838 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
was approximately 10 cm (4 in.), at the end of the second year 25 cm (9.8 in.), at the 
end of the third year 34 cm (13.4 in.), and at the end of the fourth year about 47 cm 
(18.5 in.). It was found impossible to determine the age or growth of the species beyond 
the fourth year by the length-frequency groupings. Calculations of growth for the 
first 4 years by scale examinations of winter a nn uli were approximately the same as 
indicated by the length-frequency distributions. The scales revealed further that 
at the end of the fifth year the average length of the female striped bass is 54.2 cm 
(21.3 in.) and of male fish 51.6 cm (20.4 in.), at the end of the sixth year 61.3 cm (24 
in.) for female fish and 56.3 cm (22 in.) for males, and at the end of the seventh year 
68 cm (26.8 in.) for female fish and 61.2 cm (24 in.) for males. It was noted that both 
sexes grow at about the same rate during the first year. From then until the fourth 
Figure 19.— Striped bass adult, 21.4 inches (54.7 centimeters) in length. Taken in April 1880, at Washington, D. C. 
year the males are larger, but beyond this point the females continue their rapid growth 
while the males show a retarded growth. At the end of the tenth year the males are 
about 7 cm (2.7 in.) shorter than the females. Male striped bass older than 10 years 
were found to be rare, as were females beyond 16 years. 
Various length-frequency distributions of striped bass were secured during the 
summer months, chiefly in 1931 and 1932, from Chesapeake Bay. Although the num- 
ber of fish represented are few in most age groups, the annual growth for the first 3 
years of life appears approximately the same as for the species resident in California 
waters. The O age group, or fish in their first year (spawned about May), attain a 
length of about 4 cm (1.6 in.) by July, and about 9 cm (3.5 in.) by September. The I 
age group, or 1-year-old fish, attain a length of 20-27 cm (7.9-10.8 in.) with a mode at 
25 cm, by August. The II age group, or 2-year-old fish, reach a length of 26-38 cm 
(10.4-15 in.), with an average length of 31 cm, by July. The III age group, or 3-year- 
old fish, may reach a length of 34-50 cm (13.5-19.7 in.), with an average length of 
40-43 cm by May, or at the approximate third birthday (see fig. 20). 
Selectivity of the fishing gear, and the nature of the environment, affected the 
length-frequency distributions considerably. Likewise, the limited sampling occa- 
sioned an unknown error in the determination of the average growth rate. The study 
of the scales verified the age as indicated by the length-frequency distributions. No 
attempt was made to determine age or growth after the third year, as material was 
inadequate, 
