distributions, the mean minimum size was 0.65 

 mm for advanced, yolked oocytes to be used in 

 fecundity estimates. The largest measured 

 oocytes were 1.45 mm in diameter. 



The number of advanced, yolked oocytes 

 (>0.65 mm in diameter) per mg of tissue was 

 calculated for each of three subsamples from 32 

 of the 57 ovaries. The coefficient of variation 

 ranged from 0.1 to 9.1%, with a mean of 4.0%. 

 This range is comparable to that found when 

 enumerating the eggs of sablefish, Anoplopoma 

 fimbria, (Mason et al. 1983) and widow rockfish, 

 Sebastes entomelas, (Boehlert et al. 1982). 



Fecundity of Dover sole ranged from 39,748 to 

 167,046 oocytes. As expected, fecundity in- 

 creased with increasing length of fish (Fig. 2); 

 this relationship was best described by the fol- 

 lowing power equation, using nonhnear, least 

 squares regression methods: 



F = (1.637 X 10-'^)L 



6\r4.02 



r^ = 0.82, 



where F is fecundity (total number of advanced 

 oocytes per fish), L is total length of fish (mm), 

 and *•" is the coefficient of determination. 



We found no statistical difference between the 

 fecundity-length relationship from Dover sole 

 collected by Harry (1959) and those reported 

 here. A Hnear, least squares regression of our 

 logarithmically transformed length-specific 

 fecundity data was compared with an analogous 

 function we derived from Harry's data, for 

 lengths of fish common to both studies (425-550 

 mm TL; Fig. 2). Neither slopes «-test, P > 

 0.510) nor intercepts (f-test, P > 0.078) of the 

 regression lines differed significantly. The pro- 

 portion of the total variation in fecundity that is 

 accounted for by the fitted regression (r^ = 0.82 

 in the present study and r^ = 0.75 in Harry 

 (1959)) is typical for many species of fish and 

 reflects variable body weight, nutritional condi- 

 tion, age, and possible onset of spawning 

 (Bagenal 1973; Hempel 1979). 



O 

 O 



o 



m 

 0) 



+-• 

 >. 

 o 

 o 

 o 



280 r 



240 



200 



160 



120 



80 



40 



o = present study 

 4= Harry (1959) 



-H+ 



,iflni5/T7 Oi9 



300 350 400 450 500 550 



Total length (mm) 



600 



650 



Figure 2. — Fecundity of Dover sole relative to total length. Open circles represent fecundity from present study 

 (A^ = 32) and line is the predicted relationship through these points (F = 1.637 x 10"" L^"-). Crosses 

 represent fecundity estimated by Harry (1959; A^ = 22). Number adjacent to open circle indicates age of female. 



991 



