provided a representative tow type integrating elements of the entire 

 water column; 3) a balance of day and night samples was very important 

 in assessing the densities of ichthyoplankton that may avoid capture in 

 nets during the day or may alter their vertical distribution over the 

 diel period; 4) the 0. 333-mm-mesh net size was more desirable than the 

 0.505-mm-mesh net because it captured higher densities of smaller larvae 

 and was the same mesh used in the entrainment program; 5) at least 30 to 

 40 day or night samples each month should be collected over the biologi- 

 cally active seasons of the year, or over specific growth periods for 

 individual ichthyoplankton species to detect a 40-50% difference in mean 

 annual density. 



Special larval winter flounder sampling has been conducted in the 

 Niantic River since 1979 during March through May, the larval development 

 period of winter flounder. Station 2 (Figure 4) was sampled in 1979 and 

 1980; Stations 1 and 2 in 1981 and 1982. Winter flounder and the Niantic 

 River are of special interest since winter flounder are a potentially 

 impacted local population of commercial and recreational importance, and 

 the Niantic River is their principal local spawning area. An evaluation 

 of the special Niantic River plankton tows from 1979 to present are 

 described as a portion of the Winter Flounder Program Evaluation. 



Ichthyoplankton Program Evaluation 



The Millstone ichthyoplankton studies are highly responsive to 

 program objectives and labor efficient due to frequent evaluations and 

 modifications. The ability of the program to detect change in the 

 ichthyoplankton community has been increased through improvements in 

 sampling and analytical methodology. The program has been useful in 



29 



