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Stan, the decision on a pec fin is broken ( no pun intended!) into a deformity or an injury as a general review.
In the fine points of judging of these things, however, you need to know that there are:
1) deficiencies - when something that should be there is missing! Deficiencies can be either innate or acquired. they can range in seriousness from automatic disqualification to fault. Generally speaking, a deficiency is more serious than a defect. But the lines can cross when you are comparing a minor deficiency against a really major defect. Just remember that deficiencies can and often do lead to disqualification.
2) defects - are shortcomings or failures of some element. These can be ranked in 'degrees'. So we have small defects, medium defects and large defects. Large defects can count for as much as 50% of the judging decision but usually not complete disqualification ,whereas deficiencies can cause a fish to not even be allowed to compete at all. I have judged fish with such serious defects ( like giant aeromonas scars) that were so bad, they were still judged but were automatically starting out in last place due to the defect.
Now here's the thing- defects take on a sliding scale of importance (regardless of small medium or large) based on the age and size of the fish. Things that are a big deal in a young fish might loose importance in the larger fish. But still a defect is a fault and should reduce points ( if judging on a point system). But that make down could be as little as 5% on a large fish with a small defect in a show where the fish is far superior to competition in every other way.
In the case of pecs- a missing pec fin ( or leading ray) would be a deficiency in all age groups and a DQ. It would not matter if the fish was born that way or lost it in an accident.
But a fish with a bent ray or an over grown ray might be considered a serious defect and reduce the points on a young fish by a full 50%. Yet on an older fish of say, great size, an overgrown ray might be ignored or simply marked down 5- 10%. JR
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