Friess and Sedberry: Age, growth, and spawning season for Beryx decadactylus 
25 
Reading 2 age estimate 
Reading 2 age estimate 
0 20 40 60 80 
Reading 3 age estimate 
Figure 3 
Pairwise comparisons of aging precision between readings of red bream ( Beryx 
decadactylus) otoliths. (A) Mean age estimated in reading 1 for all fish assigned a 
given age in reading 2; (B) mean age estimated in reading 3 for all fish assigned a 
given age in reading 2; and (C) mean age estimated in reading 1 for all fish assigned 
a given age in reading 3. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals and the 
solid line is the 1:1 relationship. (D) Coefficient of variation (CV) of reading 1 with 
respect to ages estimated in reading 2; (E) CV of reading 3 with respect to ages 
estimated in reading 2; and (F) CV of reading 1 with respect to ages estimated in 
reading 3. Mean CVs for pairwise readings are indicated on the individual panels. 
timated a total mortality value of 0.06/yr. Estimates of 
M based on Pauly’s equation were strongly influenced by 
the choice of mean water temperature value and ranged 
from 0.097 to 0.124/yr (Table 3). 
Reproductive biology 
Histological samples were obtained from 161 fish, of 
which 98 were female, 62 were male, and the sex of 
one specimen could not be determined. The overall sex 
ratio was 1:1.58 (M:F). All specimens sampled in this 
study were mature, and, therefore, a size and age at 50% 
maturity could not be established for the Charleston 
Bump red bream population. 
Ovaries of resting females clearly showed charac- 
teristic thick, muscular walls, elongate lamellae with 
well-developed fibromuscular cords, and wide spaces 
between lamellae (Fig. 6A). Ripe females were often 
difficult to distinguish from individuals in the late 
developing stage because hydrated oocytes were few 
and always accompanied by oocytes in all stages of 
development (Fig. 6B). Female red bream in spawn- 
