동해안 한해성 조개인 북방대합의 자원 증대를 위한 기초 자료를 얻기 위하여 1994년 3월부터 1995년 5월까지 주로 조직학적 방법에 의해 생식소의 발달과정과 생식주기를 조사하였다. 북방대합은 자웅이체로서, 생식소는 해부학적으로 소화맹낭과 족부 근육 사이에 위치하였다. 비만도는 1994년 6월에 0.19로 가장 높았으며 11월에 최소값을 보였다. 생물학적 최소형은 각장 50.0mm였으며, 80.0mm 이상의 대형개체에서도 $10\%$ 미만의 성적으로 미분화한 개체가 관찰되었다. 성숙한 난모세포의 크기는 $50~60{mu}m$였으며, 성숙기의 정소에서 정소란이 관찰되었다. 북방대합의 생식주기는 분열증식기 ($10~1$월), 성장기 ($2~4$월), 성숙기 ($4~6$월), 산란기 ($6~7$월) 및 휴지기 ($8~9$월)의 연속적인 5단계로 구분되었다.
In order to obtain the basic information for seedling production of surf clam, Spisula sachalinensis, annual reproductive cycle was investigated from March 1994 to May 1995. S. sachalinensis was dioecious. The gonads are located between the digestive diverticula and muscle tissue of the foot. The condition factor was reached its maximum (0.19) in June, and then decreased to 0.16 in July. In November, the value was the lowest and then increased slowly. The age and minimum size for sexual maturation were 2 years old and about 50 mm in shell length, respectively. However, less than $10\%$ of sexually undifferentiated individuals were larger than 80 mm in shell length. On the other hand, the size of mature oocytes was ranged to $50~60{mu}m$ in diameter and testis-ova was observed in testis of the mature stage. Annual reproductive cycle could be classified into five successive stages : multiplicative (October to January), growing (February to April), mature (April to June), spawning (June and July) and degenerative and resting (August and September) stages.
