Growth of the Otoliths of Young Herring in the Bay of Fundy

Abstract

Otoliths of 217 young herring (Clupea harengus harengus L.) of lengths (total) 32-118 mm collected from Passamaquoddy Bay were examined for their development and growth. The relationship between otolith lengths (Y) and fish lengths (X) was described by a linear equation Y = −0.486 + 0.0247 X. Within the size range examined, two otolith growth stanzas were shown and expressed by the equation Y = −0.788 + 0.0296X for fish < 75 mm, and Y = 0.333 + 0.0155X for fish ranging 75-118 mm in total length. A hyaline ring around the nucleus of unknown origin, and different from the winter ring, was observed in some otoliths.