Length-weight relationships of important commercial fishes in northern South China Sea

Based on length-weight data of 43 species of fish collected by trawl in northern South China Sea during 1997 to 2002 and 2001 to 2002,about 33 389 fishes were measured and weighted separately.The length-weight relationships of each species was statistically analyzed.The results indicate that the 43 species of fish belonging to 25 genera 16 families and 4 orders.All correlation coefficient R were high ranging from 0.764 to 0.993,where 58% of 43 species showed R~2 values greater than 0.95.The b values in the length-weight relationship varied from 2.50 to 3.44 with a mean of 2.90.The 50% of the b values ranged from 2.97 to 3.01 by Box-Whiskers plots.The growth pattern was determined by t-test which showed that 16 species where in isometric growth,22 negative allometric and five,positive allometric growth.