Guidelines for authors 
(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 Inte- 
grated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS, available at 
website), or, secondarily, the California Academy of Sci- 
ences Catalog of Fishes (available at website) for species 
names not included in ITIS. Common (vernacular) names 
of species should be lowercase. Citations must be given 
for the identification of specimens. For example, “Fish 
species were identified according to Collette and Klein- 
MacPhee (2002); sponges were identified according to 
Stone et al. (2011).” 
Dates should be written as follows: 11 November 2018. 
Measurements should be expressed in metric units, for 
example, “58 metric tons (t);” if other units of measurement 
are used, please make this fact explicit to the reader. Use 
numerals, not words, to express whole and decimal num- 
bers in the general text, tables, and figure captions (except 
at the beginning of a sentence). For example, “We consid- 
ered 3 hypotheses. We collected 7 samples in this location.” 
Use American spelling. Refrain from using the shorthand 
slash (/), an ambiguous symbol, in the general text. 
Cite all software, special equipment, and chemical solu- 
tions used in the study within parentheses in the general 
text, for example, “SAS, vers. 6.03 (SAS Institute Inc., 
Cary, NC).” 
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 (senescence). 
Authors should make clear which meaning is intended 
where ambiguity may arise. 
e 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 season 
were less than the numbers from previous years. 
The plural for fish species is fishes (a contrived plural 
used by taxonomists to mean several or more fish spe- 
cles) or one can use fish species (which is preferred in 
this journal for clarity across disciplines). 
Example: The fishes of Puget Sound [biodiversity is 
implied] or 
Example: The fish species of Puget Sound [preferred 
plural for clarity across disciplines]. 
e Crab and crabs, squid and squids, ete. 
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 tax- 
onomists) or crab species (the latter is preferred in this 
journal for clarity). 
Example: These crabs were selected for treatment. 
[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 through- 
out the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. [Pre- 
ferred usage for clarity.] 
Example: Three crabs were selected for treatment. 
[3 species of crab are implied.] 
Example: Three crab species were selected for treat- 
ment. [Preferred word choice for clarity.] 
e 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. 
e The definite article with common names of species 
When the singular common name of a species rep- 
resents 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 dol- 
phin 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. 
e Sex 
For the meaning of male and female, use the word sex, 
not gender. Do not write “fish were sexed.” Write, “sex 
was determined.” 
e Participles 
As adjectives, participles must modify a specific noun 
or pronoun. 
Example: Using mark-recapture methods, these sci- 
entists determined the size of the population. [Correct. 
The participle wsing modifies the word scientists.] 
Example: These scientists, based on the collected 
data, concluded that the mortality rate of these fish 
had increased. [Incorrect. The scientists were not 
based on the collected data.] 
Example: These scientists concluded, on the basis of 
collected data, that the mortality rate of these fish 
had increased. [Correct. The offending participle has 
been eliminated and an adverbial phrase modifies 
the verb concluded.] 
