California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Resources Region
Abstract
The sampling plan applied to the northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax, reduction fishery catch was reviewed to determine the effects on age composition estimates which would be caused by decreasing the sample size per stratum of catch. Age composition estimates for samples of 5, 10, and 15 per stratum were computer calculated using the sampling plan program and then compared with estimates for the standard sample of 30 from the same strata. As the sample size decreased the variances of the age composition statistics greatly increased. Errors were detected in the computer program and the variance equation have been corrected. (30pp.
