of larval winter flounder showed considerably reduced densities of 

 larvae 3 to 6 mm in length and indicated that the plant was some distance 

 from local spawning areas. 



The offshore monitoring program in 1977 was similar to 1976. 

 Length measurements suggested that gradual tidal advection of larvae 

 from the Niantic River towards offshore stations occurred from March 

 through June. Catch curves showed that the densities of small larvae at 

 Niantic River station 2 were not much greater in comparison to the 

 offshore stations. The monthly sampling frequencies were thought to be 

 inadequate co measure actual variations in abundance. Further analysis 

 of the entrainment data in 1977 showed that winter flounder larvae were 

 again more abundant at night but no differences were found among ebb and 

 flood tide and the two slack tidal periods. 



In 1978, day oblique tows were taken monthly (January through 

 March) or biweekly (April through August) at six stations (2, 5, 6, 8, 

 11, and 14). Day surface and bottom tows augmented the collections on 

 one of the biweekly sampling dates per month from April through August. 

 Tidal differences in density were found to mostly affect smaller larvae 

 earlier in the season rather than older, more mobile larvae. Night 

 samples at the discharge continued to have the greatest densities, 

 especially of larvae over 6 mm. The lack of night samples at the offshore 

 stations limited the analyses and comparisons made between the offshore 

 and entrainment programs. 



An evaluation of the offshore plankton program was made in 1978. 

 The effects of day or night sampling, net mesh size, tow type, station 

 location, and number of samples taken per season were evaluated separately. 

 To correct the imbalance in sample number between the offshore and 



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