4-61 



(Williams, 1968) and larvae more abundant near the bottom (Pearcy and 

 Richards, 1962) . No ecological information is available on spawning of 

 A. hepsetus in the Long Island Sound area. 



Anchoa spp. eggs (Figure 4-25) were generally present in New 

 Haven Harbor from May through August with a June/ July peak. During 1975 

 and 1976 most were collected at Stations 18 and 20, while in 1977 more 

 were collected at Stations 8, 11, 18 and 20; lowest densities were 

 generally found at Station 6. During 1974, Anchoa spp. egg density was 

 too low to describe a spatial pattern. Mean abundance over equivalent 

 time periods (May through October) increased each year with the 1977 

 mean approximately seven times that of the 1975 mean. Richards (1959) 

 also reported marked fluctuations (2100% increase) in A. mitchilli eggs 

 at her Long Island Sound Station 1 between 1952 and 1953. This increase 

 was postulated to be related to food supply (i.e., suitable zooplankton) ; 

 no such relationship was evident with New Haven Harbor zooplankton. 

 Mean egg densities during 1952 and 1953 (Wheatland, 1956) were similar 

 (11.04 and 1.48/m , respectively) to densities observed in New Haven 

 Harbor from 1974 through 1977, although August densities in 1952 and 

 1953 were markedly higher than August densities observed in New Haven 

 Harbor from 1974 through 1977. During June and July from 1974 through 

 1977, variation in abundance between years for each station in New Haven 

 Harbor was generally similar (Figure 4-25) . 



Anchoa spp. larvae (Figure 4-2 5) were generally present from 

 June through September with maximum abundance occurring during either 

 July (1975 through 1977) or August (1974) . Distribution within the 

 harbor did not indicate a marked affinity for any particular station; 

 lowest numbers, however, usually occurred at Stations 5 and 8. Annual 

 mean abundance was generally similar from 1974 through 1976, with an 

 increase noted during 1977. Wheatland's (1956) mean densities of 



A. mitchilli lairvae in Long Island Sound for June through December in 



3 



1952 and 1953 (0.84 and 0.24/m , respectively) were somewhat less than 



the densities observed in New Haven Harbor during this study. Such 

 differences may of course reflect differences in sampling gear as noted 



