    [From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                            NORTH CAROLINA ESTUARINE FINFISH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

                                                     by

                                               Steve W. Ross
                                              Jess H. Hawkins
                                            Douglas A. DeVries
                                            Cl i fton H. Harvel 1

                                          Robert C. Harriss, Jr.

                              North Carolina Department of Natural Resources

                                         and Community Development

                                       Division of Marine Fisheries

                                         Morehead City, NC .28557

                                   Completion Report for Project 2-372-R

                                                 July 1982

                          This project was conducted under the Commercial Fisheries

                          Research and Development Act (PL 88-309, as amended) and

                          funded, in part, by the U.S. Department of Commerce,

                          National Marine Fisheries Service.

           SH
           328
           .N6
           N67
           1982

                                                      TABLE OF CONTENTS                           Page
                    Project I: Longhaul Seine and Pound Net Surveys
                                  Abstract                                                          2
                                  Introduction                                                      3
                                  Methods                                                           4
                                  Results                                                           5
                                     Long  haul  seine fishery                                      5
                                     Pound net   fisheries                                        24
                                  Discussion                                                      30
                                                                                                  30
                                     Long haul   seine fishery
                                     Core Sound flounder pound net fishery                        36
                                  Acknowledgments                                                 37
                                  Literature cited                                                38

                                  Nursery Area Monitoring                                         40
                                  Abstract                                                        41
                                  Introduction                                                    42
                                  Methods                                                         43
                                     Study area                                                   43
                                     Sampling gear                                                50
                                  Results and discussion                                          51
                                     Hydrographic description                                     51
                                     Finfish                                                      51

                                     Invertebrates                                               109
                                  Acknowledgments@.                                              127
                                  Literature cited                                               128

                    Project II:   Inshore Paralichthid Flounder Tagging                          137

                                  Abstract                                                       133

                                  Introduction                                                   139

                                  Methods                                                        139
                                  Results and Discussion                                         140
                                     Pamlico River, September-November 1980         -            140
                                     Core and Back Sounds, October-November 1980                 148

                                                                             Page
                            Neuse River, 3-13 April, 1981                    150
                            Miscellaneous locations, November 1980-          153
                               July 1981
                            Cape Lookout-Beaufort Inlet, June-July 1981      154
                          Recommendations                                    154
                          Acknowledgments                                    154
                          Literature cited                                   155

              Project III- Western Albemarle Sound Non-Anadromous Fisheries  157
                          Abstract                                           158
                          Introduction                                       159
                          Methods                                            161
                            Adult harvest survey                             161
                          Results and Discussion                             163
                            White perch                                      163
                            Catfish                                          163
                          Acknowledgments                                    167
                          Literature cited                                   171

                                  US Departme nt of Comme rce
                                  VOAA Coastal Services center Library
                                  2234 South Hobson Avenue
                                  Charleston, SC 29405-2413

                                                   PROJECT I

                                        ESTUARINE FISH STOCK ASSESSMENT

                                     LONG HAUL SEINE AND POUND NET SURVEYS

                                                       by

                                                 Steve W. Ross

                                                                                            2

                                                Abstract

                      Long haul seine and pound net fisheries were sampled for species
                 composition, seasonality, age and size structure from October 1980 through
                 July 1981 in southwestern Pamlico Sound, Core Sound and their tributaries.
                 Twenty-nine long haul seine samples, yielding 46 species, were taken. Spot,
                 Atlantic croaker, Atlantic menhaden, pinfish, and weakfish composed 95% (by
                 number) of the total samples. Spot and croaker composed 69.9% by weight.
                 This fishery was mainly a sciaenid fishery of which.young-of-the-year and
                 yearling spot and croaker dominated the marketable catch. Samples from 'the
                 Core Sound pound net fishery were dominated by Paralichthys flounders (94.3%
                 by weight) of which P. lethostigma was the most abundant (87.7% by number
                 and 94.7% by weight). Southern flounder were primarily one and two years
                 old.

                                                                                                    3

                                                   INTRODUCTION

                       North Carolina contains the largest sounds (semi-enclosed estuarine water
                  bodies) of any single state on the United States east or gulf coasts. These
                  estuaries and their tributaries function as major nursery areas for the young
                  of commercially important fishes and invertebrates as well as providing habitat
                  for adults. While inshore waters south of Morehead City are productive, sounds
                  to the north support most of the commercial fishing activities (Roelofs 1953).
                  Pamlico Sound (Figure 1) is the largest of the inshore water bodies with an
                  estimated total drainage area (including large rivers) of 5,180,000 ha (Roelofs
                  and Bumpus 1953) and is generally the major contributor to commercial fishing
                  activities. Hygrographic and some physiographic information has been summarized
                  by Roelofs and Bumpus (1953), Hobbie (1970), Schwartz and Chestnut (1973) and
                  Williams et al. (1973).

                       One of the earliest accounts of the North Carolina fishing industry (Earil
                  1887) reported that finfish (exluding anadromous species) landed in 1880
                  totaled 2,307,878 kg (5,088,000 lb) and consisted of bluefish (Panatomus
                  saltatrix), mullet (mugil spp.) spotted seatrout (cynoscion nebulosus), weakfish,
                  (cynoscion regalis). By 1980 preliminary landings for these species had risen to
                  12,779,905 kg (28,174,867 lb) and total finfish landings (excluding anadromous
                  fishes) were 135,924,015 kg (299,722,193 lb) including at least 39 species
                  (Street 1981; K. B. West pers. comm.). These figures are not directly comparable
                  since North Carolina fisheries have experienced a tremendous increase in effort
                  and diversification since the mid-twentieth century. Presently, inshore finfis
                  operations depend primarily on sciaenids (drums), southern flounder (Paralichthys
                  lethostigma), and Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus).

                       The objectives of this project were to evaluate the species composition,
                  seasonality, age and size structure of involved species, species growth, and
                  localities of several of the major fisheries. These studies concentrated on the
                  long haul seine and pound net fisheries, and covered the period from October    1980
                  through July 1981. This project was originally designed as a three year study but
                  was prematurely,curtailed bec ause of a reduction in supporting federal funds.
                  Unfortunately, for this reason some of the results are neither complete nor
                  definitive.

                                                                                                   4

                                                      METHODS

                      An attempt was made to sample   monthly a minimum of four long haul and two
                 pound net catches during the fishing seasons. Long haul fishing generally occurs
                 from spring through fall. The flounder pound net fishery of Core Sound occurs in
                 the fall. The sciaenid Pamlico Sound pound net fishery takes place during early
                 summer through fall. At least one unculled randomly collected.fish basket
                 ( 36 kg) sample was obtained at the fishing location or occasionally at the fish
                 dealer. All species in the basket were identified, counted, and measured to the
                 nearest millimeter fork length (FL,for species with forked tails), total length
                 (TQ, or disk width (for s   kates and rays). Individual species group weights (to
                 the nearest gram) were obtained separately for croaker (Micropogonias undulatus),
                 Spot (LeioStOMUS xanthurus), weakfish, southern flounder, and menhaden (B.revoortia
                 tyrannus). All other species were weighed together. Only southern flounder,
                 summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) and Gulf flounder (P. albigutta) were weighed
                 separately during Core Sound pound net sampling. Additional species seen in the
                 catches but not appearing in our samples were noted.

                      Scales were collected each month from a representative size range of croaker,
                 spot, and a s time permitted, weakfish. Scales were taken from below the lateral
                 line under the posterior tip of the pectoral fin. Scales were washed with water
                 and read on a microfiche reader at 36 X magnification (spot),or 24 X magnification
                 (croaker). Scale measurements were made on an axis from the focus to the center
                 of the anterior field. Annuli were distinguished using a combination of        circuli
                 spacing, cutting over.in the lateral field, and the distribution of marginal
                 increments.

                      Since croaker and spot have extended spawning and a long growing season,.agi.ng
                 is facilitated by assigning a birthdate when fish of a particular year-class are
                 assigned to the next year   class even though the annulus for that year may, not have
                 formed., January.was the birthdate. given to spot, which is possibly near the peak
                 in spawning. October has been used for croaker birthdates (White and Chittenden
                 1977) and it is probably near maximum spawning on the Atlantic (Morse.1980);
                 therefore; that-month was used in this study    as a birthdate. A direct proportion
                 method of back-calculation with a correction factor (Lee method) was used in this
                 study (Bagenal and Tesch 1978).

                                                                                                 5

                       Since the project was curtailed early, weakfish scales were not analyzed.
                  Otoliths were removed from southern flounder and analyzed as described by
                  DeVries (1981a).

                                                Aging Definitions

                       Age Class (age group): A group of fish with the same age in years. Due to
                  extended spawning and growing season, especially in sciaenids, fish of a
                  particular age class designation may actually be older or younger than the
                  designation implies.
                       Young-of-the-Year Age class 0 fish that are less   than one year old,
                  generally having no marks on scales or.otol.,iths.
                       Yearlings Fish in age class 1 that are in their second year.
                       Age Class 2: Fish in the third year of life.

