Scales were examined and measurements made to annul! to calculate 

 growth rates. Females age 3 and older were significantly larger than 

 males. Growth of Niantic River fish was slower during their first 2 

 years of life than for most other nearby populations, but they caught up 

 to or surpassed other stocks at age 3 and older. The von Bertalanffy 

 growth parameters, which represented theoretical population growth, were 

 determined and were similar to those of other New England stocks. 



Movements, as determined from disc-tagged winter flounder, were 

 similar to those noted in 1982. More females tended to leave local 

 waters than males and most movement out of the study area was to the 

 east. About 1.5 times as many tag returns were received from the sport 

 than the commercial fishery. 



Winter flounder larvae had a successive temporal pattern of 

 occurrence in the study area. Yolk-sac larvae were collected almost 

 exclusively in the Niantic River. Larvae were flushed seaward into 

 Niantic Bay primarily during the period of first feeding to the start of 

 fin ray development. Larvae transforming into juveniles were 

 concentrated in Niantic Bay and the lower river. The estimated 

 developmental time in 1983 from hatching to transformation was 

 approximately 80 days. 



Larvae with developing or completely developed fins were collected 

 at the mouth of the Niantic River in greatest abundance during a late 

 flood tide. Many of these fish apparently used tidal currents to 

 re-enter and remain in the river. Medusae of the lion's mane jellyfish 

 were identified as a potentially important predator of larvae, 

 particularly in the upper river. 



Abundance and distribution of post-larval juvenile winter flounder 

 were studied in detail for the first time in 1983. Juveniles were most 

 abundant at the lower river station. Growth of juveniles was examined 

 at that station and mortality was calculated. A daily total mortality 

 rate of 2.97% was derived, which was equivalent to an average monthly 

 survival of 40.3%. 



The estimated annual impingement at MNPS during 1982-83 was the 

 second highest recorded during the past 11 years. A large increase 

 occurred in the impingement of specimens smaller than 15 cm, which made 

 up 52% of the total. Most impingement occurred from December through 



