HILL ET AL.: ANALYSIS OF GROWTH ZONES IN PACIFIC BLUE MARLIN 



18 



E 15 



E. 



(A 



3 



:5 12 



(0 



a. 



I « 

 (/) 



I 6 



• - Males 

 o - Females 



100 150 200 250 300 



Lower Jaw-Fork Length (cm) 



350 



400 



Figure 1. — Relationships between lower jaw-fork length (LJFL) and anal spine radius (AR) 

 for male (» = 150) and female (.n = 49) Pacific Makaira nigricans. Males: AR = -0.5207 + 

 0.0394 (UFL) r = 0.52; Females: AR = -2.5879 + 0.0528 (UFL) (^ = 0.72. 



• - Males 

 o - Females 



200 240 280 320 



Lower Jaw-Fork Length (cm) 



400 



Figure 2. — Relationships between lower jaw-fork length (LJFL) and sagitta weight (SW) 

 for male (_n = 54) and female in = 45) Pacific Makaira nigricans. Males: SW = 0.0152 * 

 10.0.0103* UFL. ^ = 0^41. Females: SW = 0.3250 * 10'° ""■■^^ * "f^' r" = 0.35. 



tral areas of the section where the bands were 

 more compressed and clearly delineated. Anal 

 spines were less compressed dorsoventrally than 

 dorsal spines and this may have increased clarity 

 of growth bands (Fig. 3). 



Sagittae contained external features that sug- 

 gested changes in stnictural gi'owth rate over 

 time. Growth of the rostrum was along two 

 planes. Early growth occurred ventrally to the 

 fish and increments were mainly comprised of 



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