750
(10, CHS)
1,110
( 1 2 , S)
480
(6, CHS)
1,330
(4, S)
151-160
540
(6, H)
161-170
1 71-180
1.090
(4, C)
181-190
1 ,190
(2, CH)
550
(3, CH)
19 1-200
gear, the small size of the fish, the alternating shallow and deep water along
several miles of trawl, and the abundance of living capelin as food for the cod in
the inshore area, made fishing in the shallow water unprofitable for the longline
fishermen.
In August and September there were some moderate catches in the 3 1 - to 40and the 4 1 - to S O-fathom ranges, with modest fishing in September at the 5 1 - to
60-fathom range. I n October and November the best inshore fishing, 900 to
1 ,000 lb. per tub, was found at 41 to SO and 5 1 to 60 fathoms.
44
•
I
HYDROGRAPHY AND LONGL I N I NG2
BONAVISTA, J ULY
Figure 15 shows the general hydrographic picture of the area off Bonavista
in July, 1 950 and J uly, 1 9 5 1 . There i s a shallow warm water area a t the surface
and near shore. Except for very near shore, immediately beneath the warm
surface layer, lies a colder layer of below O°e. (32°F.) Labrador Current water
with a central core of below - 1 °e. ( 3 0.2°F.) water, extending, along the bottom,
to about 20 nautical miles from the shore. This layer of cold water is thickest
inshore, and it is only near shore that the cold layer covers the bottom. Further
out, the bottom water is warmer, gradually rising to over 3°e. (37.4°F.) ; the
cold layer becomes an intermediate layer and finally disappears.
There was a considerable difference between hydrographic conditions in the
two years. I n J uly, 1 950, the intermediate layer of water below O°e. (32°F.)
was much more extensive, and possessed much more very cold water, below
- 1 . 5°e. (29.3°F.) , than in J uly, 1 95 1 . This was reflected in the ease of fishing
in the two years. The offshore longline fishing at Bonavista in 1 95 0 was, on the
average, several nautical miles further from shore, and deeper than in 1 95 1 .
YEARLY TEMPERATURES-EAST COAST OF NEWFOUNDLAND
No year-round temperatures are available in the deepwater longlining area
off Bonavista. However, at approximately monthly intervals since 1 947,
temperatures at various depths from surface to bottom h ave been taken at a
deepwater station (96 fathoms) off Cape Spear near St. John's approximately
80 nautical miles south of the Bonavista longlining area (Fig. 1 6) . The Labrador
Current, which affects the fishery off Bonavista, is also present off St. John's.
The Cape Spear station is about 30 fathoms shallower than the usual minimum
thickness of the cold water (below O°e. or 32°F.) on the longlining grounds off
Bonavista, and is not deep enough to h ave warm water underneath. The monthly
temperature averages at the Cape Spear station (Fig. 1 6) will serve adequately,
however, to show the nature of the temperature changes in the shallower water,
and to give a good indication of what happens in moderately deep water through­
out the year.
SHALLOW WATER.
Most of the shallow water fishing occurs above the O°e.
(32°F.) line. This line progresses downward from the surface in April, to 25 to
35 fathoms in J une and July ; to 45 to 5 0 fathoms in September ; and to about 75
fathoms, its greatest depression, in December.
The warming of the upper layers is a result of heating by the sun . Since the
warmer and fresher surface water is lighter than the water lying below, unless
there is violent mixing, heat can only progress downward by conduction which is
2Hydrographic information is published with the permission of the Canadian Joint Committee
on Oceanography.
45
.
.
. . � >7�
�
;
�
/.:
�
.�
'. �
�
��
.
S TATION N U M B ERS
43 44
1 1'1 0 12'40
o
'
r '-
45
1 1 . 00
•
•
:::::
,
__
47
10 . 40
46
1 1 .30
- ,.
-
100
,.-.
•
.
-,
o
150
/
� 20
10
.
�
.
. 30
,.
:.
-
o
25
50
75
100
150
200
250
350
/
2 25
II)
�
0
:I:
•
,.,
30
.
200
275
-;::----
49
300
1 75
2 50
:
�
•
1
- '5
.
--==
�.
�
- - ,.
.
- ,. " .
1 25
48
.
BELOW _ 1 , 50
75
."
, .,
L
�
/8 48A
",
,
,,
,
4
'
(
,
�.c.":.!;4/5 46
::54:�5343 52 51 50
<0
,'...
