The effects of being towed in a plankton net on the morphometry and dry weight of Pacific herring larvae Clupea harengus pallasi were measured for groups of fed and starved fish preserved immediately in 2% formalin after a towing treatment. Towing caused significant decreases in standard length and dry weight, no change in eye diameter, and significant increases in body depth at the anus, body depth at the pectoral girdle, and head width. The changes decreased in magnitude with increasing age and size of the fish, and they are extrapolated to become nonsignificant for larvae longer than 14.0 min. The effect of the towing treatment was independent of the duration of the tow and there was no significant interaction between feeding status (starved or fed) and towing treatment. These changes in body dimensions cause significant increases in the apparent condition factors. The morphometry and dry weight of small fish larvae must be corrected for the effects of net capture before they can be used to accurately measure the nutritional status of the fish.