MAINTENANCE AND MATURATION OF SQUID (ILLEX ILLECEBROSUS IN A 15 METER CIRCULAR POOL

¹ Biology Department, and the Aquatron Laboratory, Institute of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

1. Female specimens of Illex illecebrosus of 20 to 28 cm mantle lengths lived, fed and grew in a 15 m diameter pool for periods up to 82 days; deaths during the first week were associated with skin damage during capture and those after the eighth week with precocious sexual maturation.

2. Under the conditions described, squid survived repeated capture and urethane anesthesia, as well as tattooing and surgical procedures. Techniques for handling are described.

3. Although the cause of early maturation is not certain, squid entering the pool were exposed to increased photoperiods, and a relationship is hypothesized between this stimulus and the natural November spawning migration.

4. The rapid sexual maturation observed and the small size of eggs ready to be spawned indicates that the one year life cycle previously proposed for Illex illecebrosus is feasible.

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