Based on a 1978 evaluation of the offshore ichthyoplankton program (NUSCo 1978b), stations were 

 further reduced to one (5) with an increase in sampling frequency in 1979. From January through March 

 and September through December, one day and night oblique tow was taken every other week. During 

 the remaining months, two day and night tows were made weekly, with all replicate samples processed. 

 This sampling program has remained the same to the present. For reporting purposes, the station 5 

 designation was changed to NB in 1983. 



Specific sampling for larval winter flounder during their occurrence in the Niantic River began in 

 1979. Some changes have been made in sampling frequency, station location, and station designation 

 from 1979 through 1985 (Table 3). The Niantic River sampling was re-designed for 1983, based on the 

 recommendations of a larval winter flounder workshop held at NUEL in October 1982. The changes 

 included special studies to reduce sampling biases, resulting from tidal and diel larval behavior. Identification 

 of sampling biases with special studies in 1983 (NUSCo 1984) and 1984 (NUSCo 1985) limited the 

 usefulness of data collected previously in 1979-82. 



Starting in 1983, ichthyoplankton samples for winter flounder larvae were taken in Niantic River at 

 stations A, B, and C and in mid-Niantic Bay at station NB (Fig. 3). To ensure mid-depth and near 

 bottom sampling, the length of tow line necessary to sample the mid-water and bottom strata was based 

 on water depth and the tow line angle measured with an inclinometer (NUSCo 1984). Nets with 333-^im 

 mesh were used in 1983. Paired 202- and 333-nm mesh nets were towed in 1984 through mid- March and 

 only 333-iim mesh nets during the remainder of the season. In 1985, 202-|im mesh nets were used through 

 the first week of April and 333-|im mesh nets during the remainder of the season. Medusae of a potential 

 predator, the lion's mane jellyfish {Cyanea sp.), were sieved (1-cm) from the samples at the three river 

 stations and measured volumetrically (ml). These data were compared to mean weekly medusoid diameter 

 in the river (Miller et al. 1986) and a diameter to volume relationship was used to estimate abundance of 

 medusae. 



Sampling time and frequency varied during the 1983-85 surveys. In 1983, sampling time in the Niantic 

 River was systematically varied during daylight and night and at station C sampling was varied over four 

 tidal stages (high, low, mid-ebb, and mid-flood). At each of the three river stations, day and night tows 



17 