                                                     RESULTS

                                             Long Haul Seine Fishery

                       Twenty-nine long haul catches were sampled from October 1980 through July
                  1981 in an area from middle Pamlico Sound south to Back Sound (Figure 1). The
                  majority of the samples (13) came from Core Sound during October

                       The sampling yielded 46 finfish species, 3 species of invertebrates, and
                  one species of sea turtle (Table 1). Almost twice as many species were observed
                  in October as other months (Table 1). This is due to a greater sampling effort
                  for that month and the fact that, in general, inshore species d'iversity is at a
                  maximum in North Carolina during the fall. The number of species was fairly
                  stable from May through July.

                       Nearly 93% (by number) of the total was contributed by five species,.spot,
                  Atlantic croaker, Atlantic menhaden, pinfish, and weakfish (Table 1). All except
                  the pinfish were commercially important, and croaker, spot, and weakfish were
                  the desired marketable species of this fishery. The high@ranking of pinfi,sh was
                  due to the large numbers encountered in October in Core Sound. Other fishing
                  areas or months did not exhibit large pinfish catches.. Spot, croaker, menhaden,
                  and weakfish also were the major fishes fin our samples by weight (Table 2),
                  comprising at least 39.3%, 30.6%, 9.8%, and 8.5% of the total weight, respectively.

                                                                                                         6

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      ,Figure' !.-r-i-'@clednumbers indicate  locations (and number) of long haul seine catches
                           sampled from October 1980through July 1981 in North Carolina waters.

               Table 1. Monthly composition and rankingi of species sampled from North Carolina
                            commercial long haul catches, October 1980-July 1981.*indicates present in
                            catch but not in subsamples. Numbers in parentheses indicate frequency of
                            occurrence in catches sampled.

                                                                                      Month
                                                   Oct         Apr      May         Jun        Jul         Total       % TotA
            No. of samples                          13        1          6           5           4          29                0
            Species

            Leiostoznus xanthurus                2143(13)       46     515(6)      1332(5)     837(4)    4873(29)        43.
            Micropogonias undulatus              144(12)       139    1218(6)       691(5)     481(4)    2673(28)        23.
            Brevoortia tyrannus                  990(11)               229(3)        71(4)     47(4)     1337(22)        11.
            Lagodon rhomboides                   1077(11)               14(l)        l(l)        4(l)    1096(14)          9.8
            Cyhoscion regalis                      47(9)         2      93(4)       102(4)     171(4)      415(22)         3. 1
            Peprilus alepidotus                  257(8)                  1(2)        2(2)      98(4)       358(16)         3.2
            orthop-ristis chrysoptera            372(10)                             3(l)        4(2)      379(13)         0.;
            Bairdiella chrysoura                    .4(3)        1      18(2)        5(2)      38(3)        66(1:1)        0.
            Chaetodipterus faber                   35(8)                 *(l)        *(2)      30(2)        65(13)         0.
            Chloroscombrus chrysurus               45(8)                                                    45(8)          0.
            Pomatomous saltatrix                   13(11)                3(3)        6(4)      15(4)        37(22)         0.
            Callinectes sapidus                     *(3)                 3(4)        *(3)      20(3)        23(13)         0 .
            Paralichthys dentatus                   5(4)                 3(2)        3(5)      10(3)        20(14)         0.2
            Dasyatis sabina                        16(7)                 *(2)        10)         2(3)       19(13)         0.21
            Peprilus triacanthus                    3(3)                 5(2)        *(l)      10(3)        18(9)          0.2
            Paralichthys lethostigma                3(6)                 4(2)        2(2)        8(3)       17(13)         0.21
            Menticirrhus americanus                 1(6)                             3(3)      11(4)        15(13)         0.1
            Selene vomer                            2(3)                             10)       10(4)        13(8)          0.11
            Prionotus scitulus                     11(4)                                                    11(4)          0.1
            Prionotus evolans                       7(6)                                         10)         8(7)          0.1
            Opisthonema oglinum                     6(2)                                                     6(2)          0.11
            Monacanthus hispidus                    6(6)                                                     6(6)          0.1
            Sphoeroides maculatus                   4(3)                                                     4(4)        <0-11
            Cynoscion nebulosus                     2(6)                -*(2)                    2(3)        4(11)       <0.1
            Caranx hippos                           3(5)                                                     3(5)        <0.1
            Eucinostomus argenteus                  3(2)                                                     3(2)        '(O.l
            Rhinoptera bonasus                      3(3)                 *(l)        *(l)                    3(5)        40.1
            Squid                                                        *(1)        20)         10)         3(3)        <0.11
            Caranx ruber                            2(2)                                                     2(2)        <0.1

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           Table 2 . Monthly numbers and weights (kg) and percent number and weight (wt) for
                         major commercial fishes (and o         ther species combined) sampled from North
                         Carolina long haul catches, October 1980 - July 1981.

                                                                             Month
                                              Oct                             Apr                                May
           Species               N      %N        WT    %WT         N     %N       WT     %WT           N    %N        WT     0//OWT
           Leiostomus          2143 41.1       297.6 53.2           46 24.5        3.0    11.6        515 24.4         37.11  17.
            xanthurus
           Micropogronias       144     2.8      14.7     2.6      139 73.9      22.3     85.3      1218 57.8 142.61          68.
            undulatus
           Cynoscion             47     0.9      25.6     4.6         2   0.5      0.7     2.6          93   4.4       15.81    7.)
            regalis
           Brevoortia           990   19.0     1.04.0    18.6                                        229    10.9       .6.81    3.
            tyrannus
           Paralichthys             3   0.1       2.0     0.4                                           4    0.2       1.9      0.9
            lethostigma                                                                                                    I
           Paralichthys             5   0.1       1.4     0.2                                           3    0.1
            dentatus
           ;Other species      1876   36.0     1.14.@2   20.4         1   0.5      0.1     0.4        47     2.2       4.41     2.
           TOTAL               5208            559.5@              188           26.1              2109             204.81

                                              Jun                              Jul                               TOTAL
                                 N      %N        WT      %WT         N   %N       WT     %WT           N    %N        WT     %WT
           Leiostomus          1332   59.8     -47.61 22.9         837    46.5 100.7      43.1     4873     43.5    486.01    39.
            xanthurus
           Micropogonias        691   31.0     1,32.01 63.4        481    26.7   66.6     28.5     2673     23.9    378.21    30.6
            undulatus
           Cynoscion            102     4.6      18.9'1   9.1      171    9.5    44.0     18.8       415     3.7    105.01      8.
            regalis
           Brevoortia            71     3.2       6.0     2.9       47    2.6      4.9     2.1     1337     11.9    121.71      9.)
            tyrannus,
           Paralichthys             2   0.1       0.21                8   0.4      1.6     0.7        17     0.2       5.51     0.
            lethostigma
           Paralichthys             3   0.1       3.31    0.1       10    0.6      1.1     0.5        21     0.2       2.71     0.
            dentatus                                                                                                              I
           Other species         26     1.2       7.251   1.6      246    13.7   14.5      6.2     1869     16.7    136.61    11.1
           TOTAL               2227            208.1-             1800         233.5               11205           1235.71

           'Incomplete sample       weights      all samples.not weighed.

                                                                                                  10

                The smaller sized pinfish did not contribute greatly to the sample weights.
                Although other commercially important fishes such as flounders, bluefish, and
                harvestfish (Peprilus alepidotus) were often encountered in the long haul
                fishery, they rarely contributed significantly to the marketable foodfish catch
                (Tables 1 and 2). These data indicated that long hauling was predominantly a
                sciaenid fishery, spot, croaker, weakfish, spotted seatrout, and southern kingfish
                (Menticirrhus americanus) accounted for 71.2% of total numbers, while 78.5% of
                total weight was contributed by spot, croaker, and weakfish. Other important
                species (besides spot, croaker, and weakfish) such as bluefish, spotted seatrout,
                red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) southern kingfish were encountered in small numbers
                in our samples (Table 1). Occasionally large quantities of these fishes generally
                considered to be recreational will be landed (K. B. West, pers. comm.); h owever,
                they form a small percentage of the overall landings

                     Landings data (Table 3) indicated that the fall long haul fishery was
                dominated by spot, with croaker and weakfish also contributing major proportions.
                Unclassified scrap landings composed 51% of the total October landings and 12%
                of the November landings. This category contained large numbers of small (young-,
                of-the-year) spot, croaker, and weakfish. Most of the long haul activity ended
                during November. In addition to the fall landings being heavily skewed toward
                spot, the location of the fishery shifted during the fall from all over the
                Pamlico Sound area to a more concentrated effort in Core Sound. 'After a winter
                lull, long haul activity began in April, and the landings data (Table 3) showed
                that croaker was the primary species from April through June, followed by weakfish
                and spot. During this time the fishery was spread throughout Pamlico Sound and
                its tributaries.

                     Overall landings for the nine month study period (Table 3) ranked croaker
                first, 29.5% of total kg landed, followed by spot, 21.0%, and weakfish, 7.5%. The
                scrap category was consistently a large proportion of each month's catch and
                comprised 37.5% of the total landings (October-June).

