BATHYPELAGIC SQUID BATHYTEUTHIS 181 



region to the south. The average catch, 3.52 specimens per total tow, was 

 also only slightly higher. The major dili'erences are seen in the distribu- 

 tion of successful catches with depth ; in the South Pacific tows between 

 500-1250 m were less successful than tows to the same depths in the 

 South Pacific Convergence (fig. 68a-d). Below 1250 m the percentage 

 of success was generally quite high. So each region in the South Pacific 

 had nearly equal success in averaging about the same catch, although 

 the values for the convergence region were slightly higher. The two 

 areas had 68% success of the total tows. 



Thirteen tows were made in the Humboldt (Peru) Current, and 

 twelve of them (92%) succeeded in capturing B. ahyssicoJa. The 12 

 tows produced 57 specimens for an average of 4.38 specimens per total 

 tow. All depths to which tows were made yielded 100% success except 

 the 2000-2250 m zone where the sole unsuccessful tow was made (fig. 

 66c, d) . The number of tows in the region of the Peru Current is not 

 large, but the degree of success attained and the number of specimens 

 captured excels the performance of tows in the regions of the Southern 

 Ocean. 



In summary, the Drake Passage and the South Pacific regions had 

 about the same overall success of captures (66-67%) but the distribu- 

 tion of successful catches and number of specimens between regions 

 was disproportionate: 83.5%) successful with 4.85 specimens per total 

 tow for the Drake Passage Convergence versus 55% and only 1.65 

 si^ecimens per total tow for the Drake Passage. The South Pacific and 

 South Pacific Convergence regions both yielded many successful tows 

 (65.6-69.8%) that averaged 3.28 to 3.52 specimens per total tow. The 

 Atlantic sector was not fruitful in comparison; only 40% of the tows 

 were successful. All tows (3) in the convergence zone were successful, 

 but they averaged only 1.67 specimens per tow. A meager 35.2% of the 

 tows in the Scotia Sea region produced a scant 0.82 specimens per 

 total tow. 



Therefore, up to a 6-fold difference in abundance of B. ahysi^icola 

 exists between different areas of the Antarctic. The Drake Passage 

 Convergence and the Peru Current are the areas of peak abundance 

 followed by the nearly equal South Pacific regions. The Drake Passage 

 and the Atlantic Convergence regions yield about the same low aver- 

 age catch. (The data for the Atlantic Convergence are so few that the 

 picture may change if more material becomes available.) The Scotia 

 Sea, in relation to other areas, is nearly a desert for B. ahyssicola. 



2. Influence of a Few Exceptional Tows 



During the Eltanin cruises under discussion (3-6; 8-10; 13-15; 

 see Appendix) a total of 236 3-meter IKMT tows was made below 

 500 m in the depth range of B. ahyssicola; of these, 134 (57%) were 



