A model is developed which describes recruitment in haddock by the separate effects of total stock and spawning stock. Evidence is produced which indicates that whilst spawning stock makes an approximately proportionate contribution to egg production, the total stock has an adverse effect on subsequent recruitment. Pre-recruit mortality, which is related to total stock size, appears to be the operative factor. The model can account for about 40% of the variation in log recruitment. In whiting about 22% of the variation in log recruitment can be attributed to the negative effect of total stock size. There is no detectable separate spawning-stock effect.