Distribution of Eggs and Larvae of Atlantic Menhaden, 



Brevoortia tyrannus, Along the Atlantic Coast 



of the United States 1 



MAYO H. JUDY and ROBERT M. LEWIS 2 



ABSTRACT 



Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, eggs and/or larvae were coDected during 52 of 77 ocean cruises by 12 vessels 

 from 1953 lo 1975. The combined cruises extended from the Antilles Current southeast of Florida to Cape Cod, Mass. 

 Eggs and/or larvae were present in samples from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Martha's Vineyard, Mass. Eggs were found at 

 several locations off the coast from October to February and they occurred in the upper water column (10 m or less in 

 depth). The largest batch of eggs were caught in December off North Carolina. Larvae were found at numerous locations 

 off the coast and catch by gear indicated that they appear to be most concentrated in the upper portion of the water col- 

 umn. Larvae were caught each month except September. They were more concentrated in the South Atlantic Bight than 

 north of Cape Hatteras, N.C. Most larvae were taken between 20 and 75 km from shore and the two largest catches occur- 

 red in December and March off North Carolina. The cruise data show that the seasonal distribution and abundance of 

 eggs and larvae coincide with the seasonal distribution of adults. 



INTRODUCTION 



Information on abundance and distribution of eggs and larvae is 

 important in understanding the life history of any species but is 

 often difficult and expensive to obtain. For pelagic species this data 

 is particularly difficult to acquire, since large areas of the ocean 

 must be systematically sampled, and sampling requires detailed 

 planning, large vessels, sophisticated gear, adequate funding, and 

 trained personnel to sort, catalog, and examine material after it is 

 collected. It is not surprising, therefore, that only fragmentary in- 

 formation is available on early life histories of many pelagic species 

 important to man. 



One such species is the commercially valuable Atlantic 

 menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, which ranges along the east coast 

 of the United States from central Florida to the Gulf of Maine. 

 Seasonal movements and distribution of adult menhaden have 

 been well documented (June and Reintjes 1959; June and 

 Nicholson 1964; Nicholson 1971, 1972; Dryfoos et al. 1973). 

 Menhaden make extensive seasonal movements along the coast 

 and are known to spawn in the open ocean as well as in sounds and 

 bays in the northern part of their range. Larvae eventually are 

 transported to estuaries, where they metamorphose. Prior to 1953, 

 collections were made almost exclusively in sounds, bays, and in- 

 lets. 



Since 1953 a number of cruises have been designed specifically to 

 collect pelagic fish eggs and larvae, including menhaden, in the 

 open ocean. Vessels from state, federal, and academic research in- 

 stitutions, as well as vessels of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Na- 

 tional Aeronautics and Space Administration, have been used. 

 The results of many of these cruises, particularly those aspects per- 

 taining to menhaden, have not been published. 



Contribution No. 8 3-36 B of the Southeast Fisheries Center Beaufort 

 Laboratory. 



'Southeast Fisheries Center Beaufort Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries 

 Service, NOAA, Beaufort, NC 28516. 



Results of a series of cruises from three studies, however, have 

 been published. Reintjes (1961) reported on material collected dur- 

 ing nine cruises of the MV Theodore N. Gill from February 1953 to 

 December 1954 between Cape Hatteras, N.C, and Cape Canaver- 

 al, Fla. Massmann et al. (1962) reported on the occurrence of 

 menhaden eggs and larvae collected at a series of stations from the 

 mouth of Chesapeake Bay to 74 km offshore by the RV Pathfinder 

 from December 1959 to December 1960. Kendall and Reintjes 

 (1975) discussed the occurrence and distribution of menhaden eggs 

 and larvae collected during eight cruises of the RV Dolphin from 

 December 1965 to December 1966 between Martha's Vineyard, 

 Mass., and Cape Lookout, N.C. The area between Cape Hatteras 

 and Cape Lookout had previously been sampled during earlier 

 cruises of the GUI. 



In this report we include some published data from the Gill and 

 Dolphin cruises, as well as unpublished information on menhaden 

 eggs and larvae from samples taken during 60 ocean cruises by 1 1 

 vessels from 1964 through 1975, including 18 monthly cruises in 

 Onslow Bay, N.C, by a small National Marine Fisheries Service 

 research vessel, the Onslow Bay. Some cruises were designed to 

 survey broad areas for the occurrence of all pelagic eggs and lar- 

 vae, others were designed specifically to determine the abundance 

 and distribution of menhaden eggs and larvae. Several types of 

 sampling gear and a variety of mesh sizes were used. Personnel of 

 the Beaufort Laboratory sorted and examined material collected 

 by the Onslow Bay and by the Dolphin on cruises Dl-74, Dl-75, 

 and D4-75. Material from other cruises was sorted and examined 

 at other east coast laboratories. Much effort and time were spent 

 separating eggs and larvae from the large amounts of extraneous 

 material. Many samples probably were not searched for menhaden 

 eggs, since the original objectives of some cruises were not directly 

 related to menhaden. A total of 670 samples taken with the 0.333 

 mm mesh bongo net was used for other studies and was not search- 

 ed for eggs and larvae. 



Our objectives were to record the number of menhaden eggs and 

 larvae collected during each cruise or series of cruises; summarize 

 significant aspects of each cruise, such as date, geographic loca- 



