Able et al.: Early life history of Centropristis striata 



437 



the time of first spring collections, temperature was 

 approximately 10°C for individuals age 1+ (approxi- 

 mately 9 months old), whereas in the summer tem- 

 perature was approximately 23°C for age 0+ indi- 

 viduals (Fig. 7). In the vicinity of Beach Haven Ridge, 

 the age 0+ individuals first occurred at approximately 

 15°C and were most abundant when bottom tempera- 

 tures reached 20°C (Fig. 7). Over the continental shelf 

 in the fall, the age 0+ cohort was collected primarily 

 at bottom temperatures of 14-17°C (Fig. 12) and at 

 higher average temperatures of 16-2 1°C in Massa- 

 chusetts inshore waters (Fig. 12). During winter, 

 most individuals were collected at 6-9°C (Fig. 12), a 

 temperature that probably reflects their greater 

 abundance in deeper waters at that time (Fig. 10). 

 In the spring, this same cohort was abundant at 6— 

 11°C and 15-17°C. In every instance on the conti- 

 nental shelf, with the possible exception of inshore 

 Massachusetts, the fish were found at higher aver- 



age temperatures than those represented by most of 

 the stations sampled (Fig. 12). 



Discussion 



Annual cycle in the early life history 



Spawning of black sea bass in the mid-Atlantic Bight 

 proceeds from south to north, presumably with warm- 

 ing temperatures. Our interpretation of this geo- 

 graphical pattern is based on extensive collections 

 during 1977-87 and is consistent with that reported 

 for 1966-67 (Kendall, 1972; Kendall and Mercer, 

 1982). The occurrence of larvae of all sizes in all 

 areas suggests that spawning and development oc- 

 curs throughout most of the mid-Atlantic Bight. In 

 addition, most larvae were <8 mm TL in our conti- 

 nental shelf collections and were similar to those 



