length, were seined in the same location on April 23, 1956. As they are active 

 fish and able to avoid the other types of collecting gear, it is possible that the 

 gizzard shad is more numerous than indicated. 



ENGRAULIDAE Anchovies 



Anchon mitckilU diaphana (Cuvier Bay Anchovy 



and Valenciennes) 



The bay anchovy is a year-round inhabitant of the lagoon. It was either ob- 

 served, caught by cast net or dip net, or appeared in plankton catches in every 

 month, and was second to the pinfish in abundance. With the exception of several 

 large schools of adults observed on August 6, 1956, very few anchovies were 

 noted during late summer and early autumn. 



Table 3 presents the occurrence of bay anchovies, larvae through adult, in 

 the plankton net catches. Observations and other collecting methods revealed 

 that adults and young were most abundant froni April through June, 



Anchovies usually are not regarded as predators, but both young and adults 

 frequently were observed feeding voraciously on larval Clupeidae, Sciaenidae, 

 Sparidae, Penaeidae, and even larvae of their own species. 



Anchoa hepsetus (Linnaeus) Striped Anchovy 



A total of six adult striped anchovies was taken on four occasions. One speci- 

 men, 7.2 cnn. in length, and three that measured 8.5, 8.7, and 9.5 cm., were found 

 in the catches of plankton tows made on March 3, 1955, and January 11, 1956, 

 respectively. A 9.6-centimeter specimen was taken by cast net on September 20, 

 1955. The largest striped anchovy collected, 11.5 cm. in length, was caught on 

 hook and line by the senior author on November 8, 1957. 



Table 3. --Occurrence of Anchoa mitchilli diaphana 

 Average number per set 



Month 1953 L954 1955 1956 1957 1958 



January 



February 



March 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August 



September 



October 



November 3 



December 6 47 



