The shelf fishing grounds of Kerguelen Islands and of some neighbouring ocean shallows were studied in April 1975. The occurrence of 15 species representing 9 families was found in the catches. Detailed study of the following five species was performed: Champsocephalus gunnari, Channichthys rhinoceratus, Notothenia rossi rossi, N. squamifrons and Dissostichus eleginoides, all of potential commercial importance. The boundaries of regions with concentrations of Ch. gunnari and N. squamifrons were determined, the productive and suitable for trawling fishing grounds were localized.

Observations indicate a constantly decreasing mean age of shoal. In consecutive years of investigations a loss of older individuals was recorded. At present the catches consist of 3—14 years old fishes; 9—10 years old dominate. During the austral summer the fish most probably do not migrate. The shoal of the shelf maintains approximately constant frequency and dominance in classes of length.

Studies were performed on two species of fish from family Chaenichthyidae and on seven species of family Nototheniidae. Statistical analysis of the subcutaneous and trunk muscle fibres diameter from the trunk and tail area allowed to state that the thickness of these fibres is inversely proportional to the metabolism level of fish. The inter-species similarities were found, but they were not found within families, if their representatives differed in metabolic level.