We have employed a transcription 'run-on' assay to measure levels of RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcription at the 3 end of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe ura4 gene. Using this approach we demonstrate that transcription termination takes place close to the ura4 poly(A) site. We have also characterised the signals that direct transcription termination: a functional polyadenylation signal and a downstream transcription pause element are required for efficient pol II transcription termination in fission yeast. As previously demonstrated in both higher eukaryotes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, polyadenylation signals play a central role in directing pol II transcription termination in fission yeast. Mutation of the S. pombe ura4 polyadenylation signals results in >50% transcriptional read - through beyond the region where termination occurs in the wild type. An element which mediates transcriptional pausing is located close to, the termination region. This pause element is characterised in vitro by the accumulation of high transcription signals over this element (taken to represent an increased polymerase density) and in vivo, through its ability to increase polyadenylation at a variety of upstream 3'end processing elements including the S. cerevisiae CYC1 polyadenylation signals. Removal of this element, which functions in an orientation - specific fashion, significantly reduces termination efficiency.