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A Manjuba (Anchoviella hubbsi Hildebrand) da safra de outubro de 1954 a fevereiro de 1955 foi analisada em três datas distintas, espaçadas de, pelo menos, um mês quanto ao seu teor de matéria graxa, a fim de ser verificada a sua variação no tempo, por local de pesca e dentro de uma amostra. 1) Observou-se que a amplitude entre os valores extremos pode atingir, dentro da mesma amostra, a 7-9%. Os valores extremos observados, dentro da totalidade das amostras foram de cerca de 2,5% e ca. 15,5%. 2) Os machos são, em regra, mais gordos do que as fêmeas. 3) Há diferenças significativas entre os teores médios de gordura dos exemplares procedentes de Registro e de Iguapé. A diferença foi da ordem de 3% no princípio da safra, tendo a mesma caído para ca. 1% ao fim da safra. 4) As amostras de Iguape não apresentaram diferenças significativas no decorrer da safra. Ao contrário, aquelas procedentes de Registro mostraram que o teor médio de gordura cresce gradualmente no decorrer dos meses, tendendo para um limite. 5) A carne escura situada sob a faixa prateada lateral é muito mais rica em gordura do que o restante da carne que é branca.

Sardine (Sardinella aurita, Rafinesque) and Manjuba {Anchoviella hubbsi, Hildebrand) are the two species of fish most commonly salted at the coast of São Paulo. As there exists a general incertainity about the curing time, it was found interesting to carry out some experiments in order to clarify this question. The present paper gives an account for the work and the results obtained up to now in the Technical Laboratory of the Institute. When Sardine is salted round with about 30% salt calculated on the fresh fish weight, may incorporate about 18% NaCl on the salted fish weight basis. This salt content is reached practically in about 15 days. Considering the variability of thickness and fat content of the fish and the unequal distribution of salt, which may occur in the industrial procedure of salting, the curing period of about 15 days must be taken as the minimum necessary to ensure a perfect cure. The table II shows the rate of salt penetration, salt-water ratio and salt-dry material ratio. In the case of manjuba, whose production is almost entirely destinated to salting and drying, the salt penetration proceeds rapidly during the first day, when the salt content stabilizes at the level of about 14-15%. The maximum concentration eventually attainable is about 18%, if the fish is maintained in saturated brine for a long time. Provided that the manjuba is kept in saturated brine and properly cured, it may be preserved in good conditions for more than one year. The table III gives the rate of salt penetration observed in manjuba salted with 30, 25 and 20% of salt on fresh fish weight basis.

No summary/description provided

This paper summarizes and analyses the landing data collected at Santos, Brazil, during the 12 months period, July 1958-June 1959. These data are given in terms of weight landed of the more important fish and shrimp and also in terms of value. The distribution of the landings of each of the more important species is shown both according to the type of fishing gear used and fishing area. The fishing area is given in the form of statistical rectangles of 60 miles square. The landings are broken down to obtain a figure for the landing per hour of fishing for each species, for each gear and for each rectangle fished. This figure of landing per unit fishing time is used to compare one area with another, one gear with another, and one month with another for each of the important species. In this way, comparisons of the available density of a species by time, area and fishing gear are made.

Este trabalho inclui uma análise da distribuição de comprimentos das sardinhas pescadas na Lagoa de Cananéia, ao sul do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Demonstra-se que as sardinhas jovens aparecem nas pescas realizadas durante o mês de outubro, crescem rapidamente mais ou menos até janeiro e daí para diante, mais vagarosamente, até atingirem o comprimento de 14 cm em abril, quando então desaparecem da Lagoa. Faz-se a correlação entre os desembarques de sardinhas maiores no Rio de Janeiro e das sardinhas pequenas desembarcadas em Cananéia no ano anterior. Sugere-se que a abundância de sardinhas desembarcadas em Cananéia, num ano, pode ser usada como índice de abundância de sardinhas no ano seguinte no Rio de Janeiro.

In this paper the author defines some statistical terms used, describes the sampling techniques adopted in the study of some fish, and quotes some problems concerning the determination of the composition of the stocks. The commercial fleet was utilized to sample the stocks of fish, in the assumption that the catch as landed on the fish market reflects the composition of the stocks in the sea. The paper is restricted to the evaluation of the length distribution of Sardine landed and for that purpose the Author examined 143 samples taken at random from August 1958 to December 1959. The analysis of those samples are shown in Table II and were plotted in Figure 3. The reliable sample size limit for Sardine was established as 300, with the acceptance of an error of 0.1 cm, considering the catch per boat as a population.

