Station C was the only one in the Niantic River with strong tidal 

 currents (Marshall 1960) and the effect of tide on collection densities 

 was not known. Therefore, sampling at station C was systematically 

 varied over four tidal stages (high, low, mid-ebb, and mid-flood). By 

 collecting day and night samples approximately 6 h apart on one date, 

 two opposing tidal stages were collected (e.g., high and low). The 

 second weekly collection trip was 3 days later at approximately the same 

 time and collections were taken during the other two tidal stages (e.g., 

 mid-flood and mid-ebb). All 16 combinations of sampling periods and 

 tidal stages were collected during every 4-wk period at station C. Two 

 24-h tidal studies were conducted at station C on April 28-29 and May 

 8-9. Samples were collected at 2-h intervals during a 24-h period. 



Tidal export and import of larvae was examined at the mouth of the 

 Niantic River during maximum ebb and flood currents. Two ebb and flood 

 tides were sampled on May 9 and one ebb and flood tide was sampled on 

 May 16. Stationary tows were taken in the middle of the channel 

 adjacent to the Niantic River Highway Bridge. The bongo samplers 

 described previously were used except an additional 40 kg of weight was 

 added as ballast to increase the vertical tow line angle. Two bongo 

 samplers were deployed for 15 min off each side of the boat with one at 

 mid-water and the other near bottom. Two tows were made at each depth 

 for a total of four replicates at each depth per tidal stage. 



All ichthyoplankton samples were preserved with 10% formalin and 

 processed in the laboratory. Samples were split to at least one-half 

 volume and larvae identified and counted using a dissecting microscope. 

 Up to 50 winter flounder larvae were measured to 0.1-mm in standard 

 length (snout tip to notochord tip) . The developmental stage of each 

 larvae measured was recorded. The five possible stages were defined as: 



Stage 1. The yolk sac was present or the eyes were not pigmented 

 (yolk-sac larvae) 



Stage 2. The eyes were pigmented, no yolk sac was present, 

 and no fin ray development 



Stage 3. Fin rays were present but the left eye had not migrated 

 to the mid-line 



10 



