present in the marsh, they are about the 

 same size as the residents but feed more 

 (indicated by gut fullness), are more 

 carnivorous, and grow faster (Figure 16), 

 thus making maximal use of the marsh 

 productivity. 



Striped bass and bluefish enter salt 

 marsh creeks as moderate- to large-sized 



adults. The size of fish that can enter 

 the marsh depends on the depth of the 

 creeks and the height of the tides. These 

 adults prey directly upon the smaller 

 fishes in late summer. The use of the 

 marsh by these larger fish species is 

 perhaps more to be likened to the use by 

 fish-eating birds than by other fishes. 

 Small prey are plentiful for these 

 carnivores. 



NUMBER/IOOm 



residents non 



residents 



60 



SIZE (mm ' 



residents non 



residents 



GUT 



FULLNESS 

 (%) 



residents non 



residents 



50 - 



100 



residents non 



residents 



%CARN IVORY 



%ORIGINAL LENGTH 

 ADDED PER MONTH 



Figure 16. Comparison of resident and 

 non-resident fishes of Great Sippewissett 

 Salt Marsh, Massachusetts, in summer (from 

 Werme 1981). There are many more 

 residents in the creeks during summer and 

 they average about the same size as 

 non-residents which are present only in 

 warm weather. The non-residents feed more 

 actively, are more carnivorous, and grow 

 faster during the period they live within 

 the salt marsh. 



26 



