In order to initiate a fishery for the Pacific sardine, Sardinops sajax caeruleus, it is required that the spawning biomass be determined to have reached a minimum of 20,000 short tons. Data from ichthyoplankton surveys, night-light surveys, the anchovy bait fishery, and jack mackerel purse seine fishery are analyzed for evidence of an increase in population size. The present level of the spawning population of the northern stocks of sardinesis determined to be far below the 20,000 tons required toinitiate a fishery. (11pp.)