RECORD OF ANCHOVY LARVAE, 1955 



The distribution and relative abundance of anchovy larvae are shown in 

 figure 4. Six categories of abundance are used. Four categories - zero, 

 light, moderate, and moderately heavy concentrations of larvae - parallel 

 the usage for sardine larvae; the other two categories are heavy concen- 

 trations, 601-6000 larvae, and very heavy, over 6000 larvae. The value for 

 each station is the cumulative standard haul total for the year. 



Anchovy larvae are recorded by size classes in table IV. The size 

 classes have the same midpoints and ranges as sardine larvae, except that 

 the first category defined for sardine larvae (3.00 mm.) is divided into 

 two size classes, with the following midpoints and ranges: 2.50 mm. (1.76- 

 3.25 mm.) and 3.75 mm. (3.26-4.25 mm.). 



Anchovy larvae were taken at 616 stations of the 1375 occupied during 

 1955. The occurrences and abundance of anchovy larvae are summarized by 

 month and area in text table 4. The comparative abundance of anchovy and 

 other fish larvae is summarized in text table 5. Anchovy larvae were taken 

 in more hauls than any kind except rockfish larvae, and they were more 

 abundant than the combined totals of the other species dealt with in this 

 paper. This is shown in the following summary: 



Larvae 



Total occurrences 



Standard haul totals Percent of total 



Total 



(1375) 



140,183 

 14,121 

 13,246 

 1,950 

 60, 090 

 29,341 



100,224 



39.03 

 3.93 

 3.69 

 0.54 



16.73 

 8.17 



27.91 



359,155 



100.00 



Anchovy larvae constituted 39.03% of the larvae obtained during 1955, 

 the other species dealt with in this paper made up 33.06%, while all other 

 larvae (flatfish, myctophids, bathylagids, etc.) made up 27.91%. 



Several interesting features of the regional and seasonal abundance 

 of anchovy larvae are brought out in text table 4. Only negligible numbers 

 of anchovy larvae were taken off central California (lines 60-77) during the 

 four occupancies of this area in 1955; the area off southern Baja California 

 (station lines 140-157) was similarly unproductive of anchovy larvae. 

 Anchovy larvae were taken on all cruises in the four subareas located between 

 Point Conception, California, and Point San Juanico, Baja California (sta- 

 tion lines 80-137). Over two-thirds of the larvae were taken during the 

 first three months of 1955. The winter peak in abundance was particularly 

 marked in the northern Baja California and upper central Baja California 

 subareas. In the other two subareas, abundance during June and July was as 

 great as during January and February. 



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