49
JULY 1950
:.�.:.
....
48 "
1'40 1 l. 4O
o 0-
1 1 .90
.
1 1 .30
"
..
q<V
,
�;j!'
C
,/
,
1 1 .50
.
4
9
7
I
10.8 0
,
400
450
500
!
9'
�
. ------ �------ •
-.
II)
'"
a:
t'"
�
0
25
50
75
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2 25
450
250
275 1
I
a_ a
I
__ _
NAUTICAL MILES FROM S H O RE
FIGURE 15.
I
.. � <
I ,..
500
Hydrographic sections off Cape Bonavista, July, 1950 and 195 1 . ( Temperatures in
degrees Centigrade. Dots indicate where temperatures at various hydrographic
stations were taken. Inset shows station positions.)
46
I
o
---'-r�.,.L�
JAN.o-L..!
B.
E,,,,,,,
10
10·
.
20
30
40
�
"'1-L�"
O·
50
�
�
�
BELOW
-I ·
80
95
•
.
,5·
50
•
-I·
150
- I"
r...
-O
""
'2;.,;
.�
-0�
·3_
- 1..
.2..;..;:...
-,,
0.
..;; ,2;
· ..;;;:.
8....;
-0
�
;: .6
�
._
"
.;;
-;!;l
1 . .!:.
·_.:;J
-IJ.:
·I·�
-;!;l
I·.:..
I· ..;..;;i
-Ir:.
· �
·I·....:..:;!l.
. :L-=�---:±ll:.......;.Q
.: ��
. :...
..: .174
•
BOno;;
-
"J' '.
.
O·
70
90
.
JAN. �EB.
•
"BorroM
um
FIGURE 1 6 .
Average sea temperatures at the hydrographic station 5 nautical miles off Cape Spear.
('Average monthly temperatures, at the various depths indicated, for the years
1947-1953. Temperatures in degrees Centigrade. Position of
station 47°32'50"N. Lat., 52°35'10"\;\/. Long. )
a very slow process. Waves and tides perform the mixing, and , as the surface
layer becomes warmer, lighter and more stable, heavier storms are needed to mix
these surface layers with those below. Hence, after the earlier warming in April
and M ay, there is likely to be a period from late June to early August when the
O°e. (32°F.) line remains at about the same level. In Figure 1 6 this level is at
32 to 35 fathoms. In an occasional year, through lack of mixing by storms, the
O°e. (32°F.) line lies closer to the surface and persists longer. In 1 954 the O°e.
(32°F.) line remained at 20 fathoms until the end of August ; this led to an unusual
availability of cod in shallow water throughout the whole summer. The autumn
storms are violent enough to mix the water deeply, and the O°e. (32°F.) line
drops downward rapidly to its greatest depth of about 75 fathoms in December.
DEEP WATER.
Near the bottom, in 95 fathoms, the water is warmest in the
winter time. Temperatures average : - 0.2°e. (3 l . 6°F.) in January, - 0.3°e.
(31 SF.) in February, - 0.8°e. (30.6°F.) in April, and - 0.6°e. (30.9°F.) in M ay,
compared with - 1 to - l . 1°e. (30.2 to 30°F.) from June to September, and
- 0. 9 to - l .0°e. (30.4 to 30.2°F.) from October to December. A low average
bottom temperature of - l .2°e. (29.8°F.) for M arch is due to the inclusion in the
M arch averages of 3 averages for the early colder years, and of only one for the
recent warmer years. In 1 95 1 , the bottom temperature in M arch was - 0.4°e.
(3l . 3°F.) . The higher bottom temperatures during the early winter, in water
close to 1 00 fathoms deep, are due to the mixing that occurs when the surface
47
•
,I
waters cool and sink in the late autumn and early winter. This mixing produces
almost u niform temperatures between - 0. 7 and - 0. 2°C. (30 . 7 and 3 1 . 6°F.)
from top to bottom in the January averages, and - 0 . 1 to - 0.4°C. (3 1 . 8 to
3 1 .3°F.) from top to bottom in February. During the winter the temperature
of all the water from surface to bottom falls below O°c. (32°F.) by January, and
below - 1 °C. (32°F.) by February-March . At these temperatures, below - 1 °C.
(30.2°F. ) , codfishing success is not to be expected. Actually, in the St. John's
deepwater area, which does not extend below 1 00 fathoms, cod may be caught
during December and January, but the catch decreases gradually and reaches a
very low level by the end of January. The amount of water present below O°C.
