Table 1. — Data on the gonad weight of Marlina marlina (Jordan and Hill) in the northwestern area of the Coral Sea 



during November 1956 (So. 1 Satsuma-maru) (Ueyanagi, 1960). 



head joins the trunk. This species can be identified 

 also by the short snout, specific shape of the pectoral 

 fin and vertebral formulae (11 + 13). Because of 

 similar short snouts, the head profile of the black 

 marlin larvae resembles that of blue marlin; however, 

 the two species can be discriminated since the blue 

 marlin has eye orbits with protruding anterior edges. 

 In small specimens under 6 mm the snout is also 

 somewhat longer than in the blue marlin. The shape 

 of the pectoral fin is unique in larvae over 3.5 mm. In 

 specimens 3.5 mm in length, the pectoral fin stands 



out rigidly from the lateral side of the body and can- 

 not be folded against the body without breaking the 

 joint. In specimens of about 5 mm not only does this 

 characteristic become more distinct, but also the fin is 

 turned slightly counterclockwise, because of the dis- 

 tortion of the base of the fin. Even in specimens of 23 

 mm in length, the transition of the fin to the adult 

 condition is not yet complete, but it has progressed far 

 enough to show a relationship with the adult form. In 

 addition, the shape of the dorsal fin seems to be 

 different in this species (Fig. 4). 



Table 2. — The sex ratio of the black marlin in various areas. 



22 



