30 Fishery Bulletin 120(1) 
“Median maturity analysis” section). 
Maturity condition was not defined for 
54 specimens, of which 30 specimens : . Largest immature 
were in the transitional size range and SMEUES MEO : . 
thus could not be judged. Data collected 
on the additional 24 specimens was not 
sufficient to determine reproductive 
condition; therefore, these specimens 
were not assigned a reproductive condi- 
tion and were not used in ogive analy- 
sis. A sharp increase in growth of organ 
size relative to FL was apparent in all 
reproductive organs of females (Fig. 1, 
Suppl. Figs. 1-3 [online only]). 
Juvenile females ranged in size 
between 63.1 and 206.0 cm FL and Fork Length (cm) 
between 1.7 and 59.0 kg (n=238). Juve- 
niles lacked mating scars and possessed 
a vaginal membrane. Juvenile females 
possessed a thin oviduct and varying 
stages of differentiation of the oviducal 
gland. In the smallest samples, the right 
oviducal gland was small and barely 
distinguishable from the oviduct. Addi- 
tionally, the paired uteri were thin and 
indistinguishable from the lower portion 
of the oviduct; as growth progresses these 
organs enlarge and become more defined. 
Ovaries in juveniles were enclosed in 
epigonal tissue, and the smallest individ- 
mm 
D oOo 
Oo Oo 
Ovary width 
: Largest immature 
Smallest mature: x 
E 
= 
s 
D 
Cc 
io 
> 
— 
iv) 
> 
fo) 
uals had no oocytes visible to the naked Fork Length (cm) 
eye (Table 2). 
Because of the gradual process of 
maturity, there is a transitional size Smallest mature 
range between the smallest mature and 
largest juvenile fish (173.0—206.0 cm FL 
and 28.1-59.0 kg). In this size range, 
specimens can be mature or immature. 
The organs of juveniles can have both 
mature and immature characteristics 
because the organs develop at differing 
rates. Fifty-six juveniles fell within this 
size range. In general, the ovaries of 
juveniles in the transitional size range 
were developing oocytes (4.0-16.0 mm), 
Left clasper length (mm 
the oviducal gland was expanding and 150 200 250 
becoming differentiated from the ovi- Fork length (cm) 
duct (22.0-35.0 mm), and the uterus had 
begun to thicken (Table 2, Fig. 1, Suppl. Figure 1 
Figs. 1-3 [online only]). Relationships of (A) ovary width (in millimeters) and (B) ovary length (in milli- 
Mature females ranged in size between meters) to fork length (in centimeters) of female blue sharks (Prionace glauca) 
173.0 and 273.0 cm FL and between 32.7 and of (C) left clasper length (in millimeters) to fork length (in centimeters) 
and 146.0 kg (n=77). The uterus of mature of male blue sharks caught during 1971-2016 in the western North Atlantic 
E : ; aa Ocean along the northeastern coast of North America between New Jersey 
females varied : am “Sze and elasticity, a and the Flemish Cap, by maturity stage. Black triangles and open circles indi- 
flaccid uterus indicated recent or past cate specimens of both sexes in the immature and mature stages, respectively. 
pregnancy, and gravid females carried Symbols indicate further classification of mature females as gravid (*) or 
embryos (Table 2, Suppl. Fig. 3 [online postpartum (x). The vertical dotted lines represent the lengths of the smallest 
only]). Mature ovaries ranged from devel- mature and largest immature samples. 
oping new oocytes (~4.0 mm) after recent 