                     Data collected from the sampled long hauls (Table s I and 2) indicated trends
                similar to the overall landings (Table 3). Spot dominated the'samples in October.
                Some species such as menhaden and pinfish which were numerically abundant entered
                the scrap catetory. Other fishes such as pigfish (0--thopristis chrysoptera).
                harvestfish, croaker, and weakfish were marketed both as food fish and scrap
                depending on the sizes landed. Spring samples (April-May, Tables 1 and 2)

                Table 3.   Monthly long haul seine landings* (kg) of selected-species from October 1980 through June.
                           1981. The figures are from an area covering Pamlico Sound south of Roanoke Island, Core
                           Sound, Neuse River, Pamlico River, North River (Carteret Co.) and their major tributaries.
                           Data are from the Division of Marine Fisheries-National Marine Fisheries Service
                           statistics program.

                Species                          Oct         Nov         Dec Jan Feb Mar         Apr        May        Jun        Total

                Leiostomus xanthurus           649,897    88,113           0  0     0    0       9,009     45,401     72,227      864,647

                Micropogonias undulatus         66,586    21,185         Ill  0     0    0    200,653    500,824    488,122    1,277,481

                Cynoscion regalis              104,452    15,218         200  0     0    0      56,699     81,933     68,875      327,377

                Cynosclon nebulosus               5,881      1,428         0  0     0    0         272        288        815        8,684

                Paralichthys spp.                 4,612   14,234           0  0     0    0         227        934      2,185       22,192

                Scrap (non food)               982,838    25,785      1,100   0     0    0    114,624    265,406    228,949    1,618,702

                Total (above species)        1,814,266    165,963     1,411   0     0    0    381,484    894,786    861,173    4,119,083

                Total (all species)          1,921,501    192,480     1,431                   385,684    942,208    876,641    4,319,945

                *Preliminary landings, data subject    to revision in Fishery Statistics of the United States.

                                                                                                       12
                 indicated a dominance of croaker. Discrepancies between catch sampling data
                 and overall landings were partly due to our sampling monthly in the Pamlico
                 Sound area south of Bluff Shoal (Figure 1). There was considerable long haul
                 activity north of Bluff Shoal, especially in the Stumpy Point area, and much
                 of these landings were dominated by large croaker (K. B. West, pers. comm.).

                      Figures 2-5 depict the monthly size distributions of weakfish, menhaden,
                 spot, and croaker collected in our long haul samples. Monthly sizes of other
                 commonly encountered fishes in the samples did not exhibit clear growth
                 patterns (Table 4) due to the small numbers in the samples during most months.
                 Based on literature some age compositions of a few species were discernable,
                 particularly in October (Table 4). Pinfish were represented by young-of-the-
                 year (age 0), age 1, and age 2 fish, with the majority in October being age I
                 (Caldwell 1957). Pigfish were ages I and 2 which overlapped broadly (Taylor
                 1916; Hildebrand and Cable 1930). Silver perch (Bairdiella chrysoura) in the
                 long haul samples were mostly age 1 (Hildebrand and Cable 1930). Bluefish
                 ranged from age 0 through age 2 (Lassiter 1962). Summer flounder wereages 0
                 and 1 (Powell 1974) and southern flounder were mostly ages 1 and 2 (DeVries
                 1981a).

                      Weakfish caught in long hauls ranged in size from 142 mm to 444 Mm TL
                 (Figure 2). This species was not abundant enough in the samples to indicate
                 monthly growth or distinct age groups in the length frequency graph (Figure 2).
                 Using Merriner's (1973) aging data for North Carolina, weakfish in our samples
                 ranged from age I (yearlings) to approximately age 4.

                      Atlantic menhaden ranged from 83 mm to 301 mm FL (Figure 3). According to
                 published length-age relationship data (McHugh et al. 1959;.Reinties 19      69),
                 long haul samples in October contained most'ly;ages 0 and -1  ;withIa-few fish-of age 2.
                 Samples from May through July were composed of a mixture of age 0 and 1 fish.

                      The size range of spot from the long haul samples was 89 mm - 268 mm FL
                 (Figure 4). The October 1980 catch contained the largest, oldest fish as well as
                 the greatest numbers. The majority (58.8%) of the October spot were y'earli     .ngs
                 (age class 1), ranging in size from 160 to 260 mm FL (Table 5). Young-of-the-
                 year.composed 27.3% of the October total followed by age class 2 at 12.0%. Spot
                 rarely live to,age class 3 (Sundararaj 1960); therefore, this group formed a very
                 small percentage (1.8%, Table 5). Age classes 1-3 exhibited a'-large size overlap
                 (Table 5). October data were separated-because the long haul fishery is almost

                                                                                                      OCT    1980
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                                                                                                             18                 r
               .5                                                                                     JUL
                                                                                                      N=170
               0                                                    rl                                ,P cIq
                 .0          so          100         150         200         250         300          350         400          450

                                                             TOTAL   LENGTHImmi.

                     Figure 2.  Monthly  length frequencies. of cynoscion regalis' from sample's -of North Carolina long
                                 haul seines.' 'Frequencies are moving averages of three.

                     35-
                                                                                                                      OCT 1980
                                                                                                                      N 989
                     2s-

                     is-

                    w
                    0                                                                                                 MAY    .1981
                    ILI                                                                                               N:227
                    Imc5
                                                                                                               0% ON
                    LL

                                                                                                                      JUN
                                                                                                                      N: 71

                                                        I
                                                                                                                      JUL
                       5                                                                                              N: 47
                       0            t
                         0                   so                   100                  150                  200                  250                  300
                                                                                 FORK LENGTHIMMI

                             Figure    3.. Month.ly -length     frequencies     of Brevoortia tyrannus         from samples of North Carolina
                                                                     r
                                            lon� haul Seiries.,      Frequencies are -,,,-,ving averages        of three.

                       45                                                                               OCT 1980
                                                                                                        N: 2656

                       35-

                       25

                       is-

                       5

                         I      A
                                                                                                        APR 1981
                       5                                                                                N: 46

                       Is-
                                                                                                        MAY
                     w                                                                                  N:515
                     D 5-
                     0
                     w

                     U. 25-

                                                                                                        JUN
                       15-                                                                              N:1331

                                                                                                        J U L
                                                                                                        N:838

                       0
                         0              so             100             150            200             250             3 0
                                                                      FORK LENGTH Imml

                                                                                                                                  Ln
                       Figure 4. Monthly length  frequencies of L'eiostomus xanthurus from samples of North Carolina
                                 long haul seines,. Frequencies are moving averages of three.

                                                                                                OCT 1980
                                                                                                N: 142

                                                                                                -@kPR 1981
                                                                                                N: 139

              025-                                                                              MAY
              z                                                                                 N: 1215
              LU
              D
              0
              LU

                                                                                                JUN
                                                                                                N:694

                 6-

                                                                                                JUL
                10-                                                                             N: 481

                 5-

                0
                  0          so          100          150         2.00        250          300         350          400
                                                                 TOTAL LENGTH    Imml

                                               length frequencies of micr               -t - -Ir m samples of
                           Figum'5.                                      opogonias  undula us 1 0
                                      North Carol inalong haul  seines.  Frequencies are moving averages of three.

              Table     4.   Monthly length frequencies of fish species (excluding spot, croaker, weakfish, and menhaden) comprising !.0.2% of the long haul samples
                             from October 1980 through July 1981.             OW     disk width, FL = fork length, TL = total length.

                               Lagodon rhomboides         Peprilus alepidotus         orthopristis chrySoptera Bairdiella chrysouba Chaetodipterus faber Chloroscombrus chrysurus
                                       (FL)                           FL)                         (FL)                        (TL)                      (TL)                           (FL)
                                   0  A M     J J              0 A M J J-                      0 A M J J                  0 A     M J J            0 A M J J                     0 A M J J
              Length R      e
                   Imm)
                   :@Ir           34                         47              96                                              5                    21              17           12
                90-109           188                        144                                                                                   is              13           28
              110-129            163     10                  61      1                        54                          3       2                1                             4
              130TI49                     3   1 1              1         2                   120                                  4       1
              150-169_           301      1       3                           2              117             1                    3       6
              170-189             56                           1                              34          2  1                    5 1 15           1
              190-209              3                                                          32          1  1            1  1    3 4 11
              210-229                                                                          4                                          4
              230-249                                                                          3
              .250-269                                                                         3

                               Pomtomoug; Saltatrix       Paralichthys dantatus          Dasgatis sabina            Peprilus triacanthus Paralichth s lethostigma
                                       (FL)                          (TL)                      (DW)                           (FL)                         ZTQ
                                   0 A N J J                   0 A M J. J                      0 A M J J                  0 A M J J                0 A M J. J
              Length  Range
                   (mm)
                   <90
                90-109                                                        1
              1.10-129                            1                           1                                                   1
              '130-149                            2                           1                                                   3       3
              150-169                             2            1              1                                           1       1       1
              170-189                             .3                          3                1                          2
              190-209              2          1   1.           1              1                8                                                          1       1
              210-229              2      1       1                                            5             1                                            1
              230-249              5                           1         2                     2          1                                                       2
              250-269              1          1                1         1                                                                                        3
              270-289              5      2   1   2            1                                                                                                  1
              290-309              3          3   2                  2        1                              1                                     1
              310-329              2
              330-349              '1
              350-369
              370-389
                   3-390

                                                                                                          18
                Table 5. Estimated size and age relationship of October 1980 spot
                           from long haul.catch samples.

