Guidelines for authors 
405 
Incorrect: Based on the collected data, we concluded 
that the mortality rate for these fish had 
increased. [We were not based on the col- 
lected data. I 
Correct: We concluded on the basis of the collected 
data that the mortality rate for these fish 
had increased. [Eliminate the participle 
and replace it with an adverbial phrase.] 
Equations and mathematical symbols should be 
set from a standard mathematical program (MathType) 
or tool (Equation Editor in MS Word). LaTex is accept- 
able for more advanced computations. For mathemati- 
cal symbols in the general text (a, y}, n, ±, etc.), use the 
symbols provided by the MS Word program and itali- 
cize all variables. Do not use photo mode when creating 
these symbols in the general text. 
Number equations (if there are more than 1) for fu- 
ture reference by scientists; place the number within 
parentheses at the end of the first line of the equation. 
Round all values to 2 decimal points. 
Literature cited section comprises published works 
and those accepted for publication in peer-reviewed 
journals (in press). Follow the name and year system 
for citation format in the “Literature cited” section (that 
is to say, citations should be listed alphabetically by the 
authors’ last names, and then by year if there is more 
than one citation with the same authorship. Abbrevia- 
tions of serials should conform to abbreviations given 
in Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (http://www.csa.com/ 
ids70/serials_source_list.php?db=aquclust-set-c). 
Authors are responsible for the accuracy and com- 
pleteness of all citations. Literature citation format: 
Author (last name, followed by first-name initials). Year. 
Title of article. Abbreviated title of the journal in which 
it was published. Always include number of pages. If 
there is a sequence of citations in the text, list chrono- 
logically: (Smith, 1932: Green. 1947; Smith and Jones, 
1985). 
Digital object identifier (doi) code ensures that a 
publication has a permanent location online. Doi code 
should be included at the end of citations of published 
literature. Cite all software and special equipment or 
chemical solutions used in the study within parenthe- 
ses in the text (e.g., SAS, vers. 6.03, SAS Inst., Inc., 
Cary, NC). 
Footnotes are used for all documents that have not 
been formally peer reviewed and for observations and 
communications. These types of references should he 
cited sparingly in manuscripts submitted to the journal. 
All reference documents, administrative reports, inter- 
nal reports, progress reports, project reports, contract 
reports, personal observations, personal communica- 
tions, unpublished data, manuscripts in review, and 
council meeting notes are footnoted in 9 pt font and 
placed at the bottom of the page on which they are first 
cited. Footnote format is the same as that for formal 
literature citations. A link to the online source (e.g., 
[http://www/ , accessed July 2007.]), or the mail- 
ing address of the agency or department holding the 
document, should be provided so that readers may ob- 
tain a copy of the document. 
Tables are often overused in scientific papers; it is 
seldom necessary or even desirable to present all the 
data associated with a study. Tables should not be ex- 
cessive in size and must be cited in numerical order in 
the text. Headings should be short but ample enough 
to allow the table to be intelligible on its own. All un- 
usual symbols must be explained in the table legend. 
Other incidental comments may be footnoted with italic 
numeral footnote markers. Use asterisks only to indi- 
cate significance in statistical data. Do not type table 
legends on a separate page; place them above the table 
data. Do not submit tables in photo mode. 
Figures must be cited in numerical order in the 
text. Graphics should aid in the comprehension of the 
text, but they should be limited to presenting patterns 
rather than raw data. Figures should not exceed one 
figure for every four pages of text. Figures must be la- 
beled with the number of the figure. Place labels A, B, 
C, etc. within the upper left area of graphs and photos. 
Avoid placing labels vertically (except for the y axis). 
Figure legends should explain all symbols and abbre- 
viations seen in the figure and should be double-spaced 
on a separate page at the end of the manuscript. Color 
is allowed in figures to show morphological differences 
among species (for species identification), to show stain 
reactions, and to show gradations in temperature con- 
tours within maps. Color is discouraged in graphs, and 
for the few instances where color may be allowed, the 
use of color will be determined by the Managing Editor. 
• Notate probability with a capital, italic P. 
• Provide a zero before all decimal points for values 
less than one (e.g., 0.07). 
• Capitalize the first letter of the first word in all la- 
bels within figures. 
• Do not use overly large font sizes in maps and for 
units of measurements along axes in figures. 
• Do not use bold fonts or bold lines in figures. 
• Do not place outline rules around graphs. 
• Use a comma in numbers of five digits or more (e.g., 
13,000 but 3000). 
• Place a North arrow and label degrees latitude and 
longitude (e.g., 170°E) in maps. 
• Use symbols, shadings, or patterns (not clip art) in 
maps and graphs. 
Failure to follow these guidelines 
and failure to correspond with editors 
in a timely manner will delay 
publication of a manuscript. 
Copyright law does not apply to Fishery Bulletin, 
which falls within the public domain. However, if an 
author reproduces any part of an article from Fishery 
Bulletin in his or her work, reference to source is con- 
sidered correct form (e.g., Source: Fish. Bull. 97:105). 
