diff --git a/SS_selex.tpl b/SS_selex.tpl
index 2c500625..5a8e1dae 100644
--- a/SS_selex.tpl
+++ b/SS_selex.tpl
@@ -1955,7 +1955,7 @@ FUNCTION void Make_FishSelex()
         sel_num(s, f, g) = sel_a(yf, f, gg); //  selected numbers
         switch (seltype(f + Nfleet, 2)) //  age-retention function
         {
-          case 0:
+          case 0:  // no discarding, so just copy the selected quantities
           {
             sel_ret_bio(s, f, g) = sel_bio(s, f, g); //  retained wt-at-age
             sel_ret_num(s, f, g) = sel_num(s, f, g); //  retained numbers
@@ -1963,7 +1963,7 @@ FUNCTION void Make_FishSelex()
             sel_dead_num(s, f, g) = sel_num(s, f, g); //  dead numbers
             break;
           }
-          case 1:
+          case 1:  // age-based retention function is used; all discarded fish assumed dead and have same bodywt as retained fish
           {
             sel_ret_bio(s, f, g) = elem_prod(sel_bio(s, f, g), retain_a(y, f, gg)); //  retained wt-at-age
             sel_ret_num(s, f, g) = elem_prod(sel_num(s, f, g), retain_a(y, f, gg)); //  retained numbers
@@ -1971,15 +1971,16 @@ FUNCTION void Make_FishSelex()
             sel_dead_num(s, f, g) = sel_ret_num(s, f, g); //  dead numbers
             break;
           }
-          case 2:
+          case 2:  // age-based retention and discard mortality, same body wt as retained fish
           {
+            // details of retention and mortality already taken into account with calc of discmort2_a
             sel_ret_bio(s, f, g) = elem_prod(sel_bio(s, f, g), retain_a(y, f, gg)); //  retained wt-at-age
             sel_ret_num(s, f, g) = elem_prod(sel_num(s, f, g), retain_a(y, f, gg)); //  retained numbers
-            sel_dead_bio(s, f, g) = elem_prod(sel_ret_bio(s, f, g), discmort_a(y, f, gg)); //  dead wt
-            sel_dead_num(s, f, g) = elem_prod(sel_ret_num(s, f, g), discmort_a(y, f, gg)); //  dead numbers
+            sel_dead_bio(s, f, g) = elem_prod(Wt_Age_t(tz, f, g), discmort2_a(y, f, gg)); //  dead wt
+            sel_dead_num(s, f, g) = discmort2_a(y, f, gg); //  dead numbers
             break;
           }
-          case 3: //  all selected fish are dead
+          case 3: //  all selected fish are dead; use this for a discard only fleet
           {
             sel_ret_bio(s, f, g) = 0.0; //  retained wt-at-age
             sel_ret_num(s, f, g) = 0.0; //  retained numbers
@@ -1988,6 +1989,11 @@ FUNCTION void Make_FishSelex()
             break;
           }
         }
+        if (docheckup == 1 && y == styr)
+        {
+          echoinput << " sel_ret_bio " << sel_ret_bio(s, f, g) << endl
+                    << " sel_dead_bio " << sel_dead_bio(s, f, g) << endl;
+        }
       }
 
       else //  size_selectivity and possible size retention