inshore areas; the inshore areas show a high abun- 

 dance of swordfish during the second and third 

 quarter but lower abundance during the ilrst and 

 fourth quarters. Kume and Joseph (1969b) have 

 postulated that such an offshore movement is as- 

 sociated with a spawning migration. 



Spatio-Temporal Distribution of 

 Species Complexes 



Tunas and billfishes are highly evolved, apex 

 predators. Their life histories are rather similar in 

 that these fishes are pelagic at all stages of their life, 



Figure 13. — Dominant species of tuna and billfish in the eastern Pacific by quar- 

 ters, averaged for the years 1956-1970. by 5-degree areas, a. First quarter, b. 

 Second quarter, c. Third quarter, d. Fourth quarter. 



322 



