This paper utilizes a searchable Solar Feature Catalogue (SFC) for sunspots created from the SOHO/MDI whitelight images and magnetograms in 2001-2003 using the automated pattern recognition techniques described at http://www.cyber.brad.ac.uk/egso/. Comparison of sunspot areas taklen from the SFC with the daily sunspot numbers published in the Sunspot Index Data Centre (SIDC) shows very good correlation of 78–86%. The total magnetic flux from sunspot areas, measured from a single solar image, is shown to have a strong northern-southern asymmetry revealing magnetic flux decrease in the northern hemisphere and an increase in the southern one with the solar cycle descendence towards the period end (year 2003). The resulting, or excess, flux has also demonstrated very significant asymmetry being negative in the southern hemisphere and positive in the northern at the beginning of the period (solar maximum, 2001)with its amplitude descreasing towards the the period end (2003), or the solar minimum. Also, in 2003 there are signs of change in the excess flux polarity between the northern and southern hemispheres.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html