A new species of rhizostomatous medusa first noticed May 1955 along the coast of São Paulo, Brazil, is described in this paper. The present species belongs to the genus Mastigias. The species was named Mastigias scintillae to honour my colleague Miss M. Scintila Amaral de Almeida Prado, and as a reminder to the numerous highly refringent exumbrellar spots. Mastigias scintillae has a convex umbrella up to 60 cm in diameter. Exumbrellar surface covered with warts and bespecked with white refringent dots lying in an irregular polygonal rust coloured field. Eight marginal lappets plus two rhopalar ones, between adjacent rhopalia. Usually eight rhopalia, exceptionally 10 or more may be present. Oral disk quadratic slightly longer than umbrella radius. Long central filament present on disk. Subgenital ostia twice as large as the pillars between them. Subgenital porticus single. Radial subumbrellar musculature absent. Ring musculature divided in two fields, the inner one being interrupted by the eight rhopalar canals. Eigh oral arms about as long as umbrellar radius. The proximal portion of each arm bears an axial wing, shorter than its distal portion; the oral arms bear three wings on their distal portion. Club-shaped appendices and filaments present, among the mouth openings on the axial wing. Filaments absent on abaxial wings where club-shaped appendices are alone present. A long appendix at the distal end of each oral arm. Terminal filament, oral filaments and club-shaped appendices bear a terminal orifice. Central cruciform stomach, eight rhopalar canals, circular canal present. Fifteen to 18 interrhopalar canals leave the stomach in each octant and become anastomosed thus originating a rather wide meshed net continuous with and internal to the ring canal. Externally to the ring canal there is a finer meshed net which becomes progressively finer distally and is continuous terminally with the rhopalar canals. The four perradial canals are wider and usually do not branch before they reach the ring-canal; the four interradial ones are narrower and more branched. The gastrovascular net of the oral arms and of the terminal club is fairly constant (Figs. 2-3). Gastric filaments present on all internal contour of the stomach. General colour rust .with white dots, terminal clubs blue to violet distally. Specimens 12 to 15 mm diameter have 5 to 7 marginal lappets, continous ring muscular field, the central filaments on oral disk are as long as the umbrella is wide. There are four central mouths arranged in a cruciform manner. Single subgenital porticus. The species was first observed May 1955 at Cananéia, later the same year it spread as far north as Rio de Janeiro. During subsequent years the known area of dispersion has remained the same but the numbers of animals has greatly increased. A discussion of Mayer's, Stiasny's and Uchida's systems follows. The latter author's is here followed in including the genus Versura in the family Mastigiadidae, thus disposing of the family Versuridae. Stiasny's definition of the family Mastigiadidae and of the genus Mastigias are here followed. The new species is then compared with the previously known ones and the differential characters pointed out. The distribution of the species of the genus is briefly summarized. A revision of the genus is highly desirable. The analysis of the stomach content shows that this species feeds on plankton and the large number of sperm cells present suggests that the gonads rupture through the stomach wall and not in the subgenital porticus. Young and adults are found together. The gonads of 286 specimens were studied and all were males. Symbiotic Zooxanthellae present in mesogloea, epiderm and gastrodermis. Three species of crustaceans, namely Periclhnenes (Periclimenes) longicaudatus, Libinia ferreirae and an isopod (Cymothoidae) were frequently found under the subumbrella; also fishes belonging to the genus Hemicaranx and Choloroscombrus. Other fishes were seen nibbling at the umbrella but the medusa has a very high regenerating power and specimens with regenerated parts are frequently found. Terminal clubs are easily lost. The species was always seen between January and July.

