During 5-7 September 1984, the special session on "Biology and Ecology of Squids in the Northwest Atlantic" was held at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, with T. W. Rowell (Canada) and Ch, M. Nigmatullin (USSR) as conveners. Keen interest in the contributions and associated discussion prompted the participants to propose that the Scientific Council consider publishing all suitable papers in a single volume.

Of the 27 documented contributions, 15 papers and a bibliography were accepted for publication in this issue of Studies after critical review by one or both conveners and the editor, with the occasional assistance of other fishery scientists. The titles and available abstracts of the remaining 11 contributions, which were either not submitted or not suitable for inclusion in this volume, are listed on pages 171-175.