UC San Diego Library – Scripps Digital Collection

From April, 1929, to September, 1932, the early life history of the California sardine (Sardina caerulea) was subjected to an intensive investigation.

The ultimate aim of this work is to be able to predict and to show the causes of the presence or absence of dominant year groups in the commercial catch of sardines taken along the coast of California. In other words, it is intended that this investigation will establish a basis for the estimation of the relative success or failure of each year class two or three years before it enters the commercial catch. Forecasts of this nature are to be based upon the relative abundance of sardine larvae which are to be captured by specially constructed plankton nets operated quantitatively at key stations throughout the maximum spawning area.

Because of the magnitude of this problem, the first four years of the investigation were devoted to two major studies: (1) the determination of the maximum spawning area, and (2) the consistency of this location from year to year. Related secondary problems, such as the development of the eggs, and the food, drift and rate of growth of the larvae were carefully considered and studied whenever material was available.