Four species of Sagitta found in Brazilian waters are redescribed in this paper. Sagitta friderici - Numerous sensory hairs and areas are regularly distributed over the epidermis. Clearly defined collarette. Formula of the buccal armature:. Caudal to total length ratio: 25.8-29.1. Seminal vesicles almost reach posterior fins and are in contact with caudal fin; with anterior spherical swelling. Elongated ovary with eggs arranged in several rows. Sagitta hispida - Head very wide in relation to body and large collarette. Formula of buccal armature: . Caudal to total length ratio: 25.0-28.5. Seminal vesicles touch posterior fins and are separated from caudal fin. Long ovary with several rows of eggs. Sagitta minima - Has a typical body shape, small head, body widened posteriorly, tail segment thin. Collarette absent. Formula of buccal armature:. As the specimens grow, the caudal to total length ratio gradually shifts from 22.7-16.6. Seminal vesicles are separated from posterior fins and touch caudal fin. Ovary short with few eggs. Sagitta tenuis - A small species, similar to Sagitta friderici but smaller. Similarly to S. friderici it has sensory hairs and areas on the body surface. Collarette small. Formula of buccal armature:. Caudal to total length ratio: 25.0-31.8. Seminal vesicles almost touch posterior fins and touch caudal fin: anterior portion of vesicles swollen. Ovary short with few large eggs, this being its principal differential character from S. friderici. The variation indicated in the formulae of the buccal armature and of caudal to total length ratio refer to specimens of different sizes.

Os autores fizeram uma revisão do gênero Bougainvillia, incluindo todas as espécies descritas sob esse nome e todas aquelas realmente pertencentes a esse gênero, anteriormente descritas sob outros nomes. De cada espécie é dada uma lista de sinônimos a mais completa possível, assim como uma descrição detalhada. As espécies válidas são reunidas numa tabela sinótica com os dados que foi possível reunir para cada espécie. Estabelecida a sinonímia na base dos caracteres morfológicos, foi estudada a zoogeografia do gênero. Tudo indica ser B. ramosa a forma simples primitiva da qual derivaram as demais espécies. Desta forma, ou de outra próxima a ela, teria derivado um grupo de espécies de águas temperadas com certas características morfológicas comuns a todas, e, afora uma que é do Japão, habitantes do Atlântico ou mares adjacentes. Um segundo grupo de espécies teria evoluído em águas frias árticas ou boreais e antárticas, também com caracteres morfológicos em comum. Por fim, um terceiro grupo de espécies teria evoluído em águas tropicais tanto do Atlântico como do Pacífico, apresentando, igualmente, características morfológicas em comum. Considerando o número de espécies e sua distribuição, o gênero Bougainvilia aparece como um gênero inicialmente atlântico, havendo apenas duas espécies distribuídas exclusivamente no Pacífico ou Indo-Pacífico.

The data collected on three oceanographic cruises undertaken in 1956 indicate that the main branch of the Brazil Current flows southwards along the continental slope, where it reaches maximum velocity, and further, that a well defined limit is found between the warm and saline tropical water from the north and that situated over the central part of the shelf. This is especially the case during the summer months (October-March). Below the Brazil Current a water layer of lower salinity and temperature is found. This water mass is formed near the western extremity of the Subtropical Convergence where it sinks and flows northwards to reappear near or at the surface in an area situated between the lighter, south-flowing, tropical water, and the coastal water. Such a distribution of density across the Current is to be expected in view of the dynamics of ocean currents. There are, however, evidences which indicate the occurrence of upwelling from moderate depths, in particular near Cabo Frio where the prevailing winds from NE drive the surface waters offshore. It is further suggested that the upwelling is maintained by a thermohaline mechanism as the density of the cold and low salinity water is decreased by heating from solar radiation. In order to maintain dynamic stability, the heated water must consequently flow out of the area and be replaced by water from below which in turn suffers the same decrease of density, and so on. Such mechanism might, together with prevailing winds, be responsible for permanent or periodic upwelling near other regions in the tropical and subtropical zone of the oceans where salinity decreases with depth.

A list of diatoms found on the higher algae Centroceras sp., collected at Itanhaém, State of São Paulo, Brazil, and Ectocarpus sp. and Caulerpa racemosa from Ubatuba, also in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, is given in this paper. Only onq species Licmophora abbreviate Agardh is typically epiphitic. Nine different species and the genus Auricula, are here recorded for the first time for Brazil. A new species Navicula melchersi is described. The difference of the surrounding conditions, calm waters at Ubatuba and breakers at Itanhaém, probably accounts for the species composition of the communities from the two places.

