Table 1. Five scale fish maturity stage description

Maturity stage	Description
I. Immature	Female: Ovary small, firm, no eggs visible to the naked eyeMale: Testis small, translucent, whitish, long, thin strips lying close to the vertebral column
II. Maturing virgin or resting	Female: Ovary more extended, firm, small oocytes visible, giving ovary a grainy appearanceMale: Testis white, flat, convoluted, easily visible to the naked eye, about ¼ length of the body cavity
III. Developing	Female: Ovary large, starting to swell the body cavity, colour varies according to species, contains oocytes of two sizesMale: Testis large, white and convoluted, no milt produced when pressed or cut
IV. Ripe	Female: Large, filling or swelling the body cavity, when opened large ova spill outMale: Testis large, opalescent white, drops of milt produced when pressed or cut
V. Spent	Female: Ovary shrunken, flaccid, contains a few residual eggs and many small ovaMale: Testis shrunk, flabby, dirty white in colour

Data from Armstrong et al. (2004)