56 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. VI, January, 1952 
dicate different growth patterns, either be- 
tween species or at different times or in 
different populations of the same species. 
The sample of striped marlin considered 
here has a length-weight equilibrium con- 
stant of 3 . 009 . However, the standard error 
of k, Sk is 0 . 307 , indicating the possibility of 
rather wide random variations in k which 
would not be significant. Shapiro (1938: 5) 
reported the equilibrium constant of weight 
on length for the Atlantic blue marlin as 3.93 
for a sample of 23 specimens. The difference 
is quite reasonable, for the blue marlin is a 
much deeper-bodied fish. It is probable that 
the Pacific black marlin {Makaira nigricans 
marlina) might have an even higher constant. 
•The white marlin {Makaira alhida) seems to 
be a very slim fish and ought to have a con- 
siderably lower constant in its length-weight 
equation. 
Linear Measurements 
Statistics of the logarithmic regressions of 
the various linear measurements are given in 
Table 2. Significant departures from isometry 
were found in only two of these measure- 
ments, although two others, pectoral length 
on standard length and dorsal fluke of the 
tail on ventral fluke, approach a significant 
level. It is possible that examination of larger 
samples might show the allometry of these 
dimensions to be significant. 
The length of the sword, from the tip to 
the anterior margin of the eye, maintains an 
isometric relationship to the standard length. 
The data published by Gregory and Conrad 
{loc. cit.) give values of k of 0.816 for 17 fish 
from Cape Brett and 0.889 for 9 fish from 
Mayor Island. Shapiro (1938: 15) gives k = 
0.88 for the sword of the blue marlin. None 
of these figures represent a significant de- 
parture from isometry. This is somewhat 
surprising, for it is popularly assumed that 
the sword tends to become relatively shorter 
with increased overall length. 
The anterior-posterior diameter of the eye 
shows a very slight degree of negative allo- 
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