O presente trabalho é uma primeira estimativa da produtividade primária na região de Cananéia. Tem por principal objetivo obter resultados preliminares sobre as variações diurnas da produção da população natural que vive nas águas costeiras, em função dos fatores ambientais. Com esta finalidade a maioria dos fatores que intervém na produtividade primária foram medidos e observados durante 2 dias, no período diurno em intervalo de 2 em 2 horas. Os principais fatores considerados na avaliação da produção primária foram: a - "Taxa de produção bruta" (gross production rate) dos organismos marinhos. b - Ambientes físico e químico. c - Relação entre a energia total incidente e a produção orgânica. O equipamento, os métodos e procedimentos empregados na obtenção dos resultados são apresentados. A produção orgânica foi determinada pela técnica do oxigênio de Gaarden & Gran (1927), a concentração de oxigênio foi medida pelo método de Winkler. O método empregado na dosagem da concentração de pigmentos foi o de Richards com Thompson (1952), Creitz & Richards (1955), Davis (1957) e o cômputo efetuado por meio das equações de Richards com Thompson. Os coeficientes de extinção foram obtidos pela observação do disco de Secchi e computados pela expressão de Poole & Atkins. A análise quantitativa do fitoplâncton foi efetuada pelo método de filtração "filtro milipóro" (millipore filter) e contagem microscópica de acordo com o "método de contagem de grupos" (clump count method). Os demais fatores foram obtidos através de medidas diretas ou por métodos usuais. A análise dos resultados e das observações permite as seguintes conclusões: A população fitoplanctônica natural que vive nas águas túrbidas costeiras da Ilha de Bom Abrigo foi encontrada em boas condições fisiológicas e é constituída principalmente por diatomáceas. s sais nutrientes (fosfatos) são encontrados em quantidades suficientes. A taxa máxima de produção orgânica é aproximadamente 93 mg C/m³/2 h na superfície de 131,25 mg C/m ³/2 h a 2,0 m de profundidade. A variação diurna da produção orgânica mostrou ser controlada principalmente pela variação diurna da intensidade de radiação solar global. A intensidade instantânea média saturante da radiação global é de 0.27 ly.min-i e a intensidade de iluminamento saturante varia entre 1.700 e 2.200 lúmen . pé-². A taxa média da produção orgânica para a energia saturante é aproximadamente de 22 mg C /mg de clorofila / 2 horas. Os resultados obtidos mostram ser compatíveis com os esperados para o "plâncton de sor' (sun plankton), que vive nas águas superficiais dos mares tropicais (Steemann Nielsen & Hansen, 1959).

A list of diatoms found in the region of Cananéia is given in this paper. A description is given of the diatoms recorded for the first time in Brazilian waters (Eunotia major (W. Sm.) Rabh., Eunotia praerupta var. bidens Grun., Eunotia sudetica O. Muller, Nitzschia ançrularis W. Sm., Nitzschia fluminensis Grun., Nitzschia macilenta Greg., Nitzschia sigma (Kütz.) W. Sm. var. intercedens Grun., Surirella guatimalensis Ehr., Surirella kittoni A. S., Synedra acus Kütz. var. angustissima Grun., Triceratium uncinatum A. S., Tropidoneis seriata Cleve) as well of those of some interest due to their geographic distribution. The species studied are cosmopolitan and tropical and only one is a characteristic species of cold water (Chaetoceros tortissimus Gran.), the presence of which could not be explained based on the physical data obtained (temperature and salinity). The basic factor that influences the nature and horizontal distribution of the phytoplankton was found to be salinity.

A description is given of Dentostomina besnardii, new species, from Banco de São Tomé (Lat. 22º 08' S - Long 40º 39' W) and Trindade (Lat. 20º 33' S - Long. 29º 22' W), coast of Brazil. The species is similar to D. guraboensis Bermudez, 1949, differing from it by the position of the bifid tooth and the size of the grains which form the test.

No summary/description provided

Estuda-se neste trabalho, a distribuição geográfica dos Chaetognatha no Atlântico Sul Ocidental relacionando as dez espécies encontradas com as diferentes massas de água. Foram feitas estações em águas costeira, da plataforma e tropical. Finalmente, foi relacionada a presença dos Chaetognatha e das medusas com as diferentes massas de água.

