FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 74, NO. 1 



Figure 4. — Distribution within the 

 study area of: A, Prionotus roseus 

 and B, Prionotus mortis (•) and 

 Prionotus stearnsi (A). 



This species was most abundant between 60 

 and 70 m. As with the previous two species, P. 

 roseus showed a significant (P< 0.001) positive 

 relationship between increasing size and increas- 

 ing depth of capture. 



There were no statistical differences in catches 

 between bottom types (Table 2) or between night 

 and day collections (Table 3). 



Prionotus roseus appeared to reach sexual ma- 

 turity at 100 mm SL for both sexes. Spawning 

 period was protracted. Females with numerous 

 ripe ova (0.7 to 0.8 mm in diameter) were col- 

 lected from December to May 1971. 



Prionotus roseus also fed primarily on crusta- 

 ceans (97% of the total stomach contents). Juve- 

 niles (Table 4) fed chiefly on decapod shrimp, 



mysids, and amphipods; adults (Table 5) even 

 more exclusively on decapods. 



Prionotus martis Ginsburg 

 Barred Searobin 



Prionotus martis was collected widely except at 

 the western edge of the study area at depths of 

 approximately 20 to 45 m (Figure 4b). Sizes of 

 specimens ranged from 51 to 159 mm SL and 

 bottom temperature fi-om 17° to 28°C. Prionotus 

 martis ranked, with P. roseus, second for density 

 within its depth range (Table 1). 



Prionotus martis was most abundant at the 

 20- to 30-m interval of its depth range (Figure 

 3d). As was the case forB. militaris, P. alatus, and 



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