The South Coast Demersal Biomass Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 135 from 10 April to 2 May 1996. The primary objective of the cruise was to conduct a stratified bottom trawl survey to assess the biomass, abundance and distribution of hake, sole, horse mackerel, squid and other trawl species on the Agulhas Bank; to investigate the hydrology and current profiles of the South Coast and to relate this to the distribution of the major demersal trawl species, including five transects extending from specified areas on the South Coast approximately perpendicular to the coastline out towards the main stream of the Agulhas Current, as well as a mini-CTD transect grid in the Cape St Francis area; to conduct routine biological and length frequency sampling of the catch (specifically hake, squid, panga, sole, sharks and rays); to sample the catches for hake sex ratios, gonad stages and frequency of frill on gill; to sample hake from trawls in specific areas for histological...