A fishery research programme requires an accurate picture of the length distribution of the fish caught and landed. Each boat is considered a sampling unit. It is therefore necessary to know how to draw a sample from the fish landed in such a way as to give an accurate assessment of the length distribution of the boat's landing. This is the purpose of the present paper, which refers to the sampling of "pescada-foguete" (Macrodon ancylodon) caught by parejas of "Sociedade de Pesca Taiyo Ltda.", and landed on the fish market of Santos, State of São Paulo, Brazil. By courtesy of that firm two voyages were made during which observations on the length distribution of the fish caught were carried out. Independently, samples were taken of the fish landed from these voyages, after landing. In this way an evaluation of the sampling techniques used on the fish market was obtained. Due to the selection of the nets used, there is no rejection of "pescada-foguete" at sea and therefore the fish measured represent a boat's catch. Methods: 1 - Samples from the hauls were taken on board, at random, during two voyages, to find out if there is a significant difference in the length distributions between hauls on the same voyage. 2 - At the fish market three boxes of each size category: large - G, medium - M, and small - P, were measured: one (1) series at the beginning, the second (2) at the middle, and the third (3) at the end of the landing operation. The purpose was to see if there is a significant difference between the length distributions of each size category or if the same length distribution occurred in a given category during the entire process of landing. 3 - The grand mean, calculated according to the procedure and example given in Table VIII, for the sample quoted in item 2 above, was compared with that taken from the same vessel at sea. This shows whether the market sampling for length distribution differs significantly from that estimated from non-selected samples on the boat. The results were as follows: 1 - In the first voyage seven samples (Table I) were obtained from seven different hauls, and the means of the samples are plotted in Figure 2; the means of the second voyage (fifteen samples) drawn at random on the following trip, are plotted in Figure 3. The t test was applied for the comparison between the means and the results are shown in Tables II and III. The first three means show (Figure 2) a significant difference because at the beginning of the fishing operation several hauls were made at random to locate the shoals (Figure 1). The other four show no significant difference. The means of the second trip do not show, in general, a significant difference, probably due to the fact that the fishing was done at the same distance from the coast during the whole trip. For estimation of the variability of all samples together, analysis of variance was used (Table IV). The value of F is high in the first voyage, but not very high in the second. 2 - The difference between the mean length of the same size category taken at the beginning (1), at the middle (2), and at the end (3) of the landing was not highly significant (Tables V and VI). 3 - Table IX shows the comparison between the grand mean (see how it was computed in Table VIII) and the mean resulting from the gathering of samples obtained aboard the ship, in the first and in the second voyage. Those concerning the first trip do not show a significant difference; the same is true of two [(1) and (2)] from the second trip. The other (3) shows a significant difference because at the end of the landing some fish of bigger size than those normally considered as small were placed in the box of small fish measured. A percentage length frequency distribution of the raised market data and the boat samples (Figs. 4 and 5) shows practically no difference. Also, there is no significant difference between the samples obtained on board and those obtained on the fish market (grand mean for the two stratified samples of the first voyage, and for the three samples of the second one), as shown in Table X, i.e., the mean of two stratified samples taken at the fish market at the return from the first trip, when compared with the one obtained aboard, showed no significant difference. The same is evident with the three stratified samples obtained at the return from the second trip. The size distribution within a category is not the same for every landing (Tables VII and VIII). Therefore, from every landing a stratified sample must be drawn. Table V shows that two general means present no significant difference, but this is not so when compared with the third one. This suggests that more than one box is necessary to represent the catch of a pareja belonging to "Sociedade de Pesca Taiyo Ltda.". Table XI I shows, however, that the measurements of half a box of 25 kg, and the counting of the other half (to raise the total number of fish landed at each size category) are sufficient enough to represent the box. The most important conclusion is that a better representative sampling can be achieved by reducing the number of fish measured from each box, and increasing the number of boxes measured for fish. Thus the variance between boxes will be reduced and it will fall nearer to the variance within each box.

Neste trabalho, adotou-se o método empregado por Lucas et al. (1954), Margetts (1957) e Beverton & Holt (1957), para o estudo da seletividade, produzida pelas malhas das redes da frota pesqueira de Santos, sobre as seguintes espécies: "Corvina" (Micropogon furnieri), "Pescada-foguete" (Macrodon ancylodon), "Goete" (Cynoscion petranus), "Tortinha" (Isopisthus parvipinnis), Cangauá" (Bairdiella ronchus), "Maria Luísa" (Paralonchurus brasiliensis) e "Oveva" (Larimus breviceps). O estudo baseou-se nas seguintes hipóteses: primeiramente, que a malha fosse completamente flexível, em segundo lugar, completamente rígida, com as proporções de 2:3 entre as diagonais e em terceiro lugar, que o peixe pudesse tomar secção transversal circular. Através de retas de regressão, foram estabelecidas correlações entre a malha, nas duas situações e o comprimento do peixe, com 50% de probabilidade de escape. Concluiu-se que os barcos brasileiros da frota, devido à malhagem pequena, capturam peixes de comprimento inferior ao aceito pelo mercado, produzindo depredação, o que não acontece com os barcos japoneses.

