(Catches of demersal fish on the Madeleine Plateau in August 1974)

Sampling of the demersal fishes in part of the Madeleine Plateau (4T) was carried out between 21st and 27th Aug 1974. The best mean catch of cod was made in the west. There was a correlation between the regions of best yields and those where the bottom temp was between 1 {degree} and 4 {degree}C. Few parts of the area investigated had these latter temps. This temp influence combined with the migration of stocks towards the west produced maximum yields at the entrance to the Baie-des-Chaleurs and along the Gaspesean coast. The mean yield for the whole area was low (96 kg/h). The distribution of Canadian plaice ('Plie canadienne') seemed less related to temp. The mean yield for the whole zone studied was 75 kg/h. Most of the catches of this sp consisted mainly of specimens smaller than commercial size. It seems that the region contains several 'nurseries'. As many small Canadian plaice were caught, the biomass of this sp seems relatively important there, compared with that of the cod. Only part of the region occupied by the cod stock was investigated. Limanda ferruginea, Glyptocephalus cynoglossus and Pseudopleuronectes americanus were found in very small quantities.