56 MARINE SCIENCE 
1.2.1.4 Ecology and physiology—of marine algae.—This includes general sup- 
port of marine botany research as well as specific projects such as monitoring 
the species composition and abundance of phytoplankters in the waters off 
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and analysis of historical samples. 
Scripps Institution of Oceanography annual cost__--__--__---___--____ $15,000 
1.2.1.5. Exploratory studies—This includes a wide number of studies and 
tests of improved observations and methods, and analyses of data. This covers 
improved nets, direct current measurements, investigations into the efficacy of 
nets and escape of organisms, inquiry into the interpretation of sardine larvae 
catch data, ete. 
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (continuing) annual cost_____--~-_ $45,000 
1.2.1.6 Marine vertebrate studies—This project includes general support of 
systematic studies in the Pacific as well as specialized studies of the races of 
sardines. 
Scripps Institution of Oceonography annual cost_______________-_____ $28, 000 
1.2.1.7 Vessel time——Vessel time for project 1,2.1.1-1.2.1.6. 
Seripps Institution of Oceanography annual cost______________________ $60, 000 
12.1.8 Studies of fishes ecologically associated with sardines.—At present 
this includes systematic studies and studies of larval development. 
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries annual cost_______-__-__~--________ $20, 000 
1.2.1.9 Fecundity of sardines and other fishes.—A general study of fecundity 
with the objective of understanding the sardine, but necessarily conducted on 
a broad basis. 
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries annual cost______-__---__-_________-_. $8, 000 
1.2.2.0 New General research projects —These are projects either not now 
funded, or funded at such a low level they require substantial new resources to 
bring them to a satisfactory level. 
1.2.2.1 Monograph of eggs and larvae of pelagic fishes of the California 
Current system.—Material is available at the La Jolla Laboratory, Bureau of 
Commercial Fisheries, on which to base a monographic treatment of the eggs 
and larvae of the California Current system. 
During the 12-year period, 1949-60, the La Jolla Laboratory of the Bureau 
of Commercial Fisheries has built up the most extensive larval fish collection 
in the United States and perhaps in the world. 
The material has been obtained from plankton collections in the CALCOFI 
area, which have averaged between 1,500 and 2,000 a year. Upwards of 20,000 
collections have been made in the CALCOFI area. In addition, more wide 
ranging expeditions such as Norpac, Northern Holiday, Shellback, and Scot 
have extended the distributions of many of the species. Seven cruises have 
been made in the Gulf of California. 
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries annual cost (3 years) —-______________ $50, 000 
1.2.2.2 Quantitative assay of zooplankton constituents.—During the past 12 
years, cruises undertaken under the CALCOFI program have collected approxi- 
mately 2,000 plankton samples a year. Collecting of plankton samples will con- 
tinue in future years at a reduced rate—perhaps 1,000 samples per year. The 
collections represent the most thorough coverage of an era ever attempted. 
Plankton volumes have been determined and made available in a series of 
data reports, published in the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Series; Special 
Scientific Report—Fisheries. Individual groups of organisms have been studied 
at Scripps, including euphausiids, salps, doliolids, pelagic annelids, pteropods, 
arrow worms, siphonophores, mysids, amphipods, and copepods. Studies to date 
have been mostly taxonomic and geographical studies of particular groups of 
plankters. Little or no attention has been paid to the quantitative role (espe- 
cially the volumetric contribution) of the different constituent groups. The pro- 
posed projects would fill this hiatus. 
Measurements of total plankton volumes are of limited value, principally be- 
cause marked increases in volumes result from increases in jellylike organisms 
that have little value as food for other organisms. Crustacean plankton con- 
stituents probably have as high a nutritive value as any group of plankters. 
Hence in assessing the nutritive potential of a standing crop of zooplankton, 
