nets(McGowan and Brown 1966) towed obliquely 

 through the entire midwater column (about 0.5 

 m below the surface to 1.0 m above the bottom). 

 Each side of the paired net filtered a volume of 

 about 200 m 3 /tow. 



Samples from the epibenthos were collected 

 using an Auriga 1 net specially designed for sam- 

 pling over rock-cobble bottoms. The net has a 

 rectangular mouth, 0.5 m X 2.0 m, and filtered 

 about 800 m 3 during each tow. 



Each net was equipped with two flowmeters 

 for volume determinations. Mesh size of each net 

 was 0.333 mm, to facilitate collection of both eggs 

 and larvae (Bolin 1936). Four replicates were 

 collected by each gear at night at each of the four 

 transects. 



Due to shrinkage of the larvae during preser- 

 vation (4% buffered Formalin-seawater), lengths 

 of the individuals at hatching were smaller than 

 those observed for unpreserved specimens (Thei- 

 lacker 1980), ranging from 1.9 mm for white 

 croaker to 2.5 mm for northern anchovy. The fish 

 were considered to become juveniles after the de- 

 velopment of adult fin rays and spines, which 

 was taken as a length of 30 mm for all three spe- 

 cies. Larvae were divided into 10 size classes of 3 

 mm each. 



Results 



Engraulis mordax 



The major spawning period for northern 

 anchovy was observed to be from December 

 through May (Fig. 2). Length-frequency distri- 

 butions in neuston samples indicated a pattern of 

 high concentrations of small larvae during heavi- 

 est spawning periods (March and December 

 1978), followed by months of relatively even dis- 

 tributions from to 15 mm. Larger larvae ap- 

 peared and often became the major larval com- 

 ponent in the neuston 2 to 3 mo after heavy 

 spawning periods. Midsize larvae (12 to 18 mm) 

 were often observed in reduced numbers in com- 

 parison with smaller or larger larval sizes. Low 

 spawning activity during late summer was re- 

 flected in reduced numbers of larvae in neuston 

 samples. 



Midwater collections of northern anchovy 

 were characterized by larval concentrations in 



'Reference to trade names does not imply endorsement by 

 the National Marine Fisheries Service. NOAA. 



the 6 to 18 mm size range, with abundance of to 

 6 mm larvae fluctuating with spawning activity 

 of adults. Except in the heavy spawning months 

 of March and December 1978, midsize larvae 

 generally outnumbered 2.5 to 6 mm larvae and 

 composed the majority of midwater larvae taken. 

 Significant numbers of larvae >21 mm were 

 taken in the midwater samples only at the end of 

 the main spawning season. 



Collections of northern anchovy from epiben- 

 thic samples indicate consistent dominance of 

 the distribution by 6 to 18 mm larvae during 

 most months, with distributions shifted toward 

 larger larvae during midsummer months. Over- 

 all concentrations in epibenthic samples were 

 consistently the highest among the three 

 levels. 



Genyonemus lineatus 



The major spawning period for white croaker 

 was from December to May (Fig. 3). Larvae 

 taken in the neuston were generally low in abun- 

 dance and rarely larger than 6 mm, while mid- 

 water concentrations were also generally re- 

 stricted to to 6 mm larvae. Larvae were 

 observed in these levels mainly from December 

 through April. Most white croaker larvae were 

 taken in epibenthic samples, especially late in 

 the spawning season. In contrast to the upper two 

 levels, larvae were relatively abundant from 

 October through June. While small larvae were 

 frequently taken in epibenthic samples during 

 the major spawning months, the epibenthos 

 was generally dominated by larvae in the 3 to 

 12 mm size range. Larvae >15 mm were rarely 

 taken. 



Seriphus politus 



Queenfish, like white croaker, is highly sea- 

 sonal in its spawning habits, with the main 

 spawning period extending from March to Sep- 

 tember (Fig. 4). Significant numbers of larvae 

 were taken in neuston collections only in March 

 and April, and were restricted to to 6 mm size 

 classes. Midwater collections followed a similar 

 trend, although slightly larger larvae persisted 

 through September. The majority of queenfish 

 larvae were taken in epibenthic samples, with 

 numbers of individuals in each size class decreas- 

 ing from to 3 mm through 15 to 18 mm groups. 

 As was observed in white croaker samples, indi- 

 viduals >18 mm were rarely collected. 



897 



