Abstract

Knowledge of the vertical distribution of pilchard eggs and larvae is of interest from two standpoints: first, in adding to the general knowledge of the early life of this species in the sea; and second, in defining the vertical range of ite early stages so that regular surveys of the spawning grounds may be designed to sample all strata in which eggs and larvae are to be found. In reference to the second point it was desired if possible to relate vertical distribution to physical characteriEtics of the sea, so that the depth to which nets must be sent might be predicted. It was felt that the concentration of organisms at a given depth would be controlled chiefly by temperature, density, and light intensity. The analyses described in this paper have been designed to discover and define the relationships between these three variables and the vertical distribution of pilchard eggs and larvae.

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