Sources of variation in weight and length of Atlantic salmon

Abstract

Variances of weight and total length of four year classes of farmed Atlantic salmon after two years in the sea were distributed on strain, family, maturing/immature (after two winters) and sex. Higllly significant variations between families were found. Also significant variations due to sex and stage of maturity were evident. On an average males were heavier and longer than females, and maturing fish on an average were heavier and showed higher condition than immature within most groups. Differences in length between maturing and immature fish were not obvious. The higher condition factors of mature than immature fish were not caused by higher gonad weights.