When a fish population has been depleted by heavy exploitation, with the yield from the population maintaining an unfavourable level, it is usual to expect that the situation will be improved by reduction of fishing effort. Following a sudden reduction of fishing mortality, p, from p1 to p2 at time τ = 0, the yield at once decreases and then increases gradually until it reaches another steady level higher than the former level.The present paper deals, using Baranov's model, with the transition stage of the population following a sudden change in p, as well as with the steady state before and after the change. Relations between equilibrium yield and fishing mortality rate (effort-yield curves) are calculated for various values of the parameters, λ0 (= l0/u, where l0 is the length of a recruit and u is the yearly increase in length), q (natural mortality rate), and b (remaining life span of a fish at the time of recruitment) (Fig. 2). It is noteworthy that for species that grow slowly after recruitment, i.e. when λ0 is large, reduction of fishing would have scarcely any effect on the yield (Fig. 4).Yield curves for the period of transition from the present to various lower levels of fishing are calculated for the case in which λ0 = 4, q = 0.15, b = 10 and p1 = 1.35. These represent parameters for the present state of the stock of sohachi flounders Cleisthenes herzensteini (Schmidt), in the southwestern area of the Japan Sea (Fig. 5).Possible density effects on growth rate and natural mortality rate, which are briefly discussed, appear to diminish considerably the effectiveness of any reduction in fishing effort (Fig. 6).