Spatial distribution characteristics, volume backscattering strength and species composition of midwater trawling catch was analyzed biological and acoustical characteristics of anchovy shoal, using a high resolution echo - sounder at the south region of East sea of Korea. 1) In the survey site A of Lat.35˚55'N, Long.129˚45'E, the anchovy shoal of small to middle size with the horizontal range of 10~25m and large size with the horizontal range of 40~50m were distributed together. However in the survey site B of Lat.35˚38'N, Long.129˚40'E, the anchovy shoal was observed to be mainly small size which about 78% of the detected shoal. Another was that the anchovy shoal with the vertical range of 2~8m occupied about 68.6% in the survey site A and that of 6~12m occupied about 42.5% in the survey site B. The mainly the site A and B were found to be 10~50m super (2), 64.5% and 20~80m super (2), 66%, respectively. 2) The volume backscattering strength in the site A and B were observed to be -44.0~ -28.0dB, respectively. In the site A, the backscattering strength of -40.0~ -30.0dB was analyzed about 41.4%. 3) Most of total anchovy shoal was concentrated in the water layer of 50~100m in depth with 15.3~18.5℃, 34.0~34.3‰ in the survey site A and 14.2~16.4℃, 34.1~34.2‰ in the survey site B. 4) Mean total length(TL) and body weight(BW) of anchovy in the survey site A were 9.9cm and 4.4g respectively, with TL-BW relationship of BW=0.0007TL3.65super (3.85). In site B, mean total length(TL) and body weight(BW) were 11.2cm and 8.7g, with TL-BW relationship of BW=0.0023TL3.36.

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