Table 4.-Summary of the measurements of various body parts of Brevoortia smithi larvae and juveniles in 

 relation to standard length. Tabulated measurements are means for measurements from 1-mm length classes. 



o 



1mm 



222S 



I22I 



1mm 



Figure 2.-4.2-mm SL (20 h posthatching) and 4.6-mm SL (41 h posthatching) larvae of Brevowtia smithi. 



As the gut shortened during transformation, 

 preanus length was reduced to 77% SL at 16.0 to 

 18.0 mm and averaged 72 to 74% for juveniles 22.7 

 mm and longer. 



Head Length 



Head length averaged 13 to 14% SL for larvae 

 from 3.0 to 8.0 mm (Table 4). It then increased 

 gradually to 29% at 18.0 mm and stabilized at 31 to 

 33% SL for juvenile specimens. Hildebrand (1963) 

 and Dahlberg (1970) recorded head lengths rang- 



ing from 29 to 32.5% SL for large juvenile and 

 adult yellowfin menhaden. 



Eye Diameter 



Eye diameter averaged 6% SL on newly hatched 

 larvae but gradually decreased to 4% SL at about 

 6.0 mm and was stable until larvae grew to 10.0 

 mm (Table 4). Eye diameter then increased to 9% 

 SL at 18.0 mm and averaged 9 to 11% SL for 

 juveniles 22.7 to 36.2 mm. A relative decrease in 

 eye diameter must occur in older juveniles because 



665 



