Studies on Blue King Krab Resources in the Western Bering Sea-III

Ovarian Weight, Garried Egg Number and Diameter

Abstract

The present paper deals with the ovarian weight, the carried egg number and diameter of the blue king crab, Paralithodes platypus. The specimens used in the present study were collected from catches of the Japanese blue king crab fishery in the western Bering Sea, during mid August to mid September 1965.
The ovarian weights of immature crabs are under 10g. The ovaries, however, develop fast and mature about the time the carapace width is wider than 97-98mm, which is the minimum size of mature females. The ovarian weights of mature females are 40-110g in the virgin stage, 15-60g in the stage of carrying eggs and 60-140g at the stage when no eggs are carried.
The number of eggs carried increases 3×10⁴ to 16×10⁴ according to the growth of crab and averages toabout 12×10⁴.
The long axis of carried eggs are 1.03-1.33mm and 1.18mm on the average. The short axis of them are 0.85-1.09mm and 0.98mm on the average.