Age and length 



In 1977 and 1978, winter flounder were aged by examination of both scales and otoliths; age determined 

 by both structures agreed well, especially for younger fish (NUSCo 1979). As the use of otoliths required 

 sacrificing the fish, orJy scales were used in subsequent years. The overall mean lengths-at-age for 

 1977-1983 combined data showed that winter flounder grew most rapidly during the first several years of 

 life with considerably reduced annual growth after age 4 (Table 12). Females had greater annual increases 

 in length than males, especially at ages 3 through 5. The mean lengths of females were significantly greater 

 than males for fish age 3 and older; this was also noted for many other winter flounder populations (Berry 

 et al. 1965; Poole 1966; Lux 1973; Howe and Coates 1975; Danila 1978; Beacham 1982). 



Table 12. Mean lengths in mm by age of Niantic River winter flounder from 1977 



through 1983. 



Ixjwer Upper Tenth Ninetieth 

 Age Sex Number Mean SD CV quartile quartile percentile percentile 



43 



