The spotfin butterf lyfish, Chaetodon ocel latus , is one of a group of tropical species 

 which migrate northward along the east coast and enter New England waters during mid- 

 and late summer. Many of these summer southern migrants (such as the fish pictured) 

 are juveniles (about 4 cm). These fish probably perish with the onset of declining 

 water temperatures. There is no evidence to suggest that they are capable of return- 

 ing south or of overwintering in New England. Photo by R.E. DeGoursey, University of 

 Connecticut. 



As in southern New England, flounders 

 and skates are the common demersal species 

 found on muddy and sandy bottoms. Both 

 groups feed actively on benthic inverte- 

 brates and the skates make noticeable 

 depressions in the sediment surface as 

 they forage for crustaceans, bivalves, and 

 polychaete annelids. Flounders represent 

 a major inshore groundfishery in the Gulf 

 of Maine and winter flounder is the most 

 abundant species. Other species of floun- 

 der are also found in the Gulf of Maine 

 (see Appendix II), although the smooth 

 flounder, windowpane, and American plaice 

 are associated more with the bays and 

 estuaries of northern New England. 



Many species of pelagic fishes 

 inhabit northern New England waters. The 



pelagic predators are similar to those 

 found in southern New England, although 

 bluefish, weakfish, and striped bass are 

 all reduced in number when compared to 

 warmer New England waters. Striped bass 

 is a popular sport fish, although spawning 

 populations have not been located north of 

 Cape Cod. All these species are summer 

 migrants. The Atlantic herring, another 

 member of the pelagic fish component, is 

 commercially the most important fish in 

 the Gulf of Maine. This species is found 

 offshore during fall (when it spawns) and 

 winter, but is seen in nearshore waters 

 during summer (Targett and McCleave 1974). 

 The tropical migrant species are only 

 found sporadically in the Gulf of Maine, 

 restricted to those summers with unusually 

 warm water temperatures. 



46 



