Billfishes 



To examine more closely the distribution of dom- 

 inant species of billfish only, we have prepared Fig- 

 ure 14. 



The distribution of dominant species can be con- 



veniently broken into four general areas. In the in- 

 shore area, within about 500 miles of the coast, be- 

 tween lat. 20°N and the equator, sailfish are domi- 

 nant throughout the year. Even when included with 

 tunas (Fig. 13) the sailfish remain dominant. 

 In the offshore area between about lat. 10°N and 



Figure 14. — Dominant species of billfish only in the eastern Pacific by quarters, 

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

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



324 



