Preliminary observations on sardine (Sardina pilchardus Walb.) from the west coast of Istra

Abstract

        Preliminary observations on sardine from the west coast of Istra carried out at the end of October and in early November 1946 are discussed. They deal with length, age, sex and maturity stages distribution. The samples analysed contained small specimens (Fig. 1) originating mostly from the autumn spawning in 1945. They showed rather advanced stages of maturity, more advanced than those found in the Mid-Adriatic sardines of the same length (Figs. 2 and 3). On the basis of an earlier maturation in the specimens from Istra, of the distributions of eggs in the Adriatic plancton,of the appearance of all phases, i. e. pelagic, juvenile and adult in a small area of the Mid-Adriatic and of the small transverse movements of the Mid-Dalmatian sardines a hypothesis concerning the existence of two or even more stocks of sardines in the Eastern Adriatic is put forward.