Investigation on fecundity, follicles and free embryo size of pond-reared pike (Esox lucius) of different age and size

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the gonadosomatic index (GSI %), the absolute and relative fecundity of one-year-old pike weighing over 400 g and at the same time to study the dependence between the egg size and the size, behavior and vitality of the free embryos obtained from one- and two-year-old spawners. The study involved two weight groups of females, differing in age and body weight and length-one-year-old (W = 514 g, SL = 36.1 cm) and two-year-old matured pike (W = 1454 g, SL = 49.3 cm). Ovary samples were fixed and egg follicles containing maturing oocytes counted and weight. The weight and length of the free embryos from semi-artificial spawning were measured. The results showed that, when raising this species under farmed conditions, more than 40% (in rarer cases 90%) of one-year-old pike females reached over 400 g and 35 cm (SL) and reached puberty. Absolute fecundity of 15,030 follicles (30 follicles per gram body weight) was observed; the GSI was nearly 15% and the follicle weight reached 3.7 mg. This data differs significantly from that obtained from the larger two-year-old fishes: absolute fecundity 41,363 follicles (28 follicles per gram body weight), GSI nearly 20%, follicle weight 5.8 mg. Results showed that the different follicle size determines the free-embryo size. A positive linear correlation was found between the egg follicle weight and the free-embryos weight (r = 0.7143). The free embryos obtain from the one- and two-year-old spawners differed significantly both in terms of their weight (7.13 mg against 10.61 mg) and total length (0.81 cm against 0.97 cm), the differences being 1.5- and 1.2-fold, respectively.