A POPULATION PROFILE FOR ATLANTIC HAGFISH, MYXINE-GLUTINOSA (L), IN THE GULF-OF-MAINE .1. MORPHOMETRICS AND REPRODUCTIVE STATE

Populations of Atlantic hagfish, Myxine glutinosa (L.), are found thro ughout the Gulf of Maine in soft-bottom substrates at depths greater t han 50 m. This report presents data on the sizes, weights, morphometri c characters, and reproductive states for specimens collected at a stu dy site approximately 50 km offshore in the Gulf of Maine. Limited com parisons with data from specimens collected elsewhere suggest that thi s data set is representative of hagfish populations within the inner G ulf of Maine. The small number of eggs produced (less than 30 per fema le), the large number of animals without macroscopically visible gonad al tissue (25% of the population), and the small number of males (<6% of the population), gravid females (<1%), and postovulatory females (< 5%) suggest that hagfish have limited reproductive potential. This rai ses serious questions about the long-term viability of the New England eelskin fishery.