FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 81. NO. 2 



FIGURE 4. — Dissection from a female Odontaspis taurus of (A) oviducal gland (right) and isthmus containing a Type I egg capsule 

 which had 16 ova; (B) two Type V "short tail" gel capsules leaving the oviducal gland. 



This bulbous organ varies in size with reproductive 

 activity and produces a wide variety of egg capsules 

 (Figs. 4, 5). Egg capsules leave the oviducal gland and 

 proceed down the elastic narrow isthmus (Fig. 3Bc), 

 250-350 mm in length, 20-34 mm in diameter, con- 

 necting the gland with the expanded uterus (Fig. 

 3Bd). There is an increase in vascularization and 



folding of the inner epithelial lining where the 

 isthmus joins the enlarged uterus. 



The size of the uterus, the volume of the uterine 

 fluid, and the length of the isthmus increased during 

 early gestation (June to July). The volume of fluid in a 

 single uterus increased from 260 ml, to 325 ml, to 

 1,600 ml in specimens from 15 May, 28 May, and 



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