larvae were stored in individual vials labeled with 

 sample number and date. Additional larvae were col- 

 lected with neuston nets in May 1983 by the RV 

 Ekvator. Larger juveniles (> 70 mm standard length 

 (SL)) were taken in a small mesh purse seine 

 deployed from 24 to 40 km off of the Oregon-Wash- 

 ington coasts during the summer months of 1981 

 (Fig. 1). Specimens were frozen on board and held 

 until measurements and otoliths were taken. Fork 

 lengths to the nearest millimeter were recorded for 

 these larger juveniles and standard lengths to the 

 nearest 0.1 mm were measured for all larvae and 

 small juveniles. No corrections were made for poten- 

 tial shrinkage from preservation of young larvae, but 

 alcohol preservation causes no noticeable shrinkage 

 in length of anchovy larvae (Theilacker 1980). For 



subsequent analysis, fork lengths were converted to 

 standard length by the relationship SL (mm) = 0.91 

 FL (mm) -1.15 (n = 54, r^ = 0.999), which was 

 based upon specimens 21.7 to 297 mm FL. 



Otoliths of larval sablefish were removed and 

 cleaned under a dissecting microscope fitted with 

 polarizing filters. Increments on otoliths from larvae 

 < 26 mm SL were clearly visible from the focus to 

 the margin (Fig. 2); these otoliths were left intact, af- 

 fixed to microscope slides with histological mounting 

 medium and cover slips, and increments were read in 

 the sagittal plane (see Taubert and Coble 1977 for 

 terminology). For larger larvae and most juveniles, a 

 sagittal section of the otolith provided the clearest in- 

 crements. The left otolith of every pair was mounted 

 in histological medium on a microscope slide and the 



Figure 1.- Distribution of AnopUrpoma fimbria samples, along 

 the Pacific coast, used for age and growth analysis. Circles 

 represent the neuston samples taken during May 1982, 

 triangles represent the purse seine samples taken during sum- 

 mer 1981, and squares represent the 1983 neuston samples. 



476 



