362 
Fishery Bulletin 11 6(3-4) 
nomenclature, use the current edition of the Ameri¬ 
can Fisheries Society’s Common and Scientific Names 
of Fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexi¬ 
co and its companion volumes (Decapod Crustaceans, 
Mollusks, Cnidaria and Ctenophora, and World Fishes 
Important to North Americans ). For species not found 
in the above mentioned AFS publications and for more 
recent changes in nomenclature, use the Integrated 
Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (available at 
website), or, secondarily, the California Academy of Sci¬ 
ences Catalog of Fishes (available at website) for spe¬ 
cies names not included in ITIS. Common (vernacular) 
names of species should be lowercase. Citations must 
be given for the identification of specimens. For exam¬ 
ple, “Fishes were identified according to Collette and 
Klein-MacPhee (2002); sponges were identified accord¬ 
ing 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. 
Cite all software, special equipment, and chemical 
solutions used in the study within parentheses in the 
general text: e.g., SAS, vers. 6.03 (SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, 
NO. 
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 
Example: The fish species of Puget Sound [pre¬ 
ferred 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 treat¬ 
ment. [Different crab species are implied.] 
Example: 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.] 
Example: 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 treat¬ 
ment. [3 species of crab are implied.] 
Example: Three crab species were selected for 
treatment. [Preferred word choice for clarity.] 
• Fisherman and fisher 
We use “fisherman” and “fishermen” in this journal 
not “fisher” and “fishers.” One can always use crew 
member, vessel operator, and angler (the latter for 
recreational fishing). 
• 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 Atlantic 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 tem¬ 
perate and tropical waters. 
• Sex 
For the meaning of male and female, use the word 
sex, not gender. Do not write “fish were sexed.” 
Write, “sex was determined.” 
• 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 using modifies the word 
scientists.] 