                                                                    Percentages of observed sizes at age
                Size interval                                                      Age classes
                    (mm)            Observed frequency               0            1             2          3

                 90- 99                        1                    100

                100-109                      19                     100
                110-119                      36                     100
                120-129                    129                      100
                130-139                    182                      100
                140-149                    111                      100

                150-159                      67                     100
                160-169                    127                       50           50
                170-179                    131                       50           50
                180-189                      30                      20           80
                190-199                    129                       25           75

                200-209                    337                                    100

                210-219                    503                                    91            9

                220-229                    436                                    80            20
                230-239                    211                                    50            38          12

                240-249                    103                                                  80          20
                250-259                      32                                   40            60

                260-269                        6                                  25            75

                270-279

                230-289

                290-299

                300-301

                Total %  age                                        27.3         58.8        12.0          1.8
                composition
                Total -ho. at age                                    722         1553           318          47

                                                                                                  19

                   entirely directed toward spot during this month and occurs in a relatively
                   enclosed locality (Core Sound). Spot age composition data from April through
                   July 1981 (Table 6) indicated a predominance of yearlings (97.8% of the total).
                   Only 2.2% of the spring and early summer spot were age class 2. Young-of-the-
                   year fish were. generally too small to enter the fishery prior to July when a few
                   individuals may have been age 0. A detailed description and validation of spot
                   aging was presented by DeVries (1981a); therefore, some information, such as back-
                   calculated lengths and marginal increments, is not included here.

                        Very little aging data exist for croaker on the U.S. east coast; therefore,
                   this project concentrated on aging this species'. Five hundred and eighty7five
                   fish (107-358 mm FL) were aged using scales from October 1980"    through July 1981.
                   Most of the scale samples   came from long haul catches, and supplemental scale
                   samples were collected from a juvenile survey program, sinking qill net fishery,
                   winter trawl fishery, pound net fishery, and miscellaneous sampling. Eleven
                   scale samples (2% of total) were considered unreadable.

                        A linear relationship between scale radius (SR) and total length (TQ was
                   expressed by the formula,

                                   TL=43.5 + 2.23 (SR),

                   with a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.969). The y-intercept-(43.5.) became
                   the correction factor used in the Lee (1920) back-calculation equation. Mean
                   weighted back-calculated lengths at age wdre: age 1 - 178.8 mm, age 2 - 252.9 mm,
                   age 3 - 293.6 mm , and.age 4 - 323  mm (Table 7). Back-calculated    length frequencies
                   (Figure 6) indicated that marks in the four age    classes formed at a similar size
                   range. Age classes 2-4 exhibited large overlap     which is expected  in fish with
                   rapid growth and very extended spawn  ing seasons.
                        Monthly frequency of marginal increments (Figure 7) exhibited     wide varia-
                   bility and was somewhat inconclusive for the third and fourth annuli.. Increment
                   data for annuli I and 2 indicated that annual marks were formed in the late spring
                   (April-May)-, although some marks'may form as early as January. Unlike a previou     s
                   study from the.Gulf of Mexico (White and*Chittenden 1977), North Carolina croaker
                   usually form one mark a year.
                        Croaker in the long haul catch samples ranged from 108 - 352 mm TL (Figure 5).
                   Age classes were not apparent from the le.ngth-frequency data (Figure 5). The age

                                                                                             20

              Table 6. Estimated size and age relationship of April-July 1981
                         spot from long haul c&tch samples.

                                                               Percentages of observed sizes at age
              Size interval.'                                              Age classes
                  (mm)            Observed frequency           0          1           2          3

               80- 89                    1                               100

               90- 99                    2                               100

              100-109                   24                               100

              110-119                   54                               100

              120-129                 101                                100

              130-139                 219                                100

              140-149                 284                                100

              150-159                 270                                100

              160-169                 273                                100

              170-179                 307                                100

              180-189                 334                                100

              190-199                 362                                100

              200-209                 329                                100

              210-219                 129                                  71          29

              220-229                   35                                 40          60

              230-239                    1                                            100

              Total % age                                                97.8        2.2
              composition
              Total.no. at-age                                           .26.66

                                                                                                  21

                Table 7. Mean back-calculated total lengths (mm) and standard deviations (S       D)
                           for croaker, October 1980 - July 1981.

                Age class           N*            1     SO         2      SD        3     SO        4

                   1               146          169.1 39.4         -                -

                   2               180(85)      180.7 31.1       244.7 31.3

                   3                88(19)      191.6 28.4       260.4 25.7       289.1 33.2

                   4                100)        172.1 22.1       256.1 25.9       302.5 18.3       323

                   Mean weighted                178..8           252.9            293.6            323.0
                      TL

                Total N                         424              183               29                1

                *Numbers in parenthesis equal number of fish in.last.age     class. Number of fish
                 in last age class do not equal number in previous age classes because some of
                 the fish  in a particular age group had not yet formed the final annulus.

                    10.                                            Age Class 4

                                                                   Age Class 3

                    10.

                    30.
                  >.                                               Age Class 2
                  U
                  z
                  w
                  M 10.

                  w

                  U.

                    30.

                    20-                                            Age Class  I

                    10

                     0
                     70   90 liO 1@0  liO 1@0 liO 2iO 230 2@O 2iO 2;0 3iO 3iO 35'0 37'0
                                                  TOTAL LENGTH Immi
                        Figure'6-. Back-calculated length-frequencies for croaker age classes from October 1980
                                  through july 1981. r-I first annulus, pl-A 'second annulus,    3rd annulus,
                                         4th annulus.

                Ist annulus                  2nd                   3rd                    Ath

                                                                                                      OCT

        5
           pt  as                                                                                     NOV

        5
                                                                                                      DEC

        5
                           .9                                                                         JAN

       (05
       z       aML jog a a                                                                            MAR
       W

       05
       LU                                                                                             APR

       LL

        5
              Lj at.-                                                                                 MAY

                                                                                                      JUN

        10
        5
                                                                                                      JUL
         0    10 20 30  40  50 60     0   10 20 30   40     0  110 20 30   4b'     0   10 20 . . . .
                                             MARGINAL    INCREMENT

                     Figure 7L.. Monthly scale marginal-increments for'-Xicropogonlas undUilatus from October 1980
                              through-July 1981.. Scales were magnified 24 X, and all 'measurements were in mi.

                                                                                                  24
                 distribution of October 1980 long haul croaker indicated that 90% were yearlings
                 and 10% were age class 2 (Table 8). Croaker are generally neither abundant nor
                 large during the fall. If there is a good period for croaker in the long haul
                 fishery, it usually occurs in the spring and early summer. April - July 1981 age
                 frequency data produced percentages of 0.1, 16.7, 81.3, 1.7, and 0.2 for age
                 classes 0-4, respectively (Table 9). Our samples were predominantly age classes
                 I and 2, and the data reflect that somewhat older, larger croaker occurred in the
                 April - July period. Croaker are fully recruited into.this fishery by age 1;
                 however, young-of-the-year (age 0) enter the fishery in late summer and fall. Few
                 age 0 fish are apparent in these data (Table 9, Figure 5).

                                              Pound Net Fisheries

                 Pamlico Sound Sciaenid Fishery

                      In general the Pamlico Sound pound net operation occurs from spring through
                 early fall and is directed toward sciaenids. Only two pound nets were sampled, one
                 in western Pamlico Sound near Hog Island and the other in eastern Pamlico Sound
                 near Hatteras. Both were sampled in July 1981, and the.samples were dominated by@
                 croaker (32% by number, 48% by weight, Table 10). Spot, menhaden, bluefish, silver
                 perch, and weakfish were also common in these samples. There are not enough data
                 to adequately discuss more details of this fishery.

                 Core Sound Flounder Fishery

                      This pound net fishery usually operates from Ocracoke through the whole length
                 of Core and Back.Sounds from late September through December. The fishery is
                 directed toward, the yearly migration of paralichthid flounders toward the ocean.

                      Eight pound nets were sampled from 7 October through 13-November 1980 on the
                 eastern side of Core Sound approximately opposite Rumley Bay. These samples yielded
                 35 fish species, two invertebrate species and one species of sea turtle @Ijable 11).
                 Southern flounder, harvestfish, summer flounder, and Gulf flounder were the four
                 most abundant species (96% by number), comprising 50.5, 38.4, 5.6, and 1.5% of the
                 samples by number (Table 11). The three species.of Paralichthys comprised 94.3% of
                 the samples by weight, clearly dominating the fishery in all aspec ts.

                      Southern flounder was the most abundant flounder (87.7% by number, 94.7% by
                 weight), followed by summer flounder (9.8 and 4.2% by number@and weight) and Gulf

                                                                                                             25

               Table 8. Estimated size and age relationship of October 1980 croaker from
                          long haul catch samples.

                                                                     Percentages of observed sizes at age
               Size Interval                                                       Age classes
                                   Observed frequency        0           1         .2        3

               100-109

               110-119
               120-129                     1                            100

               130-139

               140-149

               150-159                     2                            100

               160-169                    18                            100

               170-179                    17                            100

               180-189                    33                            100

               190-199                    17                            100

               200-209                     8                            100

               210-219                    16                            100

               220-229                    11                             88        12

               230-239                     9                             54        46
               240-249                     6                             19        81
               250-259                     1                                       100

               260-269                     1                                       100
               270-279                     2                                       100
               280-239

               290-299

               300-309

               310-319

               Total % age                                               90        10
               composition
               Tot'a'i no. at,age                                       128'       14.-

                                                                                                                   26
               Table 9       Estimated size and age relationship of April - July 1981 croaker
                             from' long haul catch samples.

