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Fish Bulletin No. 12. The Weight-Length Relationship of the California Sardine (Sardina cærulea) at San Pedro

Abstract

While weight and length of fishes are closely correlated, a detailed study of the relationship of these two units of measure shows many significant departures from a general mathematical law governing this relationship. These variations from the basic law have been utilized by students of fishery problems in racial studies and in determining the condition of fishes. However, before any study can be made of the significance of such departures from the normal, a clear understanding of the law governing the relationship between weight and length must be assured. The material used for the weight-length studies of the San Pedro sardine was obtained by staff members of the California State Fisheries Laboratory from the commercial catch landed at San Pedro. Two length measurements were made on each fish; the total length from the tip of the lower jaw to the posterior extremity of the caudal fin, and the body length from the tip of the lower jaw to the base of the caudal fin. In all studies made on the California sardine, body length measurements have been used, and in this study weight has been compared to body length.

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