Shop and Tanaka: Feeding and growth of Scomberomorus niphonius 



375 



after hatching. Relationships between larval age (A) and 

 SL (L. mm) were best described by a linear regression 

 for each year (Fig. 8): 



1995: L = 1.05A-1.39 

 1996: L = 0.85A-0.15 



(ra=102, r 2 = 0.87, P<0.0001) 

 1,7 = 93, r 2 =0.80, P<0.0001). 



The slope of the equation for 1995 was significantly 

 higher than that for 1996 (ANCOVA; df=l, F=11.01, 

 P=0.001). 



YOY S. niphonius abundance 



YOY S. niphonius (14.6-122.8 mm in TL) were collected 

 by the seine fishery in the Sea of Hiuchi from late June 

 through late July in 1995 and 1996. Mean (±SE) abun- 

 dance of YOY S. niphonius in 1995 (7.7 [±2.1] individu- 

 als/m 2 ) was significantly higher than that in 1996 (0.6 

 [±0.4] individuals/m 2 ; Mann-Whitney [/-test; P=0.006, 

 Fig. 9). 



Discussion 



Spawning strategy 



Abundance of S. niphonius eggs and larvae peaked 

 in late May in 1995 and 1996. A similar pattern was 

 observed in the abundance of clupeid larvae, indicating 

 that spawning of S. niphonius was synchronized with 



24-28 

 1995 



Figure 5 



Horizontal distribution of S. niphonius eggs in the Sea of Hiuchi in 1995 and 1996. 



