A total of 104 individuals of Coilia nasus were collected from the Yangtze River and artificial pond from 2006 to 2008.Comparative observation of the gonads development was conducted.The histological observation showed that the ovary of C.nasus from Jiangyin area of the Yangtze River transformed from phaseⅡ to phase Ⅳ from April to July.The gonadosomatic index(GSI) of these sauries from Anqing area of the Yangtze River was higher than that from Jiangyin area at the same period(July),while there was no statistical difference.For most of the males domesticated in artificial pond,the development of spermary was in proliferative period with large numbers of spermatids in spermatic lobule,but there was no mature individual found.The ovary of the female collected from the pond in December was in phase Ⅱand could develop into the late phase Ⅳ in June.The GSI was significantly higher than that of the saury from Jiangyin area of the Yangtze River in May and Anqing area in July.Therefore,the sexual maturation of C.nasus from the Yangtze River isn't determined only by the migratory site,while the development of gonads is similar among different migratory populations at the same period.The ovary of C.nasus domesticated in artificial pond can develop into the late phase Ⅳ at least.