AREA CUVEREO 



Tlie area covered by each of the cruises is given by Ahlstrom (1953 and 

 1954) and Ahlstrom and Kramer (1955 and 1956). An idea of the location of 

 the several stations occupied during the period 1951 through 1954 may be 

 gained from figure 1. However, the exact location of each station at each 

 occupancy is given bv the Staff, South Pacific Fisliery Investigations (1952, 

 1953, 1954 and 1955 )~. 



METHODS OF SAMPLING 



The methods of sampling are given by Ahlstrom (1952:3-6) and Ahlstrom 

 (1953:4-7). 



Tlie plankton net is obliquely hauled from a depth of approximately 

 140 meters (200 meters of wire out) to the surface. The angle of stray 

 of the towing wire from the vertical is kept as close as possible to 45°. 

 The angle of stray is measured continuously during a haul by means of an 

 inclinometer riding free on the wire. The plankton samples are preserved 

 in their entirety for later examination. Fish eggs and larvae separated 

 from the hauls are standardized to the number under 10 square meters of sea 

 surface. 



The manner of designating cruises was changed in 1953 from a system of 

 consecutive numbers to a code based on the year and the month; a conversion 

 table has been given by Thrailkill (1956). The new system used herein gives 

 the year (the first two numbers) and the month (the last two numbers). Thus, 

 5102 refers to the February cruise of 1951. 



In tables 3 to 6, a dash (-) indicates that the station was not occupied 

 or if occupied the sample subsequently was spoiled or broken; NQ - haul not 

 quantitative; U - sample unavailable either because it had been mislaid or 

 used in special studies. 



