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39 <br />In this study the captured fish ranged in length from 444 mm to 620 mm and <br />in weight from 590 g to 1240 g (Table 4). According to information presented by <br />Seethaler (1978), squawfish 400-500 mm in length are 5-8 years old, those 500- <br />600 mm in length are 9-10 years old and those greater than 600 mm in length are <br />11 years old or older. Based on this information, those collected in this study <br />were perhaps 8 to 12 years of age. The oldest squawfish collected recently was <br />a 14 year old female. Vanicek and Kramer (1969) captured an 11 year old female <br />610 mm long, weighing 2268 g. Vanicek and Kramer (1969) documented a steady <br />decrease in fish growth rates in the Green River from 1958 to 1965. They attributed <br />this to the cold water flowing from the recently constructed Flaming Gorge Dam, a <br />condition which is likely to occur in the White River if a dam is built. <br />The sex of the individuals could not be determined by external features <br />or by expressing sex products (Figure 21). Seethaler (1978) reported that all <br />squawfish greater than 503 mm in length were mature, 76% of those between 428- <br />503 were mature, and all fish less than 428 mm were immature; therefore, those <br />collected in this study should have been mature. Spawning occurs in the <br />rivers of the upper Colorado basin in late July and August when water levels <br />are receding and temperatures increasing (Vanicek and Kramer, 1969). These <br />conditions prevailed during the July sampling trips; therefore, those spec- <br />imenscollected in July should have been ripe. Adult male squawfish can be <br />sexed externally during June, July and August by the presence of nuptial tuber- <br />Iles and/or production of sperm when pressure is applied to the abdominal area. <br />These were not observed on the collected specimens. Adult female squawfish <br />do not develop tubercles, nor do they release eggs when handled (D. Tony, <br />Hatchery Manager, Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, personal communication). <br />From this information, it can be deduced that the fish captured in late May, <br />June and July were either immature, mature but not ripe, or were females. <br />It is not likely that all were females since the male/female ratio has been