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Comparative Fish Bones For fish bones that can be identified to a particular species or genus, the sizes of certain bones can provide information on the sizes and ages (maturity) of the fish, as well as what methods might have been used to catch them, such as netting, spearing, or using fishhooks. Left and right bones (hyomandibulars, cleithra, and pectoral spines) of different sizes of modern black bullhead catfish (Ameiurus melas), are shown on the card to the left. Archaeological specimens can be compared to the modern examples to determine the sizes and ages of the fish. A fish that weighs 25 g (0.9 oz, third from bottom) would be about 4 inches long, similar to the black bullhead catfish seen on the right. Fish of this size could have been caught in nets.