臺灣西區中區魩仔漁業的漁場是由後龍溪口至大肚溪口的沿岸地帶。這個漁場的主要漁獲物為五種鯷科魚類,即日本鯷(Engraulis japonica,28.1%)、芝蕪稜鯷(Thryssa chcfucnsis,21.1%)、杜氏稜鯷(Thryssa dussumicri,17.9%)、島嶼小公魚(Stolelphorus insularis,17.1%)、及刺公鯷(Encrasicholina punctifer,7.8%)。本漁業一年內唯一的春-夏漁期,可以區分為五個階段,每一階段由一種鯷魚的仔魚形成主要魚種。在每一階段中,鯷科魚類在魚種組成上至少佔83%以上。本報告簡要地描述以上五種仔鯷魚在外部形態的不同,並整理出一個檢索表,以作為野外採樣時鑑定上的依據。最後,我們討論了臺灣沿岸魩仔漁業在時間及空間上的變異。
The catch composition of the larval anchovy fishery in western central Taiwan isprimarily composed of five engraulid species,Engraulis japonica(28.1%),Thryssachefuensis(21.1%),T.dussumieri(17.9%),Stolephorus insularis(17.1%)andEncrasicholina punctifer(7.8%).The spring-early summer fishing season,for E.japonica,T.chefuensis,T.dussumieri,E.punctifer and S.insularis,is divided into five differentfishing periods.During this fishing season,five species alternate in forming the keycomponent in the catch.During each fishing period,anchovy larva counts for at least83% of the total catch.Distinctive external morphology of the five key species is brieflydescribed in this study.A field key for identification of five species is established tofacilitate later sampling proccdures.Discussion involving the temporal and spatial variationof the larval anchovy fishery in Taiwan is included.