RELATIVE PRECISION AMONG CALCIFIED STRUCTURES FOR WHITE BASS AGE AND GROWTH ASSESSMENT

We assessed the relative precision among scales, sagittal otoliths, an d opercles for determining age and estimating the growth of 124 white bass (Morone chrysops). Percent agreement for age among the three stru ctures was 72.1 %. Scale assessments provided the highest percent agre ement between readers within structures (89.6 %). Opercles provided th e highest agreement with final estimated fish ages (94.8 %). Average p ercent error values were < 3.0 for all comparsions. It was difficult t o detect white bass annuli on scales when estimated ages exceeded six years. Fish ages estimated from otoliths and opercles ranged from 1 to 12 years. Ages determined from scales differed as much as four years from otoliths and opercles for fish older than age 6. Total length to structure radius relations were strongly correlated for scales and ope rcles. No significant differences were detected between mean back-calc ulated lengths determined from scales and opercles. Although scales, o toliths, and opercles provided similar precision in determining age an d growth of white bass up to age 6, the precision of scales as estimat ors decreased with fish age after age 6.