The result of the appUcation of the equation is a 

 minimum estimate of total larval production, 

 because the fraction of larvae surviving the period 

 between spawning and metamorphosis to first 

 protozoeae (about 3.5 days, according to Ewald, 

 1965) is xmknown. Results of the analysis are 

 given in table 5 and illustrated in figure 2. 



The only complete year for which data are 

 available is 1963. We estimated that 60,500X10* 

 fii"st protozoeae were produced. It is clear from 

 figure 2, however, that 1963 was a poor year; 

 fewer larvae appear to have been produced than 

 in either 1962 or 1964. If equal weighting is 

 allowed for all data, annual production is in the 

 order of 87,000X10' first protozoeae. 



SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN SPAWNING 

 INTENSITY 



The percentage of the annual catch of protozoeae 

 taken in each month from 1959 to 1964 is shown 

 in figure 3. The data are for samples taken between 

 18.4 and 36.7 m. (10 and 20 fathoms). Data for 



Ol<d 



Figure 2. — Seasonal fluctuations in production of first 

 protozoeae of P. duorarum in the Tortugas Shelf area, 

 August 1962 to October 1964. 



1959 through mid-1962 are taken from Jones et al. 

 (footnote 6) and are for catches made with the 

 Discovery net; the more recent data are derived 

 from the use of the Gulf V sampler. Because of 



T.^BLE 3. — Summary of Tortugas tows: Cruise totals and physical data. All values are the sum of the computed numbers of 

 P. duorarum larvae under 10 ni.^ surface area at 10 stations on the Tortugas Shelf, Axtgust 1962 to October 1964 



PINK SHRIMP ON FLORIDA TORTUGAS SHELF 



169 



