THE AGE AND GROWTH OF BLUE WHITING, SILLA GO-PARVISGUAMIS DISTRIBUTEDIN THE COASTAL WATERS OF NORTH EASTERN KYUSHU

The age and growth of the blue whiting, Sillago parvisquamis, were exa mined, based upon the ring marks on scales of 248 individuals caught i n the coastal waters of Buzen sea (north eastern Kyushu, Fukuoka and O ita Prefecture) from 1992 to 1996. The relationship between the radius of scale (R) and the total length of the fish (T.L.) was shown by the formulae: female, T.L. = 76.576R + 24.008, male, T.L. = 70.192R + 32. 691. Examination of marginal increment of scale showed that the ring m ark formed twice in a year, in June and October. The ring mark in June was considered to be a real ring as the spawning season of this fish extends from May to July. The average growth curve was shown by the fo rmulae: female :Lt = 332.532[1-exp {1 - 0.642(t + 0.256)}] male :Lt = 288.609[1 - exp {-0.577(t + 0.479)}] Lt, total length at age; t, age.