PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND ENERGY DENSITY OF SOME NORTH PACIFIC FORAGEFISHES

Mature pelagic forage fish species (capelin, sand lance, squid) had gr eater lipid concentrations than juvenile age-classes of large demersal and pelagic fish species (walleye pollock, Pacific cod, Atka mackerel , greenling, prowfish, rockfish, sablefish). Myctophids preyed on by p uffins have at least twice as much lipid per gram compared to mature c apelin, sand lance and squid, and an order of magnitude greater lipid concentrations than juvenile forage fish. Energy density of forage fis hes was positively correlated with lipid content, and negatively corre lated with water, ash-free lean dry mass (mostly protein), and ash con tents. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.