Table 1: Mean (SE) coefficients of variation for ages estimated from smallmouth bass and walleye otoliths using a novel otolith illumination device and an alternative method. Analyses were stratified by species and reader. Results were considered significant if P < 0.10.

Otolith illumination device Alternative method t-statistic df P
Smallmouth bass
     Reader 1 8.79 (1.64) 8.19 (1.42) 0.17 92 0.86
     Reader 2 10.87 (1.18) 12.05 (1.74) -0.17 91 0.86
     Between 18.94 (1.32) 18.53 (1.98) 0.21 96 0.83
Walleye
     Reader 1 12.22 (1.64) 16.88 (1.81) -2.41 92 0.02
     Reader 2 16.24 (1.71) 16.27 (2.05) 0.13 93 0.89
     Between 22.86 (1.52) 25.48 (1.95) -1.87 96 0.06