INTRODUCTION 



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DURING THE PAST Several years the Marine Laboratory of the University 

 of Miami has been engaged in research into ocean game fishes, not 

 only in the north Atlantic, but also as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, 

 South Africa and Panama. An extension of this work into the waters of the 

 Pacific coast of South America was made possible through the generosity 

 of Mr. and Mrs. Lou Marron, who provided not only the financial support 

 necessary but, together with Mr. and Mrs. John Manning, self-sustaining 

 members of the expedition, also contributed a considerable amount of time 

 and energy to the organization of the field arrangements. 



Since it was intended that the expedition should continue for several 

 years, the first year's work, carried out off the coasts of Chile, Peru and 

 Ecuador, was planned as a preliminary investigation, the results of which 

 might be used as the basis for more elaborate and detailed studies in the 

 future. Because of this, the principal accomplishments of the 1954 expe- 

 dition were the detailed measurement and study of the anatomical features, 

 breeding condition, and food contents of broadbill swordfish, black and 

 striped marlin. It is believed that the expedition has set some kind of a 

 record in the number of such fish ever to be scientifically examined in the 

 course of a single expedition. 



The results of this suggest that striped marlin do not spawn off northern 

 Chile during the period of the expedition and that the females are consid- 

 erably heavier than the males. It was also noted that striped marlin in these 

 waters are decidedly more interested in taking bait while in water of higher 

 surface temperatures. The natural food, as shown by analysis of stomach 

 contents, appears to be restricted to squid. Although striped marlin are 

 taken off Chile during almost the whole year, they are far more abundant 

 from October to June. Oft' northern Peru they appear to be much more 

 abundant from December to June. Striped marlin off the coast of Ecuador 

 appeared to be immature. 



No black marlin were found in Chilean waters. Off Peru almost all these 

 fish were female and none in spawning condition. It appears that black 

 marlin are more plentiful here during June and November and scarce dur- 

 ing the remainder of the year. The food of these fish was widely varied. 



The broadbill swordfish taken off Chile were apparently all females and 

 not in spawning condition. They appear to be most numerous from July to 

 October off Cabo Blanco, where they form an important commercial catch; 

 but off Chile, May and June appear to be the months of greatest abun- 

 dance. It appears likely that the swordfish form a single population which 



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