446 



FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



Table 16. — Comparison oj maximum ovum diameters 



ISO 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 

 STANDARD LENGTH IN MILLIMETERS 



Figure 12. — Sardine length frequency distribution for each 

 of three maximum ova diameter ranges (ova to 0.20 mm. 

 solid lines, 0.22 to 0.40 mm. dashed lines, 0.42 mm. and 

 larger dotted lines). 



Figure 12 shows fish length-frequency distribu- 

 tions for each of three maximum ovum size ranges 

 and for each of the five lunar periods. The first 

 category of ovum diameters, to 0.20 mm., covers 

 the range of non-yolked ova. The maximum 

 ovum diameter observed for any fish during lunar 

 period 322, when the ovaries were in a "resting" 

 stage, was 0.40 mm.; this size was used as a brealv 

 between the two categories of yolked ova. This 

 is also the maximum ovum diameter attained by 

 any fish less than 175 mm. in length during lunar 

 period 326, when all but two of the larger fish 

 contained ova that exceeded this value. Table 16 

 compares maximum ovum diameters of fish more 

 than lis mm. in length from the November 10 and 

 13 saniples with those under 175-mm. and those 

 over 175 mm., taken in the February 21 and 

 27 samples. 



D8 .16 .24 32 40 .48 .56 .64 .72 .80 .88 .96 



MAXIMUM OVUM DIAMETERS 

 (IN MILLIMETERS) 



Figure 13. — Maximum ovum diameter frequency distri- 

 bution for each of three sardine length ranges (148-174 

 mm. solid line, 175-189 mm. dashed line, 190-253 mm. 

 dotted line). 



Figure 13 shows the maximum ovum diameter 

 frequency distribution for each of three fish size 

 ranges. The above data show a very definite 

 growth of the ova in fish more than 175 mm. in 

 length and negligible growth of the ova in fisli less 

 than 175 mm. The state of development of the 

 ovaries of the fish less than 175 mm. long in lunar 

 period 326 (late February) is very similar to the 



