A NOTE ON SEX-RATIO, LENGTH AND DIET OF A POPULATION OF CUTTLEFISH SEPIA-OFFICINALIS L. (MOLLUSCA, CEPHALOPODA) SAMPLED BY 3 FISHING METHODS

The population of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis L. reproducing in M orbihan Bay (South Brittany, France) was fished by three different met hods (a trammel net, a benthic trawl and traps), and from the resultin g samples, some biological parameters were studied: sex ratio, length frequency and diet The net was the only gear which gave a well-balance d sex ratio; fishing with traps appears to be less selective for lengt h. The diet determined from the stomach contents is similar for the th ree gears. These three fishing gears were equally suitable for a study on feeding of the cuttlefish, but they have to be used with care for stock assessments. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.