Bottom Trawl Survey Results 



The cumulative spring and autumn distributions over the time series are 

 shown in Figures 8.1 and 8.2. The distribution patterns during the two 

 seasons reflect some inshore-offshore movement, but no significant 

 migration. The spring distribution plot shows the fish were concentrated 

 offshore along the 10U m contour. The distribution pattern did not change 

 when the pre-1976 cruises were deleted (Figure 8.3). The autumn series showed 

 that the fish had moved inside the 100 m contour to the mid-shelf area. 



The graphs of mean weight and number per tow (Figures 3.4-8.7) do not 

 reflect any dramatic change other than some increases after 1977, especially 

 in the New York Bight offshore strata set. 



Length frequencies for six strata sets, arranged by season, are shown in 

 Figures 8.8-8.19. The consistency of the catches is again an indication that 

 as an adult this animal is a resident of the mid and outer shelf. It is of 

 interest that smaller fourspot flounder (<20 cm) were strongly represented in 

 the inshore strata during the autumn (Figures 8.14-8.15). 



Figures 8.20 and 8.21 show the percentage occurrence by stratum of young- 

 of-the-year (YOY); cutoff sizes were 6 cm for both seasons. YOY were not 

 caught in great quantities on our surveys but the inshore autumn strata sets 

 were the most consistent producers (Figures 8.14-8.15). 



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