333- and 505-fim mesh from 1973 through 1978, exclusively 333-|j.m mesh from 1979 through 1983, and 

 varying combinations of 202- and 333-|im nets in 1984 and 1985. Tow duration was usually 15 min 

 (volume filtered of about 200-250 m^^) through 1984, but was reduced to 6 min (ca. 100-150 m^) in 1985 

 for Niantic River collections. Most tows were oblique, but the tow pattern was changed in 1980 from 

 continuous (bongo sampler continuously retrieved or let out between surface to near the bottom) to 

 stepwise (equal sampling time at surface, mid-depth, and near the bottom). In addition, surface and 

 bottom tows were taken from 1973 through 1978. Bottom tows were taken with a bongo sampler mounted 

 on a sled. All samples were preserved in 5 to 10% formalin. 



Offshore sampling programs can be categorized into four sampling periods. An intensive area-wide 

 sampling took place from May 1973 through 1975. A much reduced area-wide sampling occurred from 

 1976 through 1978. Sampling efforts increased for winter flounder larvae in the Niantic River and at one 

 station in Niantic Bay from 1979 through 1982. Finally, more comprehensive sampling took place in the 

 Niantic River from 1983 through 1985. 



The intensive area-wide sampling program began in May of 1973 to verify the winter flounder larval 

 dispersal model (Sissenwine et al. 1973); a detailed sampling scheme was provided in NUSCo (1976). 

 Because sampling started in May 1973, information on larval winter flounder was restricted to 1974 and 

 1975. Stations 1-13 were sampled in 1974 and 1-16 in 1975 (Fig. 3). During this period, sampling 

 frequency varied, but usually an oblique tow was made at each station during the day once a week and 

 at night once every month. Surface and bottom tows were taken every other week during the day and 

 night at selected .stations. For this report, these data were examined for temporal distribution of winter 

 flounder larvae in the Millstone area and for the collection efficiency of 333- and 505-|im mesh nets. 



In 1976, the ichthyoplankton program was reduced because the previous data were not adequate for 

 verification of the winter flounder larval dispersion model (Vaughan et al. 1976). The number of stations 

 was reduced to six (2, 5, 6, 8, 11, and 14). Single day oblique tows were made monthly with additional 

 surface and bottom tows in May through August. Because of the low frequency of sampling (monthly) 

 at each station, these data were not useful to examine the life history of larval winter flounder in the 

 Millstone area. 



15 



