Some Aspects of the Biology of White Hake, Urophycis tenuis , in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Abstract

Various aspects of the biology of white hake in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence were investigated from commercial and research survey data collected between 1965 and 1978. Nominal catches have generally declined from an annual average of 5,400 metric tons in 1960-69 to 4,800 tons in 1970-78. Length compositions of white hake landed by otter trawlers indicate a higher proportion of larger fish in the mid- 1970's than in the mid-1960's, the difference probably being due to a change in fishing practices. There was no difference in the length-weight relationships of males and females, but males attained sexual maturity at smaller sizes than did females. Comparable length-at-age data for Div. 4T and 4X show considerably faster growth in Div. 4X, indicating that growth may be inversely related to temperature. Limited observations on fecundity indicate that white hake may be among the most fecund on the commercially- exploited fishes in the Northwest Atlantic.