The hake (M. merluccius) is a target species of the Mediterranean trawl fleets. In this study, its growth was compared by two means: whole otolith readings and length frequency distribution analysis. Two growth hypotheses, fast and slow, were assumed using the results of otolith readings: (1) two rings were formed every year and (2) a single ring was formed every year. The monthly length distributions covered the period from 1992 to 1998, and the otoliths were obtained from monthly samplings between 1992 and 1995. The variability observed in the results for the number of rings counted was shown especially in the range of lengths for each group of individuals that had the same number of rings. A high correlation was found between the rings counted in the otoliths and the length of the individual in cm. The sex factor did not influence the relationship, unless the sexually undifferentiated individuals were included. The best fit with the growth data according to the length frequencies occurred in the two-ring hypothesis (Hypothesis 1), meaning faster growth rates than had been accepted till now, especially in females. We suggest the consideration of the hypothesis of faster growth in future studies.
Mti wa hake (M. merluccius) ni spishi inayolengwa na meli za kuvuta samaki za Mediterania. Katika utafiti huu, ukuaji wake ulilinganishwa kwa njia mbili: kusoma otolith nzima na uchambuzi wa usambazaji wa mzunguko wa urefu. "Hata hivyo, kuna nadharia mbili za ukuaji wa haraka na polepole, ambazo zilitokana na matokeo ya kusoma otolith: ""Mizunguko miwili iliundwa kila mwaka na pete moja iliundwa kila mwaka.""" Ugawaji wa urefu wa kila mwezi ulifunika kipindi cha 1992 hadi 1998, na otoliths zilipatikana kutoka kwa sampuli za kila mwezi kati ya 1992 na 1995. Utaratibu wa kuamua idadi ya pete ulionekana katika idadi ya pete zilizohesabiwa, hasa katika safu ya urefu kwa kila kundi la watu waliokuwa na idadi sawa ya pete. Uhusiano mkubwa uligunduliwa kati ya pete zilizohesabiwa katika otoliths na urefu wa mtu binafsi katika cm. Sababu ya jinsia haikuathiri uhusiano, isipokuwa watu wasio na tofauti ya kijinsia walihusishwa. Kwa sababu ya idadi ya vipimo vya ukuaji, kuna uwezekano wa kuwa na viwango vya juu vya ukuaji katika viungo vya pete mbili (Hipothesis 1), na kwa hivyo, viwango vya ukuaji wa haraka zaidi kuliko vile vilivyokubaliwa hadi sasa, hasa kwa wanawake. Tunapendekeza kuzingatia nadharia ya ukuaji wa haraka katika masomo ya baadaye.