to conform to the same criteria for ending surveys after 1982 (Appendices I - XXII). From 5 to 8 wk of 

 mark and recapture data aimually were available for the Jolly model. The largest number of fish branded 

 in one year was in 1981 (6,726) and totals have since declined each year through 1986 (2,790). Fewest 

 recaptures were made in 1985 (143; 4.7% of the total branded) and the most in 1980 (433; 10.0%); the 

 average armual recapture rate was 6.7%. 



Table 6. Yearly mark and recapture data for Niantic River winter flounder studies from 1976 



through 1986. 



For 1976-82, first line gives data for the entire survey and second for the spawning season. 

 Minimum size for marking was 15 cm during 1976-82 and 20 cm thereafter. 



The Jolly composite abundance indices showed that the Niantic River winter flounder population was 

 relatively stable from 1976 through 1980, increased to a peak in 1982, and declined to an 11-yr low in 

 1986 (Table 7; Fig. 4). Using the catch offish between 15.0 and 19.9 cm, the estimates for 1983-86 were 

 also adjusted upwards for direct comparability between that period and 1976-82, as the estimates for the 

 earlier years included all fish larger than 15 cm. The annual trends in median CPUE generally corresponded 



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