tlie upper 5 m of the water column (Williams 1967). Metamorphosis of larvae is complete by 10 mm and 

 juveniles move to the bottom (Miller 1958). 



Gunner was found in all NUSCo programs, but it was most abundant in the plankton collections 

 (Tables 10, 12 and 14). It ranked among the top ten fishes in all collections except seines (Appendices V, 

 VIII, IX, X and XII). 



Gunner eggs were the most abundant egg taxon entrained (Table 8) during the two-unit operational 

 period. Annual egg entrainment estimates ranged from 1,675x10^ (1981) to 2,589x10^ (1983) (Table 9). 

 Gunner egg density was lowest in either 1981 or 1982 depending on the abundance index used (median 

 or mean). The lowest median was 2,958/500 m in 1981 and the lowest mean was 1,761/500 m m 1982. 

 Similarly, egg density was highest in either 1983 (median = 5,934/500 m^) or 1985 (mean = 3,016/500 

 m^). Because the pattern of cunner abundance changed depending on the measure used, these data were 

 not useful for describing trends. 



Gunner was the fourth most abundant larval fish at NB and fifth at EN. Abundance at NB was 

 higher than at EN in terms of both aimual cumulative density (Fig. 24)" and mean density (Tables 10 and 

 12). Further, temporal patterns at the two stations were different. Mean annual larval density was highest 

 at EN (13.8/500 m^) in 1981 and at NB (42.4/500 m^) in 1983. Both indices were lower in 1984 and 

 1985 than in any year since 1979, but no trend was apparent. 



.luvenile and adult cunner were present primarily from May through November in impingement and 

 trawl collections; 25% of the total impingement catch occurred in .lune alone. Like tautog, cunner prefer 

 the rocky habitats that surround MNPS. Unlike tautog, however, cunner contributed more than 1% to 

 the total estimated impingment (Table 8). Annual impingement estimates varied an order of magnitude, 

 from 466 in 1985 to 3,851 in 1982. As it was the case for tautog, the low number of cunner impinged 

 during 1985 may have been related to the shut-down of Unit 2. Over 75% of cunner taken by trawl were 

 caught at IN and JG (Table 15). The spatial distribution of cunner was also similar to that of tautog 

 because both species have similar preferences and behavior. Although, juvenile cunner (individuals smaller 

 than 75 mm) stay near shore and thus were more likely to be taken by trawls at both NR and JG (Fig. 

 25), juvenile tautog were abundant only at NR (Fig. 23). Smaller adults also stay inshore and were likely 

 to be found in impingement collections; larger adults move offshore and were taken in trawls from deep 



52 



