Table 2. — Partial species comparison, numerical catch, fish densities (no./m^), 

 and percent occurrence in samples for simultaneous seine and drop net collec- 

 tions (nine samples each). This is a partial species list, 17 of 61 species taken 

 with the seine and 12 of 29 species taken with the drop net. 



fish/m^ ix = 0.53) and biomass from 1.3 to 4.0 g/m^ 

 (x = 2.0). The high fish density and biomass values 

 of drop net methods versus lower values using 

 seine methods has been demonstrated in previous 

 studies (Kjelson and Johnson 1973; Kjelson et al. 

 1975). Schooling, nektonic species (e.g., anchovies 

 and herring) and adults of larger species (>150 

 mm SL) were seldom taken in the drop net yet 

 proved common in seine samples (Table 2). The 

 drop net bias toward nonschooling fishes or those 

 that do not have a clumped distribution has been 

 documented by Kjelson and Johnson (1973) and 

 Kjelson et al. (1975). However, the drop net de- 

 signs of Hellier (1958, 1962), Hoese and Jones 

 (1963), Jones et al. (1963), Jones (1965), and 

 Moseley and Copeland (1969) captured large 

 numbers of schooling fishes (e.g., Breuoortia and 

 Anchoa; Table 1). These schooling fishes, because 

 of their irregular occurrence (Table 2), occasion- 

 ally presented a problem with subsequent sample 

 analysis (Jones 1965). Small gobies (e.g., Gobio- 

 soma robustum and Microgobius gulosus) were 

 common in our drop net samples and were only 

 occasionally seen in our seine samples. Most of 

 those fishes captured by the drop net were grass 

 flat residents and resident juveniles of adult popu- 

 lations living elsewhere. The seine not only cap- 

 tured grass flat residents and juvenile fish but 

 adults and juveniles of migratory schooling forms 

 and large top predators ( ^250 mm SL). 



When catch records of our drop net system are 

 compared with those of others many sample 

 similarities and differences are seen. Hellier's 

 data demonstrates that drop nets with a smaller 

 mesh size will capture a greater fish biomass when 

 the sample area is kept constant (Hellier 1958). 

 The current drop net design incorporates a 3.2-mm 

 mesh (Table 1). This enables the capture of nearly 

 all small fishes ( < 150 mm SL) present. Very small 

 species (e.g., Gobiosoma robustum, 13-30 mm TL) 

 were not commonly captured using other drop net 

 methods, except in the samples taken by Hoese 

 and Jones (1963) (Table 1). Gobiosoma robustum 

 is a common seagreass bed resident from Corpus 

 Christi, Tex., to the Indian River lagoon in eastern 

 Florida (Hoese 1966; Springer and McErlean 

 1961); therefore, it would not be expected in the 

 samples of Kjelson and Johnson (1973), Kjelson et 

 al. (1975), and Adams (1976). Demersal flatfishes 

 (e.g., Paralichthys, Etropus, Citharichthys , Sym- 

 phurus, and Achirus) were captured in drop nets 

 used by Jones et al. ( 1963), Mosely and Copeland 

 (1969), Kjelson and Johnson (1973), Adams 

 (1976), and our design. Juvenile commercial and 

 sport fishes ( 15-50 mm SL) caught by the current 

 drop net design were Cynoscion nebulosus, Lut- 

 janus griseus, L. analis, L. synargris, Albula vul- 

 pes, Archosargus probatocephalus, and Haemulon 

 parrai. Lagodon rhomboides was also taken in 

 large numbers ( 15-145 mm SL), showing densities 



288 