(32°F.) and below - 1 . °C (30.2°F.) depends on the severity of the winter, with
the consequent variation in the amount of cold water produced locally ; and on
the amount of cold Labrador Current water entering the area from the north ,
particularly in late spring and early summer. As a result the depth , the volume,
and the temperature of the cold water layer vary from year to year.
48
•
THE GENERAL P I CTURE OF THE COD FISHERY I N THE
BONAVISTA AREA
During the winter and in March , when the upper layers of water from the
surface downward become chilled, usually below - 1 °e. (30.2°F. ) , the cod
retreat to the warmer deep water. By June, owing to the greater volume of
Labrador Current water entering the area in April, May and J une, water with
temperatures below O°e. (32°F.) may extend deeper than in the winter ; and the
bottom part of this cold layer in the area east of Bonavista may be at 1 20 to 150
fathoms or deeper, depending on the amount of cold water present.
The cod which spend the winter and most of the spring in the warmer
water underneath the cold layer apparently spawn mostly in April and May.
The surface water is warming, and by late May or early J une many of the smaller
fish appear to cease bottom feeding, pass upward through the cold layer to the
warm surface layer. Here they feed pelagically on capelin, and in the latter
half of J une pursue the capel in toward shore. There is every evidence that the
movement of cod toward shore in May and June on the east coast of Newfound­
land occurs in the surface layers of water. At this time of year at Bonavista,
cod situated in deep water, and moving shoreward along the bottom, would have
to pass through about 20 nautical miles of water with temperatures below O°e.
(32°F. ) . The central portion of this water is below - 1 °e. (30.2°F.) , and part
would be as low as - 1 . 5 to - 1 .6°e. (29.3 to 29. 1°F. ) . At these temperatures,
below - 1 .0°C. (30.2°F.) , cod would be expected to die of cold. Cod caught on
surface longlines are reported to freeze, if through their weight they cause the
gear to sink into these cold waters. Few or no cod are caught, either by bait
and hook or otter trawl, in sets at temperatures of - 1 .0°e. (30.2°F. ) . The
earliest large catches of cod in parts of the St. John's area, such as Cape Broyle,
are in May. At this time the cod are captured by baited longlines, suspended by
glass bulbs or other floats, about 10 to 20 fathoms below the surface and over
deep water often 80 to 90 fathoms deep. On the occasions when the research
vessel Investigator II has detected capelin schools offshore on the ec�o-sounder in
J une and July, they have been at 10 to 20 fathoms in the daytime, and have
moved near the surface at night. The cod, when they come shoreward after the
capelin in June, follow them to very shallow water. Often the cod may be found
at night among the spawning capelin at the beaches.
Although a cod proceeding along the bottom to the shore would have to pass
through many miles of water below O°C. (32°F. ) , it is only a short distance
through the cold l ayer to the warmer layer above, especially if passage upward
occurs some 40 to 50 nautical miles from the coast.
Thus, the smaller cod move toward shore in the surface layers and form the
basis of the inshore trap, handline and linetrawl fishery by small boats. The
49
larger cod are less active than the younger fish , and apparently as they become
older, are more inclined to feed on or near the bottom, with fewer excursions
into the upper layers after capelin and other fishes. As they move along the
bottom after food , these larger cod find suitably low, but not too low, tempera­
tures in the mixed water formed at the j unction of the bottom part of the cold
layer and the upper part of the deeper warm layer. Food is here in good quantity.
There is also a strong possibility that the cod in this very deep water move to­
ward the brighter areas of dim light, and thus may continue to move along the
bottom to shallower areas until they encounter the barrier of cold water.
Consequently, there is a concentration of large fish near the lower edge of
the cold water layer, and the colder part of this layer forms a barrier to further
shoreward movement. Some cod move somewhat into the cold water layer and
we have had some good catches both by otter trawl and longline in temperatures
as low as - O.S°e. (3 1 . 1°F. ) . Most o f the deepwater cod o n the east coast of
Newfoundland and Labrador occur in temperatures less than 2 .S°e. (36.soF. ) .
I n temperatures o f 3.0°e. (37 .4°F.) and higher, i n the deeper water further
offshore, cod are scarce and redfish often abundant.
By the latter part of June and in ea�ly July, the smaller cod are inshore in
shallow water very close to the coast and feeding almost entirely on capel in.
