HUGHES: PACIFIC SAURY OF NORTHEASTERN PACIFIC 

 Table 3 



Average observed length at age, lengths calculated from weight at age and estimated von 

 BertalantTy growth parameters of hypothesized spring- and autumn-born fish. 



Growth was first compared between fish of 

 the autumn- and spring-born scale type. Table 

 3 summarizes the respective sets of length at 

 age data and jn-esents growth parameters. 

 Little difference is noted between respective 

 sets of length at age data for the two groups of 

 fish. Although there is no consistent advantage 

 in using lengths derived from weights at age. 

 it should be noted that estimated t^ values are 

 sensitive to the method chosen. Regardless of 

 method, no significant differences in growth 

 parameters L^ and e~^ existed between fish 



of spring- and autumn-born scale types. Their 

 graphic similarity is shown in Figure 6 where 

 observed lengths at age and fitted curves are 

 presented. Lack of significant differences in 

 growth patterns between fish of spring- and 

 autumn-born type suggested that respective 

 data sets be pooled and that a single growth 

 curve be presented (Figure 7). The resulting 

 estimated parameters were L^ = 342.36, 

 K = 0.41, and t^ = -0.72. The calculated 

 Lqo is close to the maximum observed length 

 of 340 mm. The estimated age at 95% growth 

 completion was 6.5 years. 



2 3 



AGE lYEARSI 



Figure 6. — Average observed length at age and fitted 

 growth curves of spring- and autumn-born saury captured 

 in offshore waters from southern California north to 

 Vancouver, British Columbia 1970-71. 



Figure 7. — Average observed length at age and fitted 

 growth curve of eastern Pacific saury after pooling data 

 from spring- and autumn-born fish. 



127 



