All bass of four years and older were of legal length (i.e., 10 Inches or more). 

 Eight out of 10 three-year-olds were of legal length, as well as 5 of the 47 two-year- 

 olds. The largest yearlings were 9 Inches long. 



Ages, length frequencies and sexual development of these 144 bass are shown in 

 table 11. It may be seen that sexual maturity is correlated more closely with length 

 than with age. All fish over 10^ inches long were sexually mature; all below 10 inches 

 were immature. Examination showed that males and females become mature at about the 

 same size. 



Of the 56 sexually-mature specimens examined, 19 were females and 37 were males. 



TABLE 11.— NUMBEEIS OF LARGEMOUTH BASS (TAKEN FROM SPORTSMEN'S LAKE, 



MAY- JUNE, 1938) OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS AND AGES, SEXUALLY MATURE AND 



IMMATURE. (SEXUAL MATURITY DETERMINED BY DISSECTION.) 



May 20 apparently bisected the time of annulus formation in the five younger age 

 groups. Sixty of these bass had newly-formed annual rings, while 66 had not formed 

 their 1938 rings. None of the 18 fish six or more years old had formed new rings. 



15 