The purpose of this paper is to present the first results obtained on the length/frequency distribution, age and growth, and the relations length/weight, length/girth, and girth/weight, of Corvina (Micropogon furnieri = M. opercularis), a fish of the family Sciaenidae caught off the Brazilian coast. This work is part of a long term programme designed to assess the size of the fishable stocks, to suggest the proper management of these stocks, and to aid the fishing industry in their rational exploitation. The data were obtained at the fish market of Santos in the period from August 1958 to August 1959. They were obtained from an area which extends between the parallels 23º S and 34º S and a few miles off the Brazilian coast; the area exploited by the Santos fishing fleet (Fig. 1). The data, however, are insufficient to define all the biological parameters of the fish under consideration. Nevertheless, they are a beginning towards assessment of the marine resources of Brazil. The author does not try to draw final conclusions, but only to present the first results of the research under way. Corvina is landed at the fish market in two forms: 1) Corvina as such, and sold under that name, and this comprises the bulk of the landing; and 2) Corvina included in "mistura" (a market category composed of a number of different species). These fish are of a small size and may be up to 12.93% of the total landed by numbers. The Corvina landed as "mistura" suffers from a selection made by the fishermen and therefore it was difficult to obtain good sampling of the numbers of Corvina landed of the lower lenghts. For this reason little use has been made of the data referring to Corvina landed as "mistura". For the period of thirteen months the length range was from 16 to 70 cm, with a modal value of 30.4 cm for corvina. For corvina included in "mistura" the range was 12 to 38 cm, with a modal value of 20.4 cm (Tables IV and V, and Fig. 2). The monthly length distributions (Table IV and Fig. 3) show the main modal values shifting to the right. This shifting is more visible from April to August. From March on, the curves show two clear modes; they also show a class of small fish, with low modal values. By examining the values of Table V it can be seen that small fish included in "mistura" appear in the catches in great quantity at that period. The monthly mean lengths (Table VI and Fig. 4) fluctuate from month to month, in the period from the end of winter, spring and almost all summer (Southern Hemisphere), but there is an overall trend towards a lower mean length during this period. It is suggested that this period is a period of reduced growth. In the period which includes all autumn and part of the winter months the mean lengths show, at the beginning of the period, a sharp fall followed by rapid increase, and this is the period of growth. This, together with the results from the modal values, suggests that in March small fish are recruited to the fishery. The modal values in Table V show that the period of growth is from the end of summer through autumn and part of winter, or from the end of March until August, a similar result is obtained using mean length values. The examination of scales showed rings (Fig. 6) which, it was thought, could be used for age determination. After two independent readings of the scales of the corvina samples and the corvina included in "mistura", the mean length per group of rings and the standard error of the mean for each group was calculated (Tables VII and VIII). The standard error was low for all groups with 0 to 5 rings. The method of back calculation was used and the assumption made that the relation between scale size and total length was linear. No correaction factor was applied. Using these data a growth curve (Fig. 9, curve A) was constructed and von Bertalanffy's formula was used to express the results. Lt = 50.7 (1 - e -0.25 t - 0.14) It can be seen that there is rapid growth until the 3rd ring after which growth is less marked. Using the mean length per ring group (Tables VIII and IXb) and the modal values from the length distribution of all fish (p. 74) growth curves were also drawn (Fig. 9, curve B) and the equation of von Bertalanffy applied. In this manner two sets of curves were obtained. Curve A is based on the size of the fish at the formation of the ring (without correction for non linearity in the scale/length relationship) and curve B based on the total length for each ring group. The modal lengths are similar to the mean lengths per ring group and it can therefore be assumed that the modes represent ring groups or age groups. The mean lengths per ring group (Table X) for each month are shown in Figure 8 for the 2, 3 and 4 ring groups. It can be seen that there appears to be only one maximum and minimum during the period August to October of the following year, and the maximum in one group approximates to the minimum in the following group. The minimum occurs in April. The rings are therefore assumed to be formed annually sometime before April, in summer or beginning of autumn. Using the age sampling in the form of an age?length key, together with the total number of fish of each length landed, the number of fish at each age was calculated (Tables X and XI, and Fig. 10). It can be seen that the fish landed as "mistura" belong to the 0 ring group. The dominant ring group are the 2 and 3 ring group and after these the fish with 1 or 4 rings on the scales. The monthly age distribution (Fig. 11) shows one period when the 2 and 3 ring group predominate, either one or the other being dominant. This lasts from August 1958 to March 1959. The other period from April to August 1959 has a higher frequency of fish with 0 and 1 ring on the scale. This later period is the period of recruitment into the fishery. The same can be seen from the data taken from "mistura" (Table XI). The equations used to express the relation between age and weight, age and girth of the fish, length and weight, length and girth, and girth and weight are as follows: Age/weight: W = 3,304.8 (1 - e -0.12 t - 0.37) 3.12 (Fig. 12) Age/girth: P = 39.28 (1 - e -0.12 t - 0.37) - 1.00 (Fig. 13) Length/weight: W = 0.008 L 3.12 (Fig. 14) Length/girth: P = 0.62 L - 1.00 (Fig. 15) Girth/weight: W = 0.008 ; (Fig. 16)

