In early spring, fish communities of 

 eelgrass beds and marsh tidal creeks con- 

 sist of year-round residents (e.g., killi- 

 fishes, sheepshead, sticklebacks, pipe- 

 fish, and toadfish) that emerge from a 

 torpid overv/intering state and begin to 

 feed actively in preparation for spawning 

 in mid- and late spring and early summer. 

 Schools of the planktivorous Atlantic sil- 

 verside ( Menidia menidia ) also move into 

 tidal wetlands and shallow bays to spawn 

 in spring. The year-round residents and 

 the juveniles of many spring spawners are 

 found in wetlands and marshes throughout 

 summer and early fall and are able to tol- 

 erate severe stress of heated water and 

 reduced oxygen levels. These species are 

 active until late fall and early winter 

 when it is believed the majority hide 

 beneath vegetation and some species burrow 

 into mud to avoid extremely cold water 

 temperatures. They also may move into 



slightly deeper waters (e.g., eels, killi- 

 fishes, and sticklebacks). Silversides are 

 apparently an exception since they have 

 been observed feeding and schooling in 

 early winter and early spring in southern 

 New England. Their whereabouts during the 

 middle of winter has not been determined. 



In late spring, anchovies (Anchoa 

 mitchil li ) move northward along the New 

 England coast and into small, shallow bays 

 and inlets where they often school in tre- 

 mendous numbers. They remain in coastal 

 waters throughout the summer and move 

 southward and offshore during the fall. 

 Although they are seasonally abundant, no 

 commercial fishery for anchovies presently 

 exists in southern New England. 



Skates, dogfish, windowpane, and win- 

 ter flounder are abundant on sand and mud 

 flats in early spring. In late spring and 



The winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus , is a common inhabitant of New 

 England tidal flats. This demersal fish (actual size) consumes large amounts of 

 benthic infaunal invertebrates. Photo by R.E. DeGoursey, University of Connecticut. 



42 



