The fish populations in inshore waters of the west of Scotland. The Biology of the Norway Pout (Trisopterus esmarkii)

Abstract

Norway pout (Trisopterus esmarkii) were collected during a trawling survey of inshore waters of the west coast of Scotland. 0–group fish were first taken by the bottom trawl in late summer and since there was no evidence of local spawning it was inferred that a migration from the open sea had occurred. The distribution and age composition of the stock was related to depth. The young fish migrated from the shallower stations during their first winter but persisted for a second winter at some of the deeper stations.There was a marked seasonal variation in the quality of the diet and in the intensity of feeding. The most important food organisms were copepods, decapod larvae, mysids and euphausiids. Diurnal variations in the intensity of feeding were minimal in August but the quality of the food in the stomachs was dependent on the time of sampling. The converse was observed in January when feeding was at a maximum between dusk and dawn but the quality of the food remained fairly constant.