RECORD OF THE LARVAE OF HAKE ( MERLUCCIUS PRODUCTUS ). 1955 



The larvae of the hake have not been routinely measured, hence table 

 VII contains only the standard haul total of hake larvae at stations occu- 

 pied during 1955. The data are further summarized in text table 10, and 

 illustrated in figure 7. 



No hake larvae were obtained off central California in 1955, but 

 inasmuch as no cruises were made in this area during January through April, 

 the failure to collect hake larvae probably reflects the inadequate cover- 

 age in this area rather than their actual absence from the area. Hake 

 larvae were obtained off central California in all previous surveys (1949 

 through 1954). 



The greatest abundance occurred off upper central Baja California 

 (lines 110-120) in 1955. The center of abundance is further south than in 

 1951 or 1952. In 1951, the largest concentration of larvae occurred off 

 southern California, and in 1952 off northern Baja California. 



This species ranked second in abundance in 1955, constituting one 

 larva out of every six collected. Although hake larvae were taken through- 

 out the year, over 99% of them were obtained during the first four months 

 of 1955. This is the usual period of abundance. A similar seasonal dis- 

 tribution was reported by Ahlstrom and Counts (1955) for 1951 and 1952; 

 98.6% of hake larvae were obtained during these months in 1951, and 99.5% 

 in 1952. However, in both 1951 and 1952, the month of peak abundance of 

 larvae was March, while it was February in 1953 and 1955, and January in 

 1954. The monthly abundance of hake larvae in 1951 through 1955 is sum- 

 marized in text table 9. 



Text table 9.— Monthly abundance of hake larvae, 1951-1955 

 (standard haul totals) 



1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 



January 222 784 9,206 20,764 13,356 



February 6,751 17,224 19,116 10,352 28,973 



March 41,548 24,081 8,045 17,592 12,535 



April 13,411 15,020 1,544 6,100 4,757 



May 584 466 753 954 176 



June 174 108 159 127 19 



July 17 3 19 17 3 



August 2 5 17 24 



September 14 19 - 3 



October 10 9 41 25 28 



November 17 39 - 5 



December 64 - 295 324 235 



Total 62,814 57,700 39,253 56,279 60,090 



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