State law requires that the population of Pacificsardines, Sardinops sagax caeruleus, must reach aminimum spawning biomass of 20,000 short tons beforeinitiation of a fishery. Data from ichthyoplanktonsurveys, the anchovy live bait fishery, sea surveycruises, the mackerel purse seine fishery, and a brownpelican food study are discussed concerning evidenceof an increase in population size. The spawningbiomass of the northern stock of sardines appears tobe remaining well below 20,000 tons. (9pp.)