436 



Fishery Bulletin 101(2) 



250 



300 



350 400 450 



Total length (mm) 



550 



50(.) ia)0 I5(K) :0(H) 2500 .3000 3500 400(1 



Total weight (g) 



23456789 10 



Age (years) 



Figure 7 



Tautog batch fecundity (no. of eggs) versus (A) total length (mm), (B) total 

 weight (g) and (C) age (years) for 29 tautog collected in lower Chesapeake 

 Bay and nearby coastal waters of Virginia in 1995. (Complete data for indi- 

 vidual fish are available in White, 1996). 



redeveloping females with both GVBD oocytes and fresh 

 POFs (Fig. 2F). 



Potential annual fecundity 



Annual fecundity was calculated as 58 spawnings/female 

 multiplied by batch fecundity. Annual fecundity varied 

 from 160,000 eggs (259 mm, age-3 fish), to 10,510,000 eggs 

 (511 mm, age-9 fish). Mean annual fecundity increased 

 significantly (ANOVA, ;;=5, F=16.69, P=0.015) with fish 

 size. A linear regression of mean annual fecundity on fish 

 length (50 mm size classes, Fig. 8), was described by the 

 following relationship: 



Mean AF = 23,480(TL) - (5x106) 



[r2 = 0.811. 



Discussion 



Macroscopic and microscopic gonad staging 



Macroscopic ovarian staging of multiple spawning fishes 

 can be difficult because subtle differences at the cellular 

 level may not be detectable macroscopically (Parrish et 

 al., 1986). However, macroscopic analysis does provide a 

 rapid estimate of maturity and results in a general descrip- 

 tion of spawning seasons at a reduced cost compared to 



