Table 4. — Coefficients of the weight-length relation for blue marlin, sailfish, and striped 

 marlin from the eastern Pacific, (log weight = a + h (log length)). 



weight-length relations, transformations of the data 

 were not necessary because plots of the data on 

 eye-fork length indicated that they were reasonably 

 linear. Equations for converting fork length and 

 mandible-fork length are given in Table 3. 



The equation used in the analyses, except that for 

 weight, was Y = a + hX, where Y = morphometric 

 character measured in centimeters, and a and b = 

 constants that are determined by least-squares pro- 

 cedures. For weights, the equation log Y = a + 

 b\ogX , where Y = weight, X = body length, and a 

 and b = constants, was used. Weight-length rela- 

 tions based on weight in kilograms and pounds and 

 body length as eye-fork length and snout-fork 



length are summarized in Table 4 for blue marlin, 

 sailfish, and striped marlin. Statistical tests were 

 performed to test the hypotheses that the intercept 

 of the regression, a, is zero and that the slope of the 

 regression, b. is zero for all regressions except 

 those for weight-length. 



All plots of the data were based on averages of 

 5-cm groupings of eye-fork length. 



BLUE MARLIN 



A total of 57 blue marlin was sampled at Buena 

 Vista and Mazatlan. The average length was 206 cm 

 at Buena Vista and 209 cm at Mazatlan (Fig. 1). 



Ill 



