p. 163 - 172 ASSESSMENT OF THE ATLANTIC HORSE MACKEREL STOCK IN THE EASTERN-CENTRAL ATLANTIC AREA (DIVISIONS 34.1.3. AND 34.3.1.) USING PROVISIONAL 1980 DATA Constantin Maxim, Ionel Staicu Romanian Marine Research Institute Constanta Abstract The VPA method has been used in assessing the Atlantic horse mackerel stock. The results indicated a normal explicitation pattern, with predominance in the last years of fishes older than 2 years old. The size of the recruited stock, both in therms of numbers and weight increased in the last five years. The biomass had a same continuously increasing tendence from 1976 till to 1980. From our assessment the horse mackerel stock size in 1981 will be to about 3.3 mil.tons.