Figure 1. 



-Lateral and ventral views of a marlin, showing location of measurements. The numbers correspond to the 



numbers in the text. 



6. — Prepeluic length. — Measured from the tip of the mandible to the origin 

 of the pelvic fin. The latter point is the intersection of the anterior basal 

 margin of the pelvic fin with the belly when the fin is held erect. 



7. — First preanal length. — Measured from the tip of the mandible to the 

 origin of the first anal fin. The latter point is determined in the same manner 

 as the origin of the first dorsel fin (See above). 



8. — Second preanal length. — Measured from the tip of the mandible to the 

 origin of the second anal fin. The latter point is determined in the same man- 

 ner as the origin of the second dorsal fin (See above). 



9. — Origin of first dorsal to origin of pectoral. — This character is self- 

 explanatory according to descriptions of these fin origins as given above (See 

 first predorsal length and prepectoral length). 



10. — Origin of first dorsal to origin of pelvic. — This character is self- 

 explanatory according to descriptions of these fin origins as given above (See 

 first predorsal length and prepelvic length). It constitutes a good indicator of 

 the anterior depth of the body. 



11. — Origin of second dorsal to origin of second anal. — The character is 

 self-explanatory according to descriptions of these fin origins as given above 

 (See second predorsal length and second preanal length). It constitutes a 

 good indicator of the posterior depth of the body. 



12. — Origin of pelvic to vent. — Measured from the origin of the pelvic fin 

 (See prepelvic length) to the anterior border of the anus. 



13. — Origin of pelvic to nape. — Measured from the origin of the pelvic fin 

 (See prepelvic length) to the nearest point on the midline of the nape. This 

 character gives good quantitative expression of the "hump" associated with 

 ontogenetic stages of certain species. 



14. — Greatest depth of body. — This character is self-explanatory. Its 

 points of reference correspond with those for body girth as described above. 



15. — Depth of body at origin of first dorsal. — Measured from the origin of 

 the first dorsal (See first predorsal length), vertically to the midline of the 

 isthmus, not including the branchiostegal membrane if it extends to the 

 latter point. This character is a good indicator of the posterior depth of the 

 head and may be used in connection with origin of pelvic to nape, to obtain a 

 quantitative interpretation of the magnitude of the "hump." 



16. — Depth of body at origin of first anal. — Measured from the origin of the 

 first anal fin (See first preanal length), vertically to the edge of the dorsal 

 groove. This character is a good indicator of the middle depth of the body. 



17. — Least depth of caudal peduncle. — Measured at the precaudal 

 transverse grooves. 



18. — Width of body at origin of pectorals. — Measured between the origins 

 of both pectoral fins (See prepectoral length). This character is a good in- 

 dicator of the anterior width of the body and may be more accurately and 

 conveniently obtained with the fish hanging by the tail. 



19. — Width of body at origin of first anal. — Measured at the widest point 

 on the vertical from the origin of the first anal fin. This character is a good in- 

 dicator of the middle width of the body and may be more accurately and con- 

 veniently obtained with the fish hanging from the tail. 



20. — Width of body at origin of second anal. — Measured according to the 

 same procedure described for the above character. This character is a good 

 indicator of the posterior width of the body. 



21. — Width of caudal peduncle at keel. — Measured between the outermost 

 point on the edge of each caudal keel (swordfish). Upper caudal keels in 

 sailfish, spearfish and marlin. 



22. — Length of upper caudal keel. — Measured between the points where 

 the keel merges with the caudal peduncle anteriorly and with the caudal fin 

 posteriorly. These points, although not well defined, may be estimated fairly 

 accurately. Same procedure for single keel of swordfish. 



23. — Length of lower caudal keel. — Measured according to the same 

 procedure described above for the upper caudal keel. 



24. — Head length. — Measured from the tip of the mandible to the most 

 distant point on the margin of the opercle. 



25. — Snout length. — Measured from the tip of the mandible to the most 

 anterior point on the fleshy margin of the orbit. 



26. — Bill length. — Measured from its tip to the most anterior point on the 

 fleshy margin of the orbit. 



27. — Preopercular length. — Measured from the tip of the mandible to the 

 most distant point on the margin of the preopercle. 



28. — Maxillary length. — Measured from the tip of mandible to the 

 posterior end of the maxillary. 



32 



