FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 79, NO. 3 



— I— 

 lis" 



Los Angeles 

 County 



lll'W 



FIGURE 1.— Map of the study area. 



Analysis of Fish and Ovaries 



A maximum of two aliquots of 50 fish each were 

 sacrificed from each net haul to determine size 

 (standard length, SL, in millimeters) and sex 

 composition. At most 15 females per 5 mm length 

 class in each haul were measured and their 

 ovaries excised and weighed (0.01 g) while fresh. 

 Fresh (ovary-free) body weight (0.1 g) was re- 

 corded for subsampled, mature fish of a range of 

 lengths. One or both ovaries of each mature pair 

 were fixed and preserved in modified Gilson's fluid 

 (Bagenal and Braum 1971) for 1-3 mo. Gonads 

 were classified either as immature or mature 

 according to several gross criteria (vasculariza- 



tion, oocyte appearance. Table 1) of Bagenal and 

 Braum (1971). Gonad maturity also was estimated 

 using a gonad index, GI = W/SL^ x C(Moserl967), 

 where W = weight of both ovaries in grams, SL = 

 standard length in millimeters, and the constant 

 C ^ 10^ The median diameter (random axis) was 

 determined for oocytes present in the largest size- 

 frequency mode in ripening ovaries (Stage 2, 

 Table 1) of each of 10-15 fish from pooled monthly 

 samples. Oocyte maturation size was inferred 

 from a plot of median oocyte diameter versus 

 gonad index (Higham and Nicholson 1964). For 

 select ripe (Stage 3, Table 1) females, both ovaries 

 were reweighed after Gilson's preservation, a 

 tissue sample (Z - 3.4 ± 1.0% (SE), range 1.0-7.2% 

 of the weight of both ovaries) weighed, and the 

 numbers of oocytes in the largest size-frequency 

 mode estimated for both ovaries by gravimetric 

 method (Bagenal and Braum 1971). Tissue sam- 

 ples from either ovary of a pair were used, as 

 the right and left ovaries of S. politus are, on 

 average, equivalent in weight (paired ^test, n = 

 20 ovary pairs, 0.4>P>0.3) and in the size- 

 frequency distribution of oocytes (Kolmogorov- 

 Smirnov2-sampletest, n = 5 ovary pairs, P> 0.1). 

 Tissue samples for fecundity analysis were taken 

 from the anterior one-third of the ovary. For other 

 select Stage 2 and 3 fish, the second ovary of a pair 

 was fixed in 10% Formalin for 2 wk, sectioned at 

 0.008 mm, stained with Harris' hematoxylin and 

 eosin, and a slide mount examined at 60-240 x to 

 validate classification as nonhydrated or hydrated 

 based on the gross ovarian characteristics listed in 

 Table 1. The latter tissue samples were also taken 

 from the anterior one-third of the ovary. No 

 difference existed in the frequency distribution 

 of oocyte maturation states within anterior, cen- 

 tral, or posterior regions of the queenfish ovary 

 (Smirnov3-sampletest, n = 5 ovary pairs, P> 0.1; 

 Conover 1971). 



^Reference to trade names does not imply endorsement by the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. 



Table l. — Gross characteristics of various stages in the queenfish ovarian cycle. 



Egg stages within the ovary 



Gross appearance of ovary and oocytes 



1 Vestigial ( = immature or inactive) 



2 Nonhydrated (= ripening) 



3 Hydrated (= ripe) 



4 Ovulated (= running) 



5 Residual (= spent) 



Ovaries avascular; oocytes not visible to naked eye. Ovaries uniform whitish-yellow. 



Ovaries vascular and oocytes visible to the naked eye. Oocytes uniformly small, opaque, and straw-yellow throughout 



entire ovary, 

 tvlany small, opaque oocytes plus a minority of large, hyaline oocytes present throughout ovary The two egg types 



together produce a speckled, translucent-opaque appearance, yellowish-orange to orange, throughout ovary. 

 A band of small, opaque, straw-yellow oocytes present along dorsal ridge of ovary: many large, hyaline oocytes visible 



within lumen of ovary Most of ovary uniform yellowish-orange or orange. 

 Ovary slightly blood-shot and deflated (partially spent) to very blood-shot, completely collapsed and flaccid (totally 



spent). A small number of large, ovulated eggs usually visible in lumen of ovary. Most oocytes present are small 



and opaque. 



548 



