modifications as described in NUSCo (1982). Prior to 1985, absolute estimates of winter flounder abun- 

 dance during the spawning period had been obtained by starting with an estimate of N obtained during 

 the first week of the survey and then adding the total number of fish joining (Jolly's B) during subsequent 

 weeks. As a result of a comprehensive review of the mark-recapture methodology in 1985 (NUSCo 1986a), 

 this procedure was eliminated. In its place a composite index was developed for describing the relative 

 abundance of adult winter flounder. This index was computed by avera^g the weekly estimates of N 

 made during the winter flounder spawning season, except for the first and last estimates. These estimates 

 are less reliable and were eliminated from the computations in all years except when the number of values 

 used would have been less than three. The standard error of N was determined as: 



(j)7Var o{{Nj) + Var of(yV3) + Var of(yV4) (1) 



where N is the estimate of population size during each week 



Fluctuations in the log-transformed catches of winter flounder taken at all six stations of the trawl 

 monitoring program (see Fish Ecology section) were analyzed using harmonic regression techniques, 

 methods of which were most recently described in NUSCo (1986a). Catch data from three replicated tows 

 taken every other week were averaged to obtain a single biweekly mean. These values were used to 

 construct various models describing catches from October 1976 through September 1985. 



Life history studies 



Various life history data have been collected since 1973 (Table 2). General methods and procedures 

 for most studies briefly follow. For additional details concerning particular studies, specific reports should 

 be consulted. 



Reproduction 



Using data from 1981-86, probit analysis (SAS Institute Inc. 1985) was used to estimate the length at 

 which 50% of all females were mature. An index of the number of females reproducing in the Niantic 

 River each year since 1977 was created by estimating their abundance in each 1-cm length increment 

 starting with 26 cm. Fecundity (annual egg production per female) of Niantic River winter flounder was 



