impact. The evaluation is broken up into sections which more or less 

 cover major sampling programs. Particular emphasis has been placed on 

 examining the population survey and life history studies as these programs 

 had not been extensively evaluated, yet comprised a large portion of the 

 time spent by the Fish Ecology Section. Where pertinent, general or 

 specific recommendations or suggestions are made which are hoped will 

 improve techniques, efficiency, precision, or accuracy in sampling or 

 analyses. 



WINTER FLOUNDER POPULATION ESTIMATES 

 Summary of surveys 



Intensive work on the winter flounder began at Millstone in 1973 

 (Table 1). A brief summary of the annual population survey as well as 

 a critical evaluation of some of the data obtained follows; details and 

 methods of each year's studies can be found in the appropriate Annual 

 Report. In some instances reanalysis of previous data both in past 

 years and during this evaluation led to various corrections of the data 

 base. Consequently various estimates or results found herein may not 

 match those found in previous Annual Reports. Any newly revised figures 

 should be used in all future reports. 



Studies during the first two years were less intensive than those 

 from 1975 to the present. In 1973, about 2,000 winter flounder larger 

 than 25 cm were tagged with Floy anchor tags. Approximately 1,000 of 

 these were released in the Niantic River during February and March and 

 1,000 in the Millstone area outside the River from April through June. 

 In 1974, tagging was mostly limited to the Niantic River during February 

 through April (about 2,300 winter flounder larger than 20 cm); 300 were 

 marked elsewhere, mostly Jordan Cove. Although recaptures of these fish 



