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Validation of Ages Determined from Otoliths of Gulf of Maine Cod
Author(s) -
Jensen Albert C.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1970)99<359:voadfo>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - gadus , atlantic cod , fish measurement , fishery , hyaline , oceanography , fish <actinopterygii> , geography , biology , geology , paleontology
The validity of age determinations from otoliths of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhuu) captured in the Gulf of Maine is demonstrated. Otoliths were obtained from fish taken in the commercial fishery and from research vessel collections. The cod were from 9.7 cm to 110.0 cm, fork length. Growth zones in the otoliths were examined to determine if one hyaline and one opaque zone are formed annually. Age distribution of the samples was compared to a plot of the length frequency distribution (Petersen method). Evidence is strong that one hyaline and one opaque zone are formed each year. The hyaline zone is counted as the year mark. It begins to form in June. Modes in the age distribution for the first three age‐groups of cod agree well with modes in the length‐frequency distribution.