AHLSTROM: KIND AND ABUNDANCE OF FISH LARVAE 



Table 15. — Comparison of composition of catches of fish larvae in Oceanographer zig- 

 transect, occupied in November-December 1967, with equivalent coverage by EASTRO- 

 PAC II vessels during August-September 1967. 



Oceanographer (50 stations) Equivalent ETP II coverage (48 stations) 



tions occupied shoreward of the Galapagos Is- 

 lands; the average abundance per haul was 

 slightly higher in Oceanographer collections — 

 19.9 versus 15.1 larvae. 



Engraulidae — Larvae of Engraulis ringens 

 were taken in more collections on ETP II ( Table 

 17) , but in lesser numbers per positive haul than 

 in Oceanographer collections. The spawning 

 period of the Peruvian anchovy is mostly be- 

 tween August and February (Einarsson and 



Rojas de Mendiola, 1967) ; both coverages were 

 within this period of the year. Larvae of other 

 engraulids were taken at the inner station off 

 Mexico in both coverages, but in markedly larg- 

 er numbers by Oceanographer. Larvae of 

 Sternoptychidae, Melamphaidae, and Paralepi- 

 didae had similar frequency of occurrence in the 

 two coverages (Table 16) ; differences in rel- 

 ative abundance were small to moderate. 



Carangid larvae were taken in more collec- 



1171 



