GROWTH OF JUVENILE MERLUCCIUS-MERLUCCIUS IN THE GULF OF LIONS (NW MEDITERRANEAN) BASED ON OTOLITH MICROSTRUCTURE AND LENGTH-FREQUENCY ANALYSIS

First-year growth rates of European hake in the Gulf of Lions and hatc h-date distribution were analysed. Trawl-collected samples were obtain ed monthly from January 1990 to March 1991. Age was determined by otol ith daily increment interpretation, Results were analysed and compared with those of a modal progression analysis, based on length-frequency histograms. A mean length increase of 1.15 cm month(-1) was obtained, indicating that the growth rate of young European hake is faster than previously thought in this area. The growth rate agrees with results of recent studies in other Mediterranean areas, The hatch-date distrib ution, determined from estimated age in days and date of capture, indi cated hatching throughout the year, with a main season between Novembe r-December and March, in accordance with reproduction data. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science B.V.