                                                                     Percentages of observed sizes at age
              Size interVal                                                        Age classes
                  (mm)               Observed-frequency        0        1          2           3           4

               100-109                     1                           100

               110-119                     2                           100

               120-129                    11                   11       89

               130-139                    21                           100

               140-149                    35                           100
               150-159                    70                           100
               160-169                   102                           100
               170-179                   112                           100

               180-189                   212                           100
               190-199                   203                           100
               200-209                   250                           100

               210-219                   220                           100

               220-229                   263                            88         12

               230-239                   250                            54         46

               240-249                   287                            19         81

               250-259                   222                            17         83

               260-269                   129                                       100
               270-279                    90                               9       90

               280-289                    38                                       89          11
               290-299                    12                                       100
               300-309                     8                                       60          30           10
               310-319                     9                                       33          58            9
               320-329                     5                                       25          75
               330-339                     1                                                   100

               340-349
               350-359                     1
               Total %   age
                composition                                    0.1     16.7       81.3         1.7          0.2
              .,Tota.I.no--at-@age-                            l.-,  1705        BZ9 --      17 -           2--

                                                                                                          . 27

                    Table 10.    Composition and ranking of species sampled from two Pamlico
                                 Sound "sciaenid" pound nets on 13 July 1981. *indicates present
                                 in catch but not in subsample. Numbers in parenthesis indicate
                                 frequency of occurrence in catches sampled.

                        Species                             Number         Weight (kg)          Size Range (mm)

                    Micropogonias undulatus                 129(2)            23.1                 167-320

                    Leiostomus xanthurus                     74(2)             6.1                 110-200

                    Brevoortia tyrannus                      65(2)             4.8                 105-203

                    Pomatomus saltatrix                      47(2)             1.8                 112-217

                    Bairdiella Chrysoura                     45(l)             4.0                 155-221

                    Cynoscion regalis                        19(2)             5.8                 215-322

                    Peprilus triacanthus                     14(2)             0.9                 120-156

                    Peprilus alepidotus                       5(2)             0.5                 140-168

                    opisthonema oglinum                       3(l)                                 175-189

                    Paralichthys dentatus                     2(2)                                 180-292

                    Prionotus evolans                         1(2)             0.8                     135

                    orthopristis chrysoptera                  10)                                      283

                    Trinectes maculatus                       10)                                      130

                    Trachinotus carolinus

                    TOTAL                                  406                47.8

                                                                                                                     28

               Table 11. Species composition (numbers and weights, kg) of eight Core Sound
                             "flounder" pound nets samples durin       g October - November 1980. SIze
                             ranges are fork length unless otherwise noted. * indicates species
                             observed in catch but not sampled.

                                                                                          No. catches
             Species                                 No.      %       A          %        in which          Size range
                                                                                          species   was        (mm)
                                                                                            observed
             Paralichthys lethostigma                1172    50.5     865.7      89.3           8           265-606 TL
             Peprilus alepidotus                      892    38.4                               7              94-204
             Paralichthys dentatus                    131     5.6      38.8      4.0            3           L09-475   TL
             Paralichthys albigutta                    34     1.5        9.5     1.0            7           172-342   TL
             Leiostomus xanthurus                      16     0.7                               8           268-311
             Pomatomus saltatrix                        9     0.4      55.8-1    5.8            7           304-464
             Peprilus triacanthus                       9     0.4                               3           182-190
             Chaetodipterus faber                       9     0.4                               4           @112-136
             Selene vomer                               8     0.3                               3           1113-150
             Cynoscion regalis                          5     0.2                               6           432-516
             Micropogonias undulatus                    5     0.2                               5           1302-367  TL
             Archosargus probatocephalus                5     0'.2                              3           335-498
             Brevoortia tyrannus                        4     0.2                               4           215-323
             Lagodon rhomboides                         3     0.1                               3           206-288
             Monacanthus hispidus                       3     0.1                               3           1164-254  TL
             Sciaenops     ocellatus                    3     0.1                               4           1377-527
             Mugil cephalus                             2     0.1                               3           365-371
             Ancylopsetta quadrocellata                 2     0.1                               2           246-285
             Scophthalmus aquosus                       2     0.0                               5           210-239
             Sphoeroides maculatus                      2     0.1                               3           263-277
             Chilomycterus schoepfi                     2     0.1                               4           '154-300
             Trachinotus carolinus                      1                                       3                31-8
             Astroscopus guttatus                       1                                       4                380
             Scomberomorus maculatus                    1                                       2                344
             Aluterus schoepfi                          1                                       3                319 TL
             Callinectes sapidus                        1                                       2                142

             Dasgatis sabina

             Rhinoptera bonasus

             .@Table 11     (continued)                                                              29

                                                                              No. catches
              Species                       No.         %     A                in which      Size range
                                                                                               (mm)
                                                                              species was
                                                                                observed

              Dorosoma cepidianum                                                    .1
              Trachinotus falcatus                                                   I
              Orthopristis chrysoptera                                               1
              Cynoscion nebulosus                                                    2
              Menticirrhus americanus                                                2
              Pogonias cromis                                                        1
              Prionotus evolans                                                      2
              Trinectes maculatus'                                                   1
              Limulus polyphemus                                                     2

              Caretta caretta

              ':Weight of all remaining species

                                                                                                  30

                 flounder (2.5 and 1.0% by number and weight). Although spot and some other
                 sciaenids-were being taken by the long haul fishery during the same time -in Core
                 Sound, these fishes were very rare in the pound nets. Other important species
                 besides spot and flounder comprised less than 0.7% of the total samples by number.

                      Monthly pound net landings from Core Sound (Table 12, October-December 1980),
                 indicated that October was the most successful month. Paralichthys spp. made up
                 82.7% of the total landings in October, 98.3% in November, and 97.2% in December.
                 Peprilus spp. was the second most important category in all three months. These
                 data (Table 12) agree well with the samples collected from various catches (Table 11).

                      Southern flounder from the pound nets ranged from 265-606 mm TL (Figure 8)
                 with an average weight of 0.75 kg. Age class I comprised 51.5%, age class two 45.1%,
                 and age class three 3.3%. More detailed data on aging of southern flounder in North
                 Carolina, including validation of the aging technique was presented by DeVries
                 (1981a). Summer flounder ranged from 209 to 475 mm TL (Figure 9), having, an average
                 weight of 0.30 kg. These fish seemed to be primarily late one year-olds based on
                 Smith and Daiber's (1977) back-calculated length at age two of 260 mm TL in Delaware
                 Bay. Gulf flounder lengths ranged from 172 to 342 mm TL (Figure 9) with a mean
                 weight of 0.28 kg.

                                                  DISCUSSION

                                           Long Haul Seine Fishery

                    DeVries (1981b) presented detailed information on the long haul fishery from
                 a broad area of western Pamlico Sound, Core Sound, and their tributaries,
                 including catch and age data. Guthrie et al. (1973) gave a description of fishing
                 methods and some historical perspecti-ve, reporting that this fishery started in
                 North Carolina around 1910. Contrary to this, Earll (1887) reported that the haul
                 seine fishery (then cal-led drag nets) began soon after 1800 and was directed
                 largely toward weakfish. By 1925 the fishery was well devel  oped with techniques
                 that have changed little since that time (Higgins and Pearson 1928).

                      Seasons of the fishery in its earliest days were not always consistent, and
                 the fishery often targeted on one or two species such as spotted-seatrout in the
                 spring and fall (Earll 1887)..,Guthrie at al. (1973-) stated that the fishery was
                 originally conducted only in October and November for spot; however, he was

                                                                                                       31

                   Table 12. Monthly pound net landings *(kg) for selected sp      ecies from
                               Core Sound,  N.C. from October through December 1980.

                                                             Month
                 Species                         Oct           Nov          Dec           Total

                Le.lostomus xanthurus              838             0             0            838

                Micropogonias  undulatus           179             0             0            179

                Cynoscion regalis                  116             0             0            116

                Paralichthys spp.               116,465        93,341       16,465        226,271

                peprilus SpP.                    21,909         1,476           379         23,764

                Pomatomus saltatrix                129             0             0            129

                Archosargus probatocephalus       1,114           168            0           1,282

                scrap                                 0            0             0               0

                TOTAL  (above spp.)             140,750        94,985       16,844        252,579
                TOTAL  (all spp.)               143,180        96,449       16,844        256,473,

             *Preliminary landings, subject to revision in    Fishery Statistics   of the United States.

                120.

                100.

                                                                                         OCT &  NOV   1980
                80-
                                                                                             n=1172

              060-

              Uj

              Uj
              OC40-

                20

                 0                                                                                             CPI
                                      0                                   @0       4's      50        55       60
                  10        15       2        25       30        35
                                                         TOTAL LENGTH ICMI

                          Figure 8.  Length fre quencies Of Paralichthys lethostigma'in October and November 1980
                                     from Core Sound pound net samples.

