206 



Fishery Bulletin 100(2) 



200 



300 



100 



100 200 



Mantle length (mm) 



300 



100 200 



Body mass (g) 



Figure 3 



Percent mature ofLoligopealeii for dorsal mantle length (ML mm) (Al and wet body 

 mass IBM gi iB). The percentage at each maturity stage is shown for female ML (C) 

 and BM (D) and for male ML lE) and BM iFi. 



Fig. 3, A and B). In terms of body mass, the size at 50% 

 maturity for males was approximately 1.50 g, but, accord- 

 ing to our samples, female maturity did not seem to be as 

 closely associated with body mass (e.g. even squid in the 

 heaviest size class were less than 50% mature). 



In females, maturity stage 2 was reached at a relatively 

 small size (Fig. 3, C and D). To reach stage 3 requires a 

 considerable increase in length or body mass, whereas fe- 

 males in stage 4 are neither much longer, nor heavier than 

 stage-3 females. Thus the transition from stage 3 to stage 

 4 (full maturity) takes place over a lesser period of somatic 

 growth (and therefore possibly a shorter time period) than 

 the transition from stage 2 to stage 3. In Macy's ( 1982) 

 maturity stage notation, stage-3 females have no mature 



