The ten calculated negative values of B determined in Niantic River 

 winter flounder Jolly estimates were treated as values, but three 

 estimates of phi greater than 1 were used to adjust the weekly Peterson 

 estimate upwards to account for a supposed large increase in recruitment. 

 This has resulted in a larger population estimate because of the upward 

 adjustment. Following Begon (1979), the correct methodology should not 

 be to adjust B upwards. The estimates for 1975 and 1981 should be 

 corrected downwards 15,551 and 4,677, giving revised population estimates 

 of 144,523 (-9.7%) and 88,547 (-4.0%), respectfully. 



Sampling methodology 

 As previously noted, restrictions in towing imposed by the East 

 Lyme - Waterford Shellfish Commission have changed the areas sampled 

 within the Niantic River from 1975 to the present. In addition, effort 

 among various stations also changed from year to year based on the 

 availability of winter flounder and amount of macroalgae and detritus 

 present which affected trawl efficiency. It is possible that some of 

 these changes may have affected the year to year comparability of the 

 population estimates. In 1975 and 1976, 70 to 77% of the trawl hauls 

 were made in the lower to mid-River at stations 1 and 2 in the channel 

 and at 6 and 7 along the eastern shore, although most other areas were 

 sampled as well (Fig. 1; Table 12). In 1977, 1978, and 1980, 85% of the 

 tows were made at stations 1 and 2 with relatively few elsewhere. Most 

 tows were also made at these stations in 1979 (69%) but additional 

 effort was also made in other locations that year. In 1981, effort was 

 divided nearly evenly between these lower channel stations and station 5 

 in the upper River. 



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