FECUNDITi' OF THE PACIFIC SARDINE 



441 



Although the 1946 data are too restricted in time months in 1946 (table 10). A discussion of Clark's 



to show any trend in ratios of ova in the largest data is given in the latter part of this section. 



mode to smaller yolked ova during the spawning 



season, thev are of value in showing the ratios Table XO.^Frequeticies of ratios of all smaller yolked ova 



, , . ' . . , . I , to the number of yolked ova in the most advanced group 



found in maturing ovaries during January and „^ 5„„ P^^^o ,„ January and February 1946 



February. The data are summarized by stage of 



development in table 10. 



There are three aspects of this tabulation to 

 which I would like to call attention: (1) There is 

 no change in ratio between stages E, F, and G (as 

 defined by Clark 1934:13). This indicates that 

 no additional ova were being added to the group 

 of smaller yolked ova while the more advanced 

 group was developing from stage E to G. (2) 

 There is marked variation in the ratio of large 

 ova to small in different fish; this is equaUy true 

 if the largest mode is in stage E, F, or G. The 

 range in ratios is from 0.3 to 3.2. (3) The ratios 

 are markedly lower than those reported for San 

 Pedro in January-February of 1929 and 1930 by 

 Clark (1934). 



The ratios given by Clark for 3 ports and several 

 seasons are summarized in table 11. Clark com- 

 pared the ratio of ova in stage G (the last abundant 

 stage before the ova become translucent and are 

 spawned) to those of all smaller yolked ova. The 

 ratios reported by Clark (table 11) during January 

 and February 1929 and 1930 at San Pedro are 

 about twice as large as those I found for the same 



Table 11. — Ratios of all ova between 0.20 and 0.59 mm. (stages B to F) to all ova larger than 0.59 mm. for all females in 

 stage G (from Clark, 1934, table U V- ■''') "nd number and percentage of adult female sardines in stage G {nwde ■(>4--73 

 mm.) and stages A {resting-mode between and 0.20 mm.) and L (spent) (after Clark, 1934, table 

 table 8, Monterey, p. SO; table 9, San Diego, p. 32) 



San Pedro, p. 27; 



