FISHERIES OF PAMLICO AND CORE SOUNDS 59 
these fish are in their second year (I-group) and thus roughly agree 
with the estimate by Welsh and Breder of 21 centimeters in the 
second winter. By reference to Figure 5 the first size group in our 
length-frequency studies has a modal length of 21 centimeters in 
June. These fish, therefore, are the next older year group—the II- 
group—and are in their third year. Growth of this age group very 
clearly progresses to 22 centimeters in July, 24 centimeters in August, 
25 centimeters in September, and to somewhat more than 26 centi- 
meters in October. Welsh and Breder estimate that this group 
reaches a length of 28 centimeters in the third winter, and this is in 
fairly close agreement with our observations. 
The next older year class in our series appears in June to have a 
modal length of approximately 26 centimeters. This figure, how- 
ever, may be somewhat lower than the true average of the age group 
because of the evident selection of the smaller sizes in pound-net 
catches. The growth of this group can not be satisfactorily followed 
through the season because of the selective action of the fishing 
gear. An abundant size group occurs in the long-haul seine catch, 
which approximates 30 centimenters in length in August, and an 
estimate of growth during this period may therefore be made. 
Welsh and Breder estimate that a length of 33 centimeters is attained 
by the fourth winter, and this again agrees fairly well with our pro- 
visional estimate of age. This group, therefore, is the I1I-group and 
in the fourth year. 
Based on these estimates by various authors, together with the 
imperfect evidence afforded by the separation of the length-frequency 
curves into distinct groups, the following estimate of size and age 
of the gray trout in Pamlico Sound appears to be warranted: 
Age Midwinter size 
LS) SV BLN Pe = oe 9 a eee A Oe Eee 11 centimeters (4.3 inches). 
LZ SORT Series tet 5. yA Serpe celal al Beat Bene aut 21 centimeters (8.3 inches). 
DECI ee er ead eee, Be) * WARE SSE BISON TSE OS 45 Ue 28 centimeters (11 inches). 
SUE AWG HS 2 Wena, Sie BED ERS sR Shea ee kerk eng 8 yaa aa apf 33 centimeters (13 inches). 
Age at maturity—Observations as to the state of maturity of the 
sexual products were made in all of the fish measured in this investi- 
gation. Trout containing swollen ovaries, in which the eggs were 
distinctly granular and which would obviously spawn during the 
present season, were considered mature, as well as those in which 
spawning was under way or in which the ovaries were partially 
spent. All others were considered immature. The males were not 
considered in this study, since it is difficult to judge the condition of 
the male organs. Some error occurred by classing fully spent fish 
with the immature, but since spent fish were early recognized and 
relatively scarce during the month of July the records for that 
month are reasonably accurate and a determination of maturity at 
each size is possible. Table 15 presents the relative maturity of 
female gray trout taken in pound nets in Pamlico Sound during 
July, in which the number of mature females at any size is shown 
as a percentage of all fish at corresponding sizes. These data are 
presented graphically in Figure 15, in which the average obtaining 
in the whole sound is shown superimposed upon a curve of length 
frequency of all fish taken. It is plainly evident that of the I[I- 
37501—27——-3 
