11-114 



between operational and preoperational years. This is based on a com- 

 parison of mean abundances for each month of operational (1975-1977) 

 yoars with the ranqe of monthly mean abundances of preoperational years. 

 If operational mean abundance for a given month is below tVie preopera- 

 tional range, a minus (-) appears in the appropriate space on Table 11- 

 7. A minus indicates a lower operational mean than the lowest preoper- 

 ational mean abundance. This may not indicate an actual decline. Oper- 

 ational mean abundance above the highest preoperational value is indi- 

 cated by a plus (+) in the appropriate space on Table 11-7. A zero (0) 

 indicates an operational mean within the preoperational range. Most 

 species including cunner, scup, alewives, bluebacks, shad, mackerel, 

 striped bass and smelt show little or no change. Other species such as 

 winter flounder, sijmmer flounder, Atlantic herring, menhaden, bay 

 anchovies and weakfish show an operational abundance greater than pre- 

 operational. The only species with a mean operational ab\indance below 

 the preoperational range for two or more months was the windowpane in 

 January and February. Figure 11-7 presents the means from which Table 

 11-7 is summarized. Unusually cold winter in the operational years may 

 have caused the slight reduction in abundance observed, or this change 

 may be an artifact of sampling error. There does not appear to be any 

 consistent reduction from preoperational to operational years. We 

 conclude from this result that no impact on the maintenance of a 

 balanced, indigenous assembly of finfish has occurred as a result of New 

 Haven Harbor Station operation. 



