RECORD OF SARDINE LARVAE, 1955 



The distribution and relative abundance of sardine larvae in 1955 are 

 shown in figure 3 (cf. Ahlstrom 1954, figs. 7 and 8). Five categories of 

 abundance are used: - no larvae taken; light concentration, 1-6 larvae; 

 moderate concentration, 7-60 larvae; moderately heavy concentration, 61- 

 600 larvae; heavy concentration, over 600 larvae. The value for each sta- 

 tion is the cumulative standard haul total for the year. 



Sardine larvae are recorded by size classes in table III. 

 classes have the following midpoints and ranges: 



The size 



Pis . - Disintegrating larvae that cannot be measured accurately. 



The distribution of sardine larvae is somewhat different than the 

 distribution of eggs, as is shown by the following tabulation: 



Total 



186 45,198 99.9 



254 14,121 99.9 



There are fewer larvae taken in the northern center than eggs - 34.5% 

 of the total, as compared to 49.0%. Larvae, on the average, are about two 

 weeks older than the eggs, and during this period they have been carried 

 along by the predominantly southward moving currents; as a result, larvae 

 are usually collected to the south of the area where they are spawned. 



There are more occurrences of sardine larvae than of eggs: larvae 

 were taken in 254 collections (text table 3), as compared to 186 for eggs. 

 This is an expected finding, since it has been repeated season after season, 

 Of course, a collection of larvae can represent up to 45 days' accumulation 

 (the time required for larval development) while the egg stage (embryonic 

 period) averages less than three days. 



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