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Some aspects of the biology of the horse mackerel [ Trachurus trachurus (L.)] in waters around Britain
Author(s) -
Macer C. T.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1977.tb04041.x
Subject(s) - otolith , biology , horse mackerel , fishery , plankton , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology
Evidence is presented which supports the hypothesis of a seasonal migration between the North Sea and the western English Channel. Fish caught west of Britain have a different length composition and there is some evidence of a North–South migration. Analysis of stomach contents shows that the species is a plankton feeder. Data on seasonal growth in young fish show the growth‐rate is most rapid between August and December; length‐frequency distributions of two year‐classes were bimodal. The use of the otolith burning technique revealed up to 35 check rings, as compared with the reported maximum age of 10 years. With the exception of ring numbers 1 to 3, it could not be established the rings were annual.