108 
Fishery Bulletin 116(1) 
Fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico and 
its companion volumes ( Decapod Crustaceans, Mollusks, 
Cnidaria and Ctenophora, and World Fishes Impor¬ 
tant to North Americans). For species not found in the 
above mentioned AFS publications and for more recent 
changes in nomenclature, use the Integrated Taxonom¬ 
ic Information System (ITIS) (available at website), or, 
secondarily, the California Academy of Sciences Cata¬ 
log of Fishes (available at website) for species names 
not included in ITIS. Common (vernacular) names of 
species should be lowercase. Citations must be given 
of taxonomic references used for the identification of 
specimens. For example, “Fishes were identified accord¬ 
ing to Collette and Klein-MacPhee (2002); sponges were 
identified according to Stone et al. (2011).” 
Dates should be written as follows: 11 November 
2000. Measurements should be expressed in metric 
units, e.g., 58 metric tons (t); if other units of measure¬ 
ment are used, please make this fact explicit to the 
reader. Use numerals, not words, to express whole and 
decimal numbers in the general text, tables, and fig¬ 
ure captions (except at the beginning of a sentence). 
For example: We considered 3 hypotheses. We collected 
7 samples in this location. Use American spelling. Re¬ 
frain from using the shorthand slash (/), an ambiguous 
symbol, in the general text. 
Word usage and grammar that may be useful are the 
following: 
• Aging 
For our journal, the word aging is used to mean 
both age determination and the aging process (se¬ 
nescence). Authors should make clear which mean¬ 
ing is intended where ambiguity may arise. 
• Fish and fishes 
The plural of the word fish (a collective noun that 
implies individuals without regard to species) is 
fish. 
Example: The fish were collected by trawl net. 
Example: The numbers of fish collected that sea¬ 
son were less than the numbers from 
previous years. 
The plural for fish species is fishes (a contrived plu¬ 
ral used by taxonomists to mean several or more 
fish species) or one can use fish species (which is pre¬ 
ferred in this journal for clarity across disciplines). 
Example: The fishes of Puget Sound [biodiversity 
is implied] or 
The fish species of Puget Sound [preferred 
plural for clarity across disciplines], 
• Crab and crabs, squid and squids, etc. 
The plural of the word crab (i.e., many individuals 
without regard to species) is crab. 
Example: The crab were sorted by weight. 
Example: Many red king crab were dying [Many 
individuals of one species of crab.] 
The plural of crab species is crabs (a word used by 
taxonomists) or crab species (the latter is preferred 
in this journal for clarity). 
Example: These crabs were selected for treatment. 
[Different crab species are implied.] 
These crab species were selected for 
treatment. [Preferred word choice for 
clarity of meaning.] 
Example: Snow crabs are found throughout the 
North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. 
[There are 2 species of snow crab and 
therefore the word crabs can be used 
here.] 
Two species of snow crab are found 
throughout the North Pacific Ocean and 
Bering Sea. [Preferred usage for clarity.] 
Example: Three crabs were selected for treatment. 
[3 species of crab are implied.] 
Three crab species were selected for 
treatment. [Preferred word choice for 
clarity.] 
• The definite article with common names of species 
When the singular common name of a species repre¬ 
sents the entire class or group to which it belongs, 
use the definite article. 
Example: Only one species of the genus Salmo is 
found in the Atlantic Ocean— the Atlan¬ 
tic salmon ( Salmo salar). 
Example: The sonic emissions of the bottlenose 
dolphin are complex. 
For plural common names, this rule does not apply. 
Example: Chinook salmon are found throughout 
the Pacific Ocean. 
Example: Bottlenose dolphins are found in temper¬ 
ate and tropical waters. 
• Sex For the meaning of male and female, use the 
word sex, not gender. 
• Participles As adjectives, participles must modify a 
specific noun or pronoun. 
Example: Using mark-recapture methods, these 
scientists determined the size of the 
population. [Correct. The participle us¬ 
ing modifies the word scientists.] 
Example: These scientists, based on the collected 
data, concluded that the mortality rate 
of these fish had increased. [Incor¬ 
rect. The scientists were not based on 
the collected data.] 
These scientists concluded, on the ba¬ 
sis of collected data, that the mortality 
rate of these fish had increased. [Cor¬ 
rect. The offending participle has been 
eliminated and an adverbial phrase 
modifies the verb concluded.] 
