| DATE: | April 20, 1997 |
| TO: | L. Stephen Coles, M.D., Ph.D., Cofounder |
| FROM: | John C. Guerin |
| SUBJECT: | Older Age Groups in a Random Sampling of a Population of Yelloweye Rockfish in Alaska |
Dear Dr. Coles:
I recently received the following charts from the Alaska Fish and Game Service. The charts are a random sampling of commercial fish landings of Yelloweye Rockfish from [1994-1996]. Of particular interest are the upper ages of this random sampling, as shown in the following chart:
| Age | Group | Freq. Percent |
| 50-59 | 28 | 4.9% |
| 60-69 | 29 | 5.1% |
| 70-79 | 11 | 1.9% |
| 80-89 | 10 | 1.7% |
| 90-99 | 10 | 1.7% |
| 100-107 | 4 | 0.7% |
| TOTAL | 92 | 16.0% |
By selecting for larger and "scruffier" rockfish, the proportion of older fish in a sample could be increased significantly, allowing comparison to younger fish, to gradually senescent fish, or to other species.
Some possible areas of research with these centenarian fish include organ pathology, cellular tests such as response to oxidative damage, and DNA analysis and comparison.
I can get samples by this Summer of older rockfish and am looking for researchers interested in testing the above mentioned areas. Funding of course is an issue, but I can get the samples aged and shipped for a low cost. I would be interested if you have suggestions on the best way to proceed with this project.
Feel free to share this information with the LA Gerontology Research Group, other interested colleagues, and on your web site. I would prefer that they contact me instead of the Alaska Fish and Game.
I'll call you in about a week when I am in Portland, where I'll be for the Summer. If it's possible for you to scan these charts and send them to me by E-mail, that would be most gratefully appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
John C. Guerin
4424 NE 83rd
Portland, OR 97220
Telephone: 503-254-8641
E-mail: ba182@lafn.org
Click here for a histogram of rockfish by age.
Click here for a scatterplot of length vs. age.
