WINTER POPULATION OFLOLIGO PEALEIIN THE MID-ATLANTIC BIGHT

1. The distribution and relative abundance of L. pealei is reported from otter trawl sampling in the mid-Atlantic Bight during the late winter.2. A lognormal frequency distribution of catches per tow suggests a "patchy" spatial distribution of L. pealei.3. This species ranged from the southern edge of Georges Bank at least as far as Cape Hatteras in depths from 28 to 366 m.4. Specimens of L. pealei were found to be especially concentrated in the central mid-Atlantic Bight at depths of 110-183 m.5. The sizes of individual squid generally increased with depth, though there were mixtures of size classes in the 55-110 m depth zone.6. L. pealei was found restricted mainly to water temperatures of 8° C or higher. This is related to the migration and summer distribution of the animal.7. Conservative estimates of relative abundance of L. pealei in the mid-Atlantic Bight for the late winters of 1967 and 1968 are approximately 5 x 107 individuals.8. Biological observations indicate an annual regression of sexual de...