EFFECTS OF SALINITY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PACIFIC HERRING

Abstract
Successful methods have been developed for the artificial fertilization and rearing of the eggs and larvae of Pacific herring, Clupea pallasii Cuvier. A salinity optimum (11.53‰ to 16.24‰) for development and survival of eggs and larvae was evident in a study of the effects of constant and changing salinity (0‰ to 34.28‰). However, there is a wide salinity tolerance (6.06‰ to 34.28‰) for both eggs and larvae. Eggs transferred to pond water (0‰ salinity) during the first few days of development perish within a few hours, but if transferred at a later stage, they will survive for at least two days. No apparent correlation exists between survival of eggs and magnitude of salinity change. During development, two critical stages are apparent: the first at blastopore closure, the second prior to and during hatching.