During this period they often approach the surface, where they sometimes may
be seen pursuing capelin. They often become so "glutted" with capelin that
they sink near the bottom, move very little and refuse baited hooks.
When the capelin move offshore in the surface layers about the middle of
July, some cod undoubtedly move off with them. However, many cod are near
the bottom by this time ; these are likely to remain in the inshore shallow-water
areas and when the capelin move off, begin feeding on crabs, clams and other
bottom animals. After the capelin have disappeared , in the inshore Bonavista
and other Newfoundland east coast areas there is, usually, no alternative source
of food for the cod other than the bottom animals. There are generally very
few herring, launce or other pelagic bait fishes present. When squid appear
later in the year, they are typically in the shallower layers of water, which by
that time are much too warm for cod. While squid are excellent bait for cod ,
they are only occasionally caught by cod in the Newfoundland east coast area.
On the east coast of Newfoundland, the warm, inshore shallow-water area is
suitable for cod from 5 to 10 fathoms down to 20 to 30 fathoms in June and July,
while water below these depths is usually too cold-below O°e. (32°F. ) . As the
summer progresses, the warm water layer increases in depth , and usually by early
August the shallowest inshore layers are too warm for cod.
Cod-traps at Bonavista are usually set in 10 to 1 5 , or at the most, 20 fathoms.
By early August, increasing shallow-water temperatures and the search for food
have caused the larger inshore cod to move more deeply, beyond the reach of all
but the deepest traps. By August, also, the abundant jellyfish , Aurelia, which
are so small in J une that they pass through the meshes of the trap, have become
so large that they do not pass through readily. They are strained out by the
50
tide onto the meshes which form the walls of the trap, where, as a result of their
accumulation in great masses and the tidal pressure, large holes may be torn in
the net. The traps, therefore, usually are removed from the water by early
August.
As the greatest abundance of cod passes deeper in late August and in
September, beyond. the 20-fathom depth, handlining becomes more difficult and
less profitable. Thus, from the latter part of September onward , linetrawling
in conj unction with handlining is the usual inshore fishing method. I n
September, good codfishing usually may b e found somewhere between 2 0 and 5 0
fathoms.
This early retreat from the shore is probably due to the increasingly high
temperatures of the shallow water areas, the attraction of the lower temperatures
and of the new feeding grounds. Many of the bottom organisms which serve as
food for cod can live in lower temperatures than cod. Many of these food
animals, living at intermediate depths, are protected from the cod during a
large part of the year by the prevailing low temperatures. These food animals
become available to cod with the progressive increase in depth of the superficial
layer of warm water, and the consequent retreat of the upper edge of the cold
layer to greater depths. When this retreat of the cold layer is proceeding in
autumn, cod desert the shallower, turbulent inshore areas long before these
waters have chilled very much ; they are now to be found most abundantly,
progressively deeper following the retreat of the cold layer. Thus, by October,
inshore cod are usually most abundant within the 30- to 60-fathom range, and
by the end of January, at least the foremost of the retreating fish will be ap'p roach­
ing 90 to 100 fathoms.
By the end of January or early in February, on the east coast of
Newfoundland, the water from surface to below 90 fathoms has usually chilled
below Oce. (32°F. ) , and is no longer suitable for cod. It is probable that by
this time the cold layer of the previous year has been sufficiently raised in tempera­
ture and reduced in extent, that the cod which were inshore earlier in the year
can pass down through it to join the cod which remained in the deep warm layer.
Furthermore, in the late autumn and early winter, when the intermediate layer
is becoming thin, there is probably a movement of the large deepwater cod
shoreward into water of intermediate depths.
I t was indicated by the fishing of the experimental longliners at Bonavista
in May, 1 953, that, in this month, many of the smaller fish which later come
inshore to shallow water, are in the deep water with the larger offshore fish. . I t
was indicated also that the deepwater fishing i s sometimes likely to b e shallower
in April and May than in June and July, since in June at least, an additional
large supply of cold Labrador Current water may flow into the area.
The cod populations of the new deepwater fishing grounds described in the
present paper, are, in the summer and autumn, composed of the older fish
which have survived the inshore trap, handline and linetrawl fisheries of previous
years. Until the development of longlining in the area, apart from providing
51
small fisheries in some of the deep waters in the east coast bays, these deepwater
cod were being utilized only to a very limited extent in the late autumn when
some of them apparently move into the deeper parts of the inshore area, and
occasionally earlier in the year when a school might by chance j oin the smaller
fish of the capelin-run of cod. Apart from their use for spawning purposes these
fish were of little value to the fishery.
