RECORD OF THE LARVAE OF HAKE ( MERLUCCIUS PRODUCTUS) . 1956 



Length measurements have not been made routinely on hake larvae, hence 

 table VII contains only the standard haul total of larvae at each station 

 where they occurred in 1956. The data are further summarized in text table 

 11 and illustrated in figure 7. The larvae of the Pacific hake have been 

 described by Ahlstrom and Counts (1955). 



The distribution of hake larvae in 1956 was basically similar to that 

 found in 1955. There are two differences that should be noted: (1) the cen- 

 ter of abundance occurred off northern Baja California in 1956 (lines 97-107), 

 rather than off upper central Baja California (lines 110-120), and (2) the 

 abundance off southern Baja California was proportionately greater (35.6% of 

 the total, as compared to 21.2% in 1955). 



Hake larvae ranked second in abundance in 1956, constituting 22.0% of 

 the larvae collected. As in 1955, the greatest abundance occurred in Febru- 

 ary, and over 99% of the larvae were collected during the first four months 

 of the year. A comparison of the monthly abundance of hake larvae in 1955 

 and 1956 is given in text table 10. 



Text table 10. — Monthly abundance of hake larvae 

 in 1955 and 1956 (standard haul totals) 



Total 



1955 



60,090 100.02 



1956 



89,857 



99.99 



* - Includes extra tows made in March and June 



67 



I 



