6. Similar to other populations, the average sex ratio for Niantic River winter flounder was about 1.44 

 females for each male. The length of 50% maturation of females was 26.8 cm, equivalent to age 3 

 or 4. 



7. Most spawning in the Niantic River was completed by early April with annual variations apparently 

 related to water temperature. Egg production was a function of female size and the length-fecundity 

 relationship was similar to those reported for other populations. Egg production peaked in 1982 and 

 has since decreased about 80%. 



8. Scales were successfully used to age winter flounder. Mean lengths of age 3 and older females were 

 significantly larger than those of males. Growth was relatively rapid in early years, but older age 

 groups overlapped considerably in size. Growth of the Niantic River fish was less than other 

 populations in the region through age 2, but equaled or exceeded their means at age 3 and older. 



9. The von Bertalanfiy model was used to calculate population growth parameters using 1983 length-at-age 

 data. Loo was determined as 423 and 38 1 mm and K as 0.42 and 0.44 for females and males, respectively. 



10. The mean annual survival rate of adults age 3 and older was determined as 0.486 using a catch curve 

 with samples combined from successive years to reduce bias. 



11. As found elsewhere, the winter flounder preyed upon a variety of benthic organisms and algae. Food 

 items varied by location and reflected bottom type and different benthic communities. 



12. The overall rate of return of Petersen disc-tagged winter flounder was 25%. About twice as many 

 were taken by the sport than the commercial fishery, although less cooperation was probably received 

 from the latter. Most (70%) of the returns were from local waters and three times as many of the 

 longer-distance recaptures were made in waters to the east than to the west. 



13. Direct tissue isoelectric focusing techniques were used to differentiate stocks of winter flounder. Good 

 separation was achieved using fish from major estuaries in Connecticut and Rhode Island at least 8 

 km apart. A second study using fish from areas closer to MNPS showed more homogeneity, with 



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