4 
Fred C. Rohde and Steve W. Ross 
insignis (5), Chologaster cornuta (3), Aphredoderus sayanus (5), Fundu- 
lus lineolatus (1), Gambusia affinis (1), Acantharchus pomotis (2), Elas- 
soma zonatum (7), Enneacanthus chaetodon (3), E. gloriosus (3), Lepomis 
auritus (4), L. marginatus (1), Micropterus salmoides (1), Etheostoma 
fusiforme (1), E. olmstedi (14), E. serriferum (6), and Percina crassa (4). 
Four other vertebrates were seined with E. mariae : Notophthalmus viri- 
descens, Necturus punctatus, Desmognathus fuscus, and Sternotherus 
odoratus. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
We collected 485 specimens of E. mariae with a 3.0 m x 1.2 m, 3.2 
mm mesh nylon flat seine. Collection dates were 4 January; 18 Febru- 
ary; 16 March; 2*, 9, and 23 April; 12 May; 11 June*; 21 July*; 22 
August*; 24 September*; 28 October*; 26 November; and 9 December* 
in 1978, and 13 April* in 1982 (* = both sites sampled this date). Collec- 
tion times were between 0920 and 1700 hours. Unless noted, data refer 
to 1978. Fish were preserved in 10% formalin and stored in 40% iso- 
propyl alcohol until examined. For conservation purposes, specimens of 
E. mariae in each collection made in June, July, and August were 
placed alive in a water-filled plastic pan with a ruler and photographed. 
Measurements from these photographs were later used to obtain length- 
frequency data. Twenty fish were then selected and preserved for data 
on food, reproduction, and age, and the remainder were released. Air 
and water temperatures were recorded at time of capture. 
Standard length (SL) was measured to the nearest mm and body 
weight to the nearest 0.01 g. Left and right gonads were excised (both 
sexes) and were weighed together to the nearest 0.001 g. Gonads < 0.001 
g were not included. A gonosomatic ratio (gonad weight as a percentage 
of total body weight) was calculated to examine seasonal development 
of the gonads. Ovaries were teased apart under a dissecting microscope 
and the somewhat irregularly shaped ova were measured across their 
widest dimension to the nearest 0.1 mm with an ocular micrometer. Ova 
from developing or ripe ovaries were grouped using the criteria defined 
in Table 1. Ova classes were usually distributed randomly in the ovaries. 
Fecundity was determined for 35 females collected in April (32) and 
May (3) by counting all mature (Class I and II, > 1.3 mm diam.) ova in 
both gonads. 
Ages of 313 specimens were determined from scales removed from 
just above the lateral line between the spinous and soft dorsal fins. Four 
to seven unregenerated scales from each fish were cleaned, mounted on 
a microfiche reader, and analyzed under 36X magnification. Annuli 
distances and total scale sizes were measured along an axis from the 