The discovery of these new fishing grounds has opened up for exploitation a
great population of abundant large cod. These large deepwater fish are much
better raw material than are the smaller fish for salt fish operations, for smoking,
and for some fresh fish purposes.
52
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Most of the information contained in this account of longlining was collected
by the following members of the staff of the Biological Station at St. John's,
who were assigned to follow the operations of the longlining boats at Bonavista :
C. 1. Barbour, W. B. Blackmore, F. R. Brett, S. H. Butler, L. N. Cluett, P. C.
Collins, V. M . Hodder, H . R . Mullett, F. K. Spencer, and H . J . Tucker.
Mr. Kenneth McGrath of Job Bros. & Co. and Mr. Basil French of Bonavista
Cold Storage Co. provided accommodation for gear, baiting for the experimental
longliners, and space where our field men could work.
In 1 9 5 2 , the Bonavista Cold Storage Co. was under new direction, and
Messrs. Hazen and Paul Russell were very helpful, both in providing facilities
for our field men to carry on their work, and in permitting us to examine some of
the Company's records.
The Federal Bait Service gave excellent co-operation in assuring that ample
supplies of bait were available to carry on the work.
We are very grateful for the interest and efforts of the skippers of the
experimental longliners, especially Mr. Russell Decker who was associated with
the experiment from the beginning, M r. · Gordon Hemeon and M r. Vernon
M acDonald.
The skippers of the commercial longliners at Bonavista were very co­
operative in giving information on their catch and effort.
At the beginning of the longlining experiments in Newfoundland, Dr. A. W. H .
Needler, then Assistant Deputy Minister o f Fisheries, helped greatly b y his
enthusiasm for the project, and with Dr. W; R . Martin of the Fisheries Research
Board's Biological Station at St. Andrews, N . B . , selected the Lockeport skippers
and boats during the first two years of the experimental longlining.
53
I
REFERENCES
CANADA, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT. 1952. List of shipping, being a list of vessels on the
registry books of the Dominion of Canada on 3 1 December, 1 9 5 1 , (with supplements).
1954. List of shipping, being a list of vessels on the registry books of the Dominion of
Canada on 31 December, 1953.
MARTIN, W. R., AND F. D. MCCRACKEN. 1954. Relative efficacy of baits for ground fish.
Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, Atl. Frog. Rept., No. 58, pp. 1 7-20.
TEMPLEMAN, W. 195 1 . The Bonavista longlining experiment, 195 1 .
MS Rept. Biol. Sta., No. 444, 32 pp.
54
Fish. Res. Bd. Canada,
APPEN DIX
Common and scientific names o f fishes and invertebrates mentioned I n the text.
Newfoundland common names are in brackets.
Some
Capelin (caplin) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mallotus villosus Miiller
Cod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gadus callarias L.
Spiny dogfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Squalus acanthias L.
Arctic eel pou t (catfish) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lycodes reticulatus Reinhardt
,
Common eelpout (catfish) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Macrozoarces americanus ( Bloch and
Schneider)
Smooth-spined grenadier; rough-headed grenadier .. Macrourtts berglax Lacepede
Halibut ; Atlantic halibut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.
Greenland halibut (turbot) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Walbaum)
Herring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clupea harengus L.
.
American plaice ; long rough dab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hippoglossoides platessoides (Fabricius)
Pollock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pollachius virens (L.)
Redfish ; rose fish ; ocean perch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sebastes marinus (L.)
Sea raven (whip-sculpin) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hemitripterus americanus (Gmelin)
.
Longhorn scuplin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus ( Mitchil l )
Shorthorn scuplin . . . . . . .
.
.
.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Myoxocephalus scorpius ( L . )
Thorny skate ( thorn-back) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raja radiata Donovan
Spiny-tailed skate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raja spinicauda Jensen
Broad-headed wolffish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anarhichas denticulatus KrjiSyer
Spotted wolffish ; spotted catfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A narhichas minor Olafsen
.
Striped wolffish ; common catfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anarhichas lupus L.
Short-finned squid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Illex illecebrosus (Le Sueur)
White jellyfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A urelia aurita (L.)
ss