                            20-

                                                                                 Parallchthys dentatus

                            10-                                                               n=131

                              01,

                                                                                        P. albigutta

                                                                                              n=34

                                            El                              M
                              0..                                                                45        50
                                10       i5       20       25        30       35        40

                             Figure 9.- Length frequencies of.Paralichthys dentatus and P. albigutta from  October
                                        and November 1@80 Core Sound pound nets.

                                                                                                34

                 probably only referring to the Core Sound area. Data in this report indicate
                 that long hauling is a mixed species fishery dominated by sciaenids (Tables I
                 and 2). The fishery starts either in March or April and continues through
                 December, although most activity is over by early November. In general, croaker
                 dominate the spring catches, and fishing is widespread in Pamlico Sound and its
                 tributaries. By fall the fishery is almost completely in Core Sound and is
                 directed toward spot. Roelofs (1951) remarked on this consistentpattern in the
                 fall spot fishery. Although weakfish is not always abundant, it can contribute
                 a large percentage of some catches at.various locations and times. Previous
                 studies (Higgins and Pearson 1928: DeVries 1981a, 1981b) yielded similar results
                 on fishing localities and major species.

                      The long haul seine is a very efficient gear, capturing nearly all species
                 and sizes of fishes that it encounters. The species list in Table 1 and those
                 of Guthrie et al. (1973) and DeVries (1981a, 1981b) indicate a large catch
                 diversity. It should be noted that the variability in the number of species and
                 the size range of fishes among individual catches can be high depending on the
                 season and the habitat the net crosses.

                     The two major species in this study, spot and croaker, were mainly repre-
                 sented by yearling (age class 1) fish. Young-of-the-year for both species began
                 recruiting to this fishery during late summer and were well represented,
                 especially for spot in the fall (see October data, Figures 4 and 5). Although
                 these young-of-the-year can be quite numerous in fall catches, they are too small
                 to be marketed as food and thus are part of the scrap landings. Long haul samples
                 during 1978 (Sholar 1979) also revealed that yearli-ng spot and croaker were the
                 most abundant. Age class I also dominated both spot and croaker samples in 1979
                 (Ross 1980; DeVries 1981a), except that for croaker age class 2 was noticeable in
                 April and abundant in May (Ross 1980). Fifty-six years ago the size-age structure
                 of the long haul fishery was very similar (Higgins and Pearson 1928). This is
                 particularly interesting since Higgins and Pearson used the same techniques to
                 sample the fishery as the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries has used
                 since 1978. The available data seem to indicate that the age structure of the long
                 haul fishery overall is fairly stable.

                     Since the fishery is based on one or two year classes (I and 2) and since the
                 major species, spot and croaker, are short lived (3-5 years maximum), this fishery
                 should be very vulnerable to the success of any one year class. Drastic

                                                                                                       35

                   fluctuations in long haul landings would not be surprising and have occurred.
                   Overall landings were particularly low from 1965 to 1972, increasing steadily      to
                   a record high in 1979 (DeVries 1981b). DeVries pointed out that the landing
                   fluctuations were not necessarily linked to fishing effort..

                        The most detailed report on croaker aging to date was accomplished in
                   the western Gulf of Mexico by White and Chittenden (1977). Their fish were aged
                   by scales, and many of their techniques were similar to those of this report. A
                   major finding of White and Chittenden was that croaker in the Gulf seemed to
                   form two marks per year. Contrary to this the North Carolina specimens aged for
                   this project usually formed one mark per year. The reasons for this difference
                   in scale marking.are not yet deteymined. Although croaker length-frequencies
                   from October 1980 through July 1981 only indicate a clear peak for age class one,
                   the mean back-calculated lengths at age (Table 7) are similar to th    ose calculated
                   in 1979 and closely match the April-May 1979 estimated ages on the length-
                   frequencies (see Figure 5, Ross 1980).

                        Assuming the  October birthdate, the young-of-the-year that became yearlings
                   in October 1980 had a mean.total length of 130 mm. These data were derived from
                   a concurrent juvenile sampling program (Hawkins 1982), and this length is surely
                   a minimum since it does not take into account emigration of the larger croaker
                   out of the sampling area or gear avoidance by larger croaker. Length at year one
                   in the fall from this study agrees well with tha  t of other.report  s: 150 mm, Texas
                   (Pearson 1929); 135 mm, Texas (Gunter 1945); 143 mm, North Carolina (Hildebrand
                   and Cable 1930); 175-180 mm, Chesapeake Bay (Haven 1959); 150 mm, Gulf of Mexico
                   (White and Chittenden 1977). The mean weighted back-calculated length at first
                   annulus (which probably formed during Apr  il and May) was 178.8 mm   (Table 7).

                        White and  Chittenden (1977) report an observed size range of 190-360 mm in
                   October for age class 2 croaker and a mean back-calculated length at age 2 of
                   270 mm (based on six fish col'lected in March). The Nor   Ith Carolina data indicate
                   that this length range in October was occupied by age classes 2 (one mark on
                   scales) and 3 (two marks on scales). The mean weighted size back-calculated to
                   age,2 was 253 mm (n=183, Table 7). Differences in aging results between the      Gulf
                   of Mexico and the At lantic Coast need to be burtherevaluated. Perhaps an
                   examination of more large  croaker (>age T) from the Gulf would clarify the double
                   mark per year phenomenon.

                                                                                                  36

                                   Core Sound Flounder Pound Net Fishery

                       Pound nets were first used in Core Sound in 1879 and were originally
                 unsuccessfully   fished for weakfish or speckled trout (Earll 1887). They were
                 eventually removed and fished in the rivers and in Pamlico Sound for sciaenids
                 and clupeids (shad and herring). The fishery in Core Sound as it presently
                 exists is relatively young, probably less than 20 years old (Billy Smith, pers.
                 comm.). DeVries (1981a) described the gear and techniques presently used in
                 Core Sound pound nets, including information on catches.

                       Flounder pound net data from October-November 1980 were very similar to
                 that  of 1979 (DeVries 1981a).' Three fish species observed in 1979 were inot
                 present in 1980, and 7 fishes, 1 invertebrate, and the loggerhead turtle
                 appearing in the 1980 samples were absent in 1979. Southern flounder, harvest-
                 fish, summer flounder, and Gulf flounder were the four most abundant fishes in
                 both years. The three paralichthid species composed 93.1% of the total weight
                 in 1979 and 94.3% in 1980.

                       Although the Core Sound pound nets capture a wide diversity of species
                 (Table 11), quantities of fishes other than flounders and harvestfish are
                 uncommon. This is particularly interesting for spot which is very abundant in
                 Core Sound in the fall and is harvested heavily by long haul seines. This
                 distinct catch separation is possibly due to the diff  ering migratory habits of
                 the spot and flounders. Both species are migrating through Core Sound toward
                 the ocean (generally going from north to south). Spot seemingly use the deeper
                 channels on the western side of Core Sound; therefore, the long haul fishery
                 concentrates there. The paralichthid flounders appear to follow the shoals
                 which are more extensive on the eastern side and are conducive to being "led"
                 into the many pounds on that side. Spot probably do not lead well along the
                 large mesh ( =102 mm) used in the pound nets.

                       The age composition of the major species, southern flounder, was different
                 between 1979 and data in this report, 1980. DeVries' (1981a) 1979'samples
                 indicated the fishery was supported by ages 1-4 in the-following perceniages
                 20.9, 36.9, 41.7,.and 0.4. The fishery shifted-from being largely composed of
                 three age classes to one with.enly two abundant classes (I and 2) in 1980.     The
                 largest proportion, three-year olds, in 1979 was almost entirel-y absent in 1980.
                 One-year olds increased from 20.5% in 1979 to 51.5% in 1980.

                                                                                                 37

                        One possible reason for the age structure shift is that sampling in one
                   or both years was not representative of the actual age composition. This
                   seems unlikely since sampling was spread out over most of the fishing season
                   and sampling effort was reasonably consistent. A more reasonable explanation
                   is that natural-variation in year class strength caused certain ages to be
                   more abundant one year than the other. Another possible cause of age structure
                   shift is that fishing pressure was so high that certain age classes were over-
                   exploited before reaching full size or maturity (growth overfishing). Although
                   pound net effort has increased steadily in recent years, this latter explanation
                   is not necessarily the best. A combinati on of year class variability  and
                   exploitation mayinfluence the yield in this fishery. Continued annual
                   monitoring to analyze ages, growth, and mortality should indicate the conirolling
                   factors in-the Core Sound pound net fishery.

                                               ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

                       This report would not have been possible without the invaluable assistance
                   of Thomas Arnold, Douglas DeVries, Manley Gaskill, Clifton Harvell, Jess Hawkins,
                   Robert Jones, Gregory Judy, Paul Moore, Darrell Mumford, and Randy Rouse. Douglas
                   DeVries was particularly helpful in preparingand analyzing flounder pound net,
                   flounder aging and spot aging data. I am especially grateful to the many
                   commercial fishermen and dealers who cooperated with this project. Margaret
                   Stafford is greatfully acknowledged for typing the manuscript. I greatly
                   appreciate the comments on the manuscript by Douglas DeVries, Jess Hawkins, Terry
                   Sholar, Dennis Spitsbergen and Michael Street.

