INTRODUCTION 



The Sandy Hook Laboratory of the National Marine Fisheries Service began 

 a systematic survey during June 1974 of benthic fishes occurring in the New 

 York Bight and Sandy Hook, Lower, and Raritan Bays. This study was designed 

 to provide a comprehensive life history data base for current and anticipated 

 research needs. This report summarizes gonad-somatic data as indicators of 

 spawning times for the following 15 species of fish: alewife, Aloea 

 pseudoharengus; offshore hake, Mevlucoius albidus; silver hake, Mevluccius 

 bilineavis; red hake, Uvophyais ahuss; spotted hake, Uvophyais vegia; ocean 

 pout, Maavozoavaes ameviaanus; black sea bass, Centvopvistis striata; 

 butterfish, Pepvilus tviaaanthus; northern searobin, Pvionotus aavolinus; 

 striped searobin, Pvionotus evolans; summer flounder, Pavaliahthys dentatus; 

 fourspot flounder, Pavaliahthys oblongus; windowpane, Saophthalmus aquosus; 

 yellowtail flounder, Limanda fewuginea; and winter flounder, Pseudo- 

 pleuvoneatss ameviaanus. In addition, the literature pertinent to this study 

 is reviewed to provide a basis of comparison throughout their range. 



These data, when compared with similar time series, contribute ultimately 

 to a significant portion of the material needed to detect and understand 

 natural and man-induced changes in the reproductive cycles of fishes occurring 

 in the New York Bight. 



STUDY AREAS 



The New York Bight is that portion of the Atlantic continental shelf 

 between eastern Long Island, New York, and Cape May, New Jersey (Figure 1). 



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