Continuous, underway sampling of eggs of Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax)and northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) in spring 1996 and 1997 off southern and central California

Eggs of the northern anchovy and Pacific sardine were sampled at 3 m depth using the Continuous, Underway Fish Egg Sampler (CUFES) during two cruises off southern and central California in March and April 1996 and 1997. Simul taneous measurements were made of seawater temperature and salinity. Real-t ime AVHRR satellite images of sea surface temperature were processed onshor e and transmitted to the ship at sea. Sardine and anchovy eggs were identif ied and counted live, at sea, and again ashore, preserved. A total of 2129 CUFES samples were collected during 41 d at sea and contained 62,409 sardin e and 15,123 anchovy eggs. Sardine eggs were widespread and abundant in bot h cruises (mean concentrations: 5.2 and 5.1 eggs m(-3)) at and shoreward of the eastern boundary of the California Current. Anchovy eggs were found pr imarily inshore in the Southern California Eight and were less abundant (0. 4 and 1.0 eggs m(-3), respectively, for the two cruises). Temperature-salin ity plots indicated distinct separation of the spawning habitat of these tw o species and consistency in habitat between cruises in successive years. T he distributions of sardine eggs and euphausiids collected by CUFES were co mplementary in space and time. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.