                                                                                               38

                                              LITERATURE CITED

                    Bagenal, T. B. and F. W.  Tesch
                          1978. Age and growth. p 101-136. In: Bagenal, T. (ed.). Methods
                          for assessment of fish production in fresh waters. (3rd Ed.).
                          Blackwell Sci. Publ., London. 365 p.

                    Caldwell, D. K.
                          1957. The biology and systematics of the pinfish Lagodon rhomboides
                          Linnaelus). Bull. Fla. State Mus. Biol. Sci: 2(6): 77-173.

                    DeVries, D. A.
                          1981a. Stock assessment of adult fishes in the Core Sound, N.C. area.
                          Compl. Rep. N.C. Dep. Nat. Res. Comm. Devel., Div. Mar. Fish. 54 p.

                          1981b. Description and catch composition of North Carolina's long haul
                          seine fishery. Proc. 34th Annual Mtg. SE Assoc. Fish. Wildl. Agencies:
                          234-247.

                    Earll, R. E.
                          1887. Part XII. North Carolina and its fisheriei. p 477-497. In:
                          Goode, G. B. et al. -rhe fisheries and fishing industries of the U-nited
                          .States, SectiTn T-I. U.S. Com. Fish and Fisheries, Washington, D. C.

                    Gunter, G.
                          1945. Studies on marine fishes of Texas. Publ. Inst. Mar. Sci. Univ.
                          Tex.  l(l): 1-190.

                    Guthrie, J. F., R. L. Kroger, H. R. Gordy, and C. W. Lewis.
                          1973. The long haul fishery of North Carolina. Mar.,Fish. Rev. 35(12):
                          27-33.

                    Haven, D. S.
                          1957. Distribution, growth, and availability of Juvenile croaker,
                          Micropogon undulatus, in Virginia. Ecol. 38(l): 88-97.

                    Hawkins, J.
                          1982. Estuarine fish stock assessment. p 40-136. In North Carolina
                          Estuarine Finfish Management Program. Compl. Rep. N.C. Dep. Nat. Res.
                          Comm. Devel., Div. Mar. Fish. 171.p.

                    Higgins, E. and J. C. Pearson.
                          1928. Examination of the summer fisheries of Pamlico and Core sounds,
                          N.C., with special reference to the destruction of.undersized fish and
                          the protection of the grey trout cynoscion regalis (Block and Schneider).
                          Rep. U.S. Comm. Fish. (1927), Bur. Fish. Doc. 1019: 29-64.

                    Hildebrand, S. F. and L. E. Cable.
                          1930. Development and life history of fourteen teleostean fishes at
                          Beaufort, N.C. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 46: 384-488.

                                                                                                     38b

                  Hobbie, J. E.
                        1970. Hydrography of the Pamlico River Estuary, N.C. Water Resources
                        Res. Inst. Rep. No. 39, 69 p.

                  Lassiter, R. R.
                        1962. Life history aspects of the bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus),
                        from the coast of North Carolina. MS Thesis,_N77.-STate Univ., Raleigh, 103 p.

                  Lee,  R. M.
                        1.920. A review of the methods of age and growth determination in fishes by
                        means of scales. Fish. Invest., London, Ser. 11, 4(2), 32 p.

                  Merriner, J. C.
                        1973. Assessment of the weakfish resource, a suggested management plan, and
                        aspects of life history in North Carolina. Ph.D. Thesis, N.C. State Univ.,.
                        Raleigh, 201 p.

                  Morse, W. W.
                        1980. Maturity, spawning, and fecundity of Atlantic croaker, Mitropogonias
                        undulatus, occuring north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Fish Bull.
                        78(l): 190-195.

                  Pearson, J. C.
                      ,1929. Natural history and conservation of redfish and other commercial
                        sciaenids on the Texas coast. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 44: 129-214.

                  Powell, A. B.
                        1974. Biology of the summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, in        Pamlico
                        Sound and adjacent waters with comments on P. tethottigma and P.      algibutta
                        M.S. Thesis, Univ. N.C., Chapel Hill, 145 p.
                  Reintjes, J.* W.
                        1969. Synopsis of biological data on the Atlantic menhaden
                        tyrahnus.. U.S. Fish. Wildl. Serv., Bur. Comm. Fish. Circ. i20, 30 p.

                  Roelofs, E. W.
                        1951. The edible finfishes of North Carolina. :p 109-139. In: Taylor,
                        H.F. et al. Survey of marine fisheries of North Carolina. Univ. North
                        Carol7na-Press, Chapel Hill, 555 p..

                  Roelofs, E. W.
                        1953. Distribution of fishery resources in relation to hydrographic
                        conditions in North Carolina estuaries. Proc. Gulf Carib. Fish. Inst.
                        5: 141-145.

                  Roelofs, E. W. and D. F. Bumpus.
                        1953. The hydrography of Pamlico Sound. Bull.,Mar. Sci. Gulf Carib.
                        3(3): 181-205

                  Ross. S.. W.
                        1980. Commercial adult finfishes assessment, p. 17-27.' In: A plan for
                        management of North Carolina's estuarine fisheries - Phai_eI. Semiannual
                        Rep. for North Carolina's Office of Coastal Zone Management, Fisheries
                        Assistance Program Grant, March-November 1979. N.C. Dep. Nat. Resources
                       .0jmm.',`1DeveT., Div. Mar. Fish.,.53 p.

                                                                                                    39

                     Schwartz, F. J. and A. F. Chestnut.
                           1973. Hydrographic atlas of North Carolina estuarine and sound waters,
                           1972. Univ. North Carolina Sea Grant Prog., UNC-SG-73-12. 132 p.

                     Sholar, T.  M.
                           1979. Adult stock assessment, p 11-27. In: A plan for management of
                           North Carolina's estuarine fisheries - PhTs-e I. Semiannual Rep. for
                           North Carolina's Office of Coastal Zone Management, Fisheries Assistance
                           Program Grant, Oct. 1978 - Feb..1979. N.C. Dep. Nat. Res. Comm. Devel.,
                           Div. Mar. Fish. 45 p.

                     Smith, R.  W. and F. C. Daiber
                           1977. Biology of the summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, in Delaware
                           Bay. Fish. Bull.     75(4): 823-830.

                     Street, M. W.
                           1981. Trends in North Carolina's commercial fisheries, 1965-1980. N.C.
                           Dep. Nat. Res. Comm. Devel., Div. Mar. Fish. 13 p.

                     Sundararaj, B.   I.
                           1960. Age  and growth of the Spot, Leiostomus xanthurus Lacepede. Tulane
                           Stud. Zool.  8(2): 41-62.

                     Taylor, H. F.
                           1916. The structure and growth of the scales of the squeteague and the
                           pigfish.as indicative of the life history. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 34:
                           285-330

                     White,-M. L.'.and M. E. Chittenden.
                           1977. Age determination, reproduction and population dynamics of the
                           Atlantic croaker,

                     Williams, A. B., G. S. Posner, W. J. Woods and E. E. Deubler, Jr.
                           A hydrographic atlas of larger North Carolina sounds. Univ..Noirth
                           Carolina Sea Grant Prog., UNC-SG-73-02. 129 p.

                                                                                                40

                                                  PROJECT I

                                       ESTUARINE FISH STOCK ASSESSMENT

                                            NURSERY AREA MONITORING

                                                       by

                                                Jess H. Hawkins

                                                                                                  41

                                                    ABSTRACT

                      One hundred and thirty-eight stations located in estuarine tributaries
                 of North Carolina were sampled monthly during October and November, 1980 and
                 March through July, 1981. Salinity and temperature data were recorded at
                 each station. Salinities during the spring, 1981 were the highest recently
                 documented for the tributaries of northern and western Pamlico Sound.       Eighty-
                 eight species of fish and 23 species of invertebrates were captured. The
                 sciaenid family represented 72% of the total catch of fish. Leiostomus xanthurus
                 was the most abundant fish captured, comprising6l% of the total catch. C'ai-
                 linectes sapidus was the most abundant invertebrate captured, representing 43%
                 of the total invertebrate catch.
                      Temporal and spatial distributions, growth patterns, and relative abundances
                 were briefly examined for Brevoortia tyrannus, Anchoa mitchilli, Bairdiella
                 chyrsoura, Cynoscion regalis, L. xanthurus, Micropogonias undulatus, Paralichthys
                 lethostigma, Penaeus aztecus, P. duorarum, P. setiferous.. and c. sapidus. Peak
                 abundance of sampled fauna in estuarine tributaries occurred during spring, cor-
                 responding with recruitment of young-of-the-year for the maj-ority of estUarine
                 species. B. t-qrannus, L. xanthurus, P. lethostigma,, P. azterus, and P. duorarum
                 recruited during spring, while B. chyrsoura, C. regalis, and P. setiferOUs re-
                 cruited during Juneand July. Small young-of-the-year M. undulatus Oess than
                 35 mm TL) were captured in fall and spring. A. mitchilli and c. sapidus recruits
                 were,captured from March through July. Most species preferred shallow tribu-
                 taries as initial recruitment habitat; however, large numbers Of C. regalis,
                 B. chyrsoura, and m. undulatus recruits were captured in deeper waters. Growth
                 was rapid for most species sampled, especially c. regalis, B. chrysoura.. and
                 M. undulatus. Several size classes of most fish species were captured in estu-
                 arine tributaries. Large numbers of yearling L. xanthurus were present in
                 catches during March through May. Catch per unit effort indicated L. xanthurus
                 were mo re abundant and x. undulcltus.less abundant in estuarine tributaries of
                 Pamlico Sound during 1981 than during' 1979 an-d'1980.