This paper demonstrates results obtained in studies of the size and age of first sexual maturity for some of the more important commercial species landed at Santos, and gives some information about destruction of immature fish caused by Brazilian and foreign vessels fishing from Santos. Figures 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D indicates the length at which 50% of the fish are immature (virgins) and 50% are mature, that is, the mean length at first sexual maturity. For the sardine, it occurs at 17 cm, in the second year; for "pescada-foguete" (weak fish) at 26 cm and "corvina" (with-mouth drum) at 28 cm, both in the third year; and for "goete" (another weak fish), for which there are as yet no age data, at 18 cm. The slopes of the curves suggest that "pescada-foguete" and "goete" mature in a interval of length classes briefer than do the other two. The percentage of immatures landed by Brazilian vessels and sold as identified species is high for sardine, "percada-foguete" and "corvina", but low for "goete". Although the role of small parejas is small in the landings of the other species, it is considerable for "goete" (Table II). With the exception of sardines, the other species are landed as "mistura" (mixed fish) by the Brazilian fishermen. Within this market category, it may be noted that almost all of the "pescada-foguete" and "corvina" are immature, although this is not true for "goete" (Table III and Fig. 3). The numbers of fish of the three species landed mixed by small parejas is lower than for other vessels, but more individuals of the three species by weight are landed by small parejas in comparison with other vessels. Foreign boats land large amounts of "pescada-foguete" and less of "corvina". It may be seen that the percentage of immature fish remained practically constant for "pescada-foguete" but "corvina" shows a slight increase (Table IV, Fig. 4). The fish landed by the foreign boats are sorted for size, and it may be noted that "pescada-foguete" is landed almost entirely in the medium category, "corvina" as medium in 1958, but small in the latter two years The yield of the foreign boats, compared to the Brazilian one, shows an increase during the period under study in the quantities of "pescada-foguete" and a decrease for "corvina". However, the percentage of immatures landed increased for both species. Part of the catch is discarded at sea by the Brazilian fishermen, and all of the discarded fish, so far as the three main species are concerned, are immature. No sardines are discarded. The data for small parejas, all Brazilian, show a high percentage of immatures in relation to the total caught, both landed and discarded (Table VII, Fig. 7). On the other hand, the foreign boats, using a much larger mesh (68 mm), do not find it necessary to discard fish, and also, as may be seen by comparing Tables IV and VII, the percentage of immatures caught is much lower. It is evident that small fish caught and discarded are of no commercial value, while those landed yield little profit because of their small size. On the other hand, it is possible that large destruction of immature fish may be prejudicial to the fishery, both because they are not spared to grow to larger and more valuable sizes and because they are lost to the stocks as reproducers. The problem posed here might be solved by an increase in the mesh size of the Brazilian vessels, giving small fish a chance to escape without very much effect on the overall yield. Fifty percent points for these species have been calculated as: "pescada-foguete"........................... 70 mm "corvina"........................................ 95 mm "goete".......................................... 55 mm