percentage (.05-1.5 percent) of the catch from menhaden vessels were 

 species other than menhaden. (A. A.) 



Keywords: estuarine ecosystems, commercial fishes, bay anchovy, croaker, 

 menhaden, Louisiana 



IV-E-26 



Arnoldi, D.C., W.H. Herke, and E.J. Clairain. 1973. Estimate of growth 

 rate and length of stay in a marsh nursery of juvenile Atlantic croaker, 

 Micropoqon undulatus (Linnaeus), "sandblasted" with fluorescent pigments. 

 Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 26:158-172. 



Atlantic croaker constitute over half the industrial bottomfish 

 landings from the Gulf of Mexico. Most length frequency studies 

 indicate the mean standard length at one year of age does not exceed 

 130 mm, but two recent papers dispute this. 



Project objectives were to determine juvenile croaker growth rates 

 in the marsh and how long the fish remain there. About 90,000 croaker, 

 from 10 to 40 mm standard length, were "sandblasted" with fluorescent 

 pigment, and released as they entered a marsh nursery. Recapture 

 attempts were by trawling in the nursery and trapping at the outlet. 



Sixty definitely marked croaker were recaptured. These meager 

 returns suggest individual croaker remain in the marsh only one to 

 four months and grow about 14 mm per month. Croaker in industrial 

 bottomfish landings generally range from 80 to 160 mm; thus, most 

 may be less than 12 months old. Also, turnover rate of croaker using 

 the marsh may be high enough to make the industry dependent on 

 maintenance of a viable marsh nursery. (A. A.) 



Keywords: marsh nursery, croakers, productivity, U.S. Gulf coast 



IV-E-27 



Rickards, W.L. 1968. Ecology and growth of juvenile tarpon, Megalops 



atlanticus , in a Georgia salt marsh. Bulletin of Marine Science 



18:220-239. 



Juvenile tarpon were found in both still and flowing dark water in 

 marsh pools and creeks on Sapelo Island, Georgia. There fish grew 

 approximately three centimeters per month. Two populations of 

 juveniles were found during 1964: a resident population and a second 

 one driven shoreward from the Gulf stream by Hurricane Dora. Tarpon 

 from the second population grew approximately half as fast as those 

 of the first population. Fish in the second influx encountered lower 



