Age Validation of Redfish,Sebastes marinus(L.), from the Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank Region

Age determinations of redfish up to age 7 from the Gulf 'of Maine-Georges Bank region were validated by noting the seasonal formation of hyaline and opaque edges on otolith sections and by comparing estimates of mean length at age with observed modes of length frequencies specific to the 1971 year-class. Evidence was found for the formation in the otolith of one hyaline and one opaque edge annually. Hyaline edges predominate from November to May and opaque edges from June to October. Deposition of hyaline material, as indicated by the presence of a very narrow edge, generally begins in August and the formation of the opaque edge begins in April. Average length at age values based on otolith readings were similar to observed modes of length frequencies known to represent the 1971 year-class on the basis of the seasonal progression of modal length groups from 1971 to 1978.