relation of each dependent variable to standard 

 length was linear. This is not positive evidence 

 that the same relation exists in sizes not 

 sampled. When the comparisons were made, 

 the characters that proved to be homogeneous in 

 slope were also found similar in intercept; 

 therefore, this further supports the assumption 

 that the comparisons were valid. 



TTie samples collected below Pinopolis 

 Dam were found to be significantly different in 

 body depth and caudal peduncle depth from the 

 samples collected above the dam . Both these 

 samples were found similar in prepelvic distance, 

 predorsal distance and in head length. The char- 

 acters, body depth and caudal peduncle depth, 

 are believed to be good criteria for separating 

 these two populations. 



The downstreai- Santee -Cooper samples 

 were found to differ from the Albemarle Sound 

 collections in body depth , caudal peduncle depth 

 and in predorsal distance. They were found 

 similar in prepelvic distance and head length . 

 This seems to indicate that these two populations 

 are not homogeneous . 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 



1 . The striped bass found along the Atlantic 

 Coast exhibited north -south clines with respect 

 to body and caudal -peduncle depths. The clines 

 suggest that the differences found are the result 

 of selection and thus genetically fixed. 



2 . Predorsal distances, head lengths, and 

 prepelvic distances were found to be randomly 

 distributed. However, the samples from the 

 Santee -Cooper System in South Carolina did con- 

 sistently have the larger body parts . These 

 latter findings indicate that all characters are 

 genetically fixed, but the effect of the immediate 

 environmental fluctuations is not known. Most 

 likely the differences found were caused by a 

 combination of genetic and environmental factors. 



3 . Body proportions show that the Hudson 

 River population is distinctly different from all 

 others studied. 



4. Within Chesapeake Bay, the James, York, 

 Rappahannock, and Potomac Rivers, on the basis 

 of morphometric characters, have separate 



populations of striped bass. Other populations 

 may be present, but lack of adequate study mater- 

 ial prevents any conclusions at this time. 



5. The James and Albemarle Sound popula- 

 tions were found to differ in body and caudal - 

 peduncle depths but were similar in predorsal 

 distances, head lengths, and prepelvic distances . 



6. The Santee-Cooper upstream and down- 

 stream samples differed in body depths and 

 caudal-peduncle depths but not in predorsal dis- 

 tances, prepelvic distances, or head lengths. 

 The two differences are believed to be good 

 criteria for separating the populations . 



7. Morphometric characters are believed to 

 be good indicators for separating populations of 

 striped bass found along the Atlantic Coast. 



LITERATURE CITED 



Hubbs, C. L., andK. F. Lagler 



1947, Fishes of the Great Lakes Region. 



Bull. Cranbrook Inst. Sci. 26, 

 xi + 186 pp. 



Huxley, J. 

 1943. 



Lewis, R.M. 

 1957. 



Marr, J. C. 

 1955. 



Evolution the modern synthesis. 

 Harper and Brothers, New York 

 and London . 645 pp . 



Comparative study of populations 

 of the striped bass Roccus saxatilis 

 based on gill raker counts. U.S. 

 Fish and Wildlife Service, Special 

 Scientific Report- -Fisheries 

 No. 2 11. (In press). 



The use of morphometric data in 

 systematic, racial and relative 

 growth studies in fishes. COPEIA, 

 (1):25-31. 



Martin, W. 

 1949. 



R. 



The mechanics of environmental 

 control of body form in fishes. Univ. 

 Toronto studies, Biol. No. 58. 

 Pub. Ont. Fish. Res. Lab., 

 No. 70. 



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