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the physicochemical, biological, and hydrological parameters that limit the species in either lacustrine or riverine habitats. Where data are inadequate to develop SI curves for a species, opinions or best estimates of experts on the species can be used to develop the curves. However, opinions of experts on a question may differ, resulting in problems in deciding which opinion gives the best estimate. Generally, the consensus of a group of experts provides a more accurate response to a question than the response of a single expert (Fusfeld and Foster 1971). The Delphi technique, a method for devel- oping a consensus among experts (Linstone and Turoff 1975; Zuboy 1981), was used to obtain opinions from 18 striped bass experts/authorities on the vari- ables that determine habitat suitability for various life stages of striped bass, the general relationships between habitat suitability and certain important variables, and the general contents of this paper. Summaries of the steps used and results obtained from the Delphi technique were presented by Crance (1985). Terminology and criteria describing life stages of striped bass used in this publication are as follows. The egg stage begins with fertilization, ends at hatching, and includes embryonic development. The larval stage begins with hatching, ends at completion of fin formation, and includes yolk-sae, finfold, and post-finfold larvae. The juvenile stage begins on completion of fin formation (when the fish takes on the general appearance of mature fish) and ends at sexual maturity. The adult stage begins at sexual maturity and lasts until the fish dies. The spawning adult stage begins when the mature adult initiates spawning runs and ends when spawning is completed. Fingerlings are young juveniles, about 2.5 to 10 cm (1 to 4 inches) long. HABITAT USE INFORMATION General Striped bass are tolerant of a variety of environmental conditions. They are found in marine, estuarine, riverine, and lacustrine habitats, depending on individual stocks, life stage, environmental variables, transplantations, and access to suitable spawning areas. The Atlantic Coast range of the striped bass extends from the St. Lawrence River in Canada (Magnin and Beaulieu 1967) to the St. Johns River, Florida (McLane 1955), and on the Gulf of Mexico coast from the Suwanee River, Florida, to Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana (Jordon 1884; Gowanloch 1933; Pearson 1938; Raney and Woolcott 1955; Barkuloo 1961; Brown 1965; Smith-Vaniz 1968; McIlwain 1968). Except for an occasional ;remnant population, native Gulf Coast striped bass no longer occur in their historical range, other than a small population in the Apalachicola River, Florida (Barkuloo 1961; Crateau et al. 1980, 1981; Wooley and Crateau 1983; Wooley 1982). The Pacific Coast range of the species, originally established with transplants from the East Coast, now extends from Barkley Sound, British Columbia, Canada, to 25 miles south of the California-Mexico border (Radovich 1961; Miller and Lea 1972).