The coefficients of variation for length by age were relatively consistent and ranged from 6 to 11 % 

 for age 3 through 8 females and males. Using the lower and upper quartiles as dividing points, age-length 

 groupings were relatively distinct, especially for younger specimens. However, older age groups overlapped 

 considerably in length. The oldest specimens aged were an age 12 female and an age 10 male. Maximum 

 lengths recorded in the Niantic River included a 490-mm female and a 483-mm male, both in 1986. 

 However, in May 1981, a 508-mm female determined to be age 8 was impinged on the MNPS screens. 

 Based on its length and age, tliis specimen fit the growth curve for the Georges Bank stock of winter 

 flounder described by Lux (1973). 



For the purposes of calculating growth, 214 females and 188 males ranging from 44 to 465 mm were 

 aged by scale examination in 1983 and measuremems were made to each annulus (NUSCo 1984). A 

 non-linear length-scale relationship was used for the back-calculation of length-at-age because it provided 

 a better fit to the data. Except for ages 1 and 2, the mean calculated lengths-at-age of females were usually 

 larger than observed lengths (Table 13). The trend was not as obvious for males (Table 14). Calculated 

 growth estimates were probably less reliable for older specimens, particularly males because of small sample 

 size. A reverse Lee's phenomenon (Tesch 1968; Ricker 1975) was observed in which the calculated lengths 

 of fish increased as the age of the fish increased. This may have been the result of size-selective mortality 

 that was greater on the smaller fish of an age group (Tesch 1968) or due to a bias in sample selection if 

 only faster-growing larger specimens were used in aging and scales from slower-growing fish were rejected 

 as unreadable. This may also have resulted in the apparent anomalous increase in growth at age 9 in 

 females and 8 in males. 



Growth of the Niantic River stock was compared in Figure 6 to that of other populations in nearby 

 areas, including Chadestown Pond, RI (Berry et al. 1965), Peconic Bay, NY (Poole 1966), and south of 

 Cape Cod, MA (Howe and Coates 1975). The Niantic River fish grew less tluough age 2 than these and 

 other populations (Poole 1966; Kurtz 1975; Danila 1978), with the exception of the nearby Mystic River 

 (Pearcy 1962). However, growth of Niantic River fish equaled or exceeded that of other stocks age 3 and 

 older. Although the winter flounder is an omnivorous feeder (Pearcy 1962; Richards 1963), conditions in 

 the Niantic River may not be as favorable for the growth of immature fish as other areas. 



44 



