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Fishery Bulletin 88(1), 1990 



early-life-history pattern provides an opportunity to 

 study the recruitment mechanisms of this population. 

 In this paper, we summarize data on the distribution 

 and abundance of the eggs and lar-vae of walleye pollock 

 in the Gulf of Alaska, primarily in Shelikof Strait, based 

 on NWAFC sampling from 1972 through 1986. We pre- 

 sent this information as a backdrop for detailed studies 

 investigating biotic and abiotic factors that influence 

 the annual survival of these eggs and larvae. 



Methods and materials 



For our studies, we examined the 32 ichthyoplankton 

 cruises that were conducted by the NWAFC between 

 1972 and 1986 (Tables 1 and 2). Between 1972 and 

 1979, 12 such surveys were conducted in various por- 

 tions of the Gulf of Alaska in all months of the year 

 except January, August, and December (Dunn et al. 

 1984). Most of the 12 surveys concentrated sampling 

 over the continental shelf southeast of Kodiak Island. 

 Occurrences of walleye pollock eggs and larvae in the 

 696 tows taken on these surveys were used to in- 

 vestigate their relative seasonal distribution. In 1980, 

 however, when the spring spawning of walleye pollock 



in Shelikof Strait was discovered, all sampling through 

 1986 was conducted from March through May with 

 special emphasis in the Shelikof Strait region. 