                                                                                                   42

                                                   INTRODUCTION

                      Estuaries are highly productive water bodies. They serve as nursery areas
                 for finfish and shellfish because of abundant food supplies, protection from
                 predation and other factors (Gunter 1938, Dahlberg 1972, Weinstein 1979). Most
                 sport and commercial fisheries are dependent upon the productivity of marshes
                 and creeks (de la Cruz 1973 in Hackney et al. 1976). Over half of the nation      's
                 commercial fish, shellfish, and marine sportfish utilize estuaries (Smith 1966
                 in Hackney et al. 1976). North Carolina possesses 1.2 million ha of coastal
                 marshes and estuarine waters (Wolff 1976). The Pamlico-Albemarle Sound system,
                 containing 679,000 ha, ranks as the third largest North American estuarine system
                 (Gross 1972).

                      Investigations were initiated in North Carolina by the North Carolina
                 Division of Marine Fisheries during 1971 to study selected fauna in estuarine
                 waters. Spitsbergen and Wolff (19741,Purvis (1976) and Wolff (1976) investigated
                 the role of various estuarine areas as nursery grounds for juvenile fish and
                 crustaceans. As a result of these studies, the North Carolina Marine Fisheries
                 Commission enacted regulations in 1977 protecting designated nursery areas.
                 Carpenter (1978, 1980) and Ross (1980, in press) briefly summarized subsequent
                 Division investigations on juvenile fishes and crustaceans. Many additional North
                 Carolina studies have involved pre-adult estuarine fish and crustaceans (Hildebrand
                 and Cable 1930, Williams and Deubler 1968a, Kjelson et al. 1975, and Marshall 1976).
                 Numerous estuarine-studies have been completed in the lower Cape Fear River
                 assessing the potential effects of a nuclear power plant on juvenile and adult
                 estuari ne species (Hobbie 1971; Copeland and Birkhead 1972, 1973; Weinstein 1979;
                 Weinstein et al. 1980). Other studies in North Carolina waters involving juvenile
                 estuarine-dependent fauna often have been species.or family specific: Cynoscion
                 rega lis (Merriner 1973, 1975, 1976), Paralichthys dentatus and P. lethostigma
                 .(Deubler 1958, Powell 1974, Powell and Schwartz.1977, DeVries 1981, micropogonias
                 undulatus (Higgins and Person 1928, Roelofs 1954, Morse 1980), Brevoortia tyrannus
                 Wilkins and Lewis 1971, Lewis and Mann 1971, Kroger et al, 1974)9 callinectes sapidus
                 Vischler 1965; Dudley and Judy 1971, 1973), and penaeid shrimp (Williams 1979,
                 McCoy 1968, Purvis and McCoy 1972).

                      The present study briefly summarizes the composition of a portion of the
                 nekton community in North Carolina's estuarine tributaries for October and November

                                                                                                 43

               1980, and March to July, 1981. Temporal and spatial distributions, growth
               patterns, and relative abundances were analyzed for several commonly occurring
               estuarine species: spot, Atlantic croaker, weakfish, southern flounder, silver
               persh (Bairdielia chrysoura), bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli), Atlantic menhaden,
               blue crab, brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus), pink shrimp (P. duorarum), and white
               shrimp (P. setiferus).

                                                  METHODS

                                                Study Area

                   A total of 138 sampling stations were located through North Carolina Is
               estuarine waters, from northern Pamlico Sound to the Cape Fear River (Figures 1-4).
               Stations were separated into primary and secondary nursery area sites according
               to the classification by Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974) and Purvis (1976). Stations
               were sampled monthly during October and November, 1980 and March through July,1981.

                   The study area was divided into three generalized sections (northern, central,
               southern) to simplify discussions. The northern section covers northern Pamlico
               Sound from Stumpy Point Bay westward, including the Pamlico and Pungo rivers
               (Figure 2). Pamlico Sound is the largest embayment formed behind barrier beaches
               along the Atlantic coast of the United States, consisting of a complex of drowned
               river valleys (Giese et al. 1979). The Sound is shallow (mean depth - 4.6 m) and
               extends 113 km longitudinally and 17 to 48 km latitudinally. The bottom types vary
               from sand to mud, with extensive shoaling along the shorelines, grading into
               extensive marshes. The marshes are typified by low-lying pine pocosin drainage,
               bordered by black needlerush (juncus roemerianus) along the estuarine zones.
               (Purvis 1976).

                   Lunar tidal oscillations are negligible, due to restricted water circulation
               through the few narrow inlets (Ocracoke, Hatteras, and Oregon). The shallowness
               of Pamlico Sound allows wind to thoroughly mix its waters throughout most of the
               year. Wind tides of 0.6 m are not uncommon (Street and McClees 1981). The
               horizontal salinity distribution is influenced by wind tide s and seasonal
               variation in river discharge. Salinities generally range from 0 parts per
               thousand (ppt) in the upper tributaries to,about 25 ppt near the three inlets.

                                                                                                           44

                                                             T'7

               COASTAL NORTH CAROLINA
          -36                                                                   ALBEMARLE SOUND             36-

                                                                           (P                        OR
                                                                                                     INLET

                                                                                                PAMLICO
                                                                                                SOUND

                                                                                            N

                                                                               C                 HATTERAS
                                                                                                   INLET

                                                                                                            35-
                                                                                         OCRACOKE
                                                                                          INLET

                                                                                        SCALE
          .34                                                                                               34-
                                      CAPE FEAR                                          IT
                                         RIVER
                                                                                       fi* 90 00 W WL0

             Figure 1.   Generalisa!qRji@ng areas in coastal  North Carolina   for the juvenile finfish
                         andcrustac A-n-tinv6stigation. N     northern area,   C   central area, S
                         southern'@area',."..*

                                                                                                                        MILES
                                                    14400                                                          0                10
                                    /C0                                                                              PRIMARY
                                                                                                                   A SECONDARY

                                                                                                                                    STUMPY POINT
                                                                                                                                       SAY

                 Figure 2. The northern     study area with juvenile finfish and crustacean sampling stations in North Carolina.

                                                                                                                          /c,
                                                                                                                            0

                                                                                                                                        PAMLICO
                                                                                                                                         SOUND

                                                                                           NEUSE   RIVER

                                                     WHITE OAK
                                                        RIVER

                                                        800         R/ WPOR
                                                               SO
                                                                                                       V40
                                       BOGUE                                                            jk%4
                                       INLET

                                                                                                                 0   .0
                                                                                                        0   '500               DRUM
                                         MILES                                                                                 INLET
                                                     10
                                      PRIMARY                                 BEAUFO  T
                                    A SECONDARY                                 INLE T          %

                                                                                            BARDEN INLET

                   Figure 3.   The central study area with juvenile finfish and crustacean sampling stations in North Carolina.

                                                                                                                               NEW RIVER

                                                                                                   MILES

                                                                                              0               10

                                               CAPE FEAR                                      0 PRIMARY
                                                  RIVER                                      A SECONDARY

                  Fi gure 4.  The southern study area with juvenile finfi    sh and crustacean sampl i ng stations i n North Carol i na

                                                                                           48

                            -ributaries in the northern area are the Pamlico and-Pungo rivers.
                 Two major 4q.
            The Pamlico River extends 63 km, while the Pungo River estuary reaches 25 km.
            Both rivers have salinities ranging from 0 to 20 ppt, and-negigible lunar tides,
            which are overwhelmed by wind tides up to 0.9 m (Hobbie 1970). High marshes
            (juncus spp.) are found sporadically along both rivers.

                 The central section extends from the mouth of the Pamlico River to the
            White Oak River (Figure 3). The major water bodies in the area include the
            western tributaries of Pamlico Sound, Ne.use River, Core Sound, and Bogue Sound.
            Western Pamlico Sound and the lower Neuse River encompass 72,484 ha of estuarine
            waters (Spitsbergen and Wolff 1974) and are similar to the tributaries of
            northern Pamlico Sound in salinity and tidal characteristics.

                 -Core Sound is a very shallow embayment, averaging 0.9 - 1.2 m in depth.
            It stretches 67 km from Pamlico Sound southward to Beaufort Inlet, where it
            meets Bogue Sound (Street and McClees 1981). Bogue Sound extends approximately
            46 km westerly, averaging 0.8 m in depth (Marshall 1951). Both sounds vary
            from 1.9 to 5.4 kin in width and contain numerous shoals. Sandy bottoms
            predominate the areas, often covered with eel grass (zostera marina) and shoal
            grass (111alodule rvrigi-,tii) .Diurnal tides are generally less than 0.9 m in
            &nplitude. Salinities in the sounds vary with locality, being higher near the
            four inlets (Drum, Barden, Beaufort, Bogue), but generally averaging 25 ppt or
            more (Street and McClees 1981). The three major tributaries of these sounds are
            the North, Newport, and White Oak rivers (Figure 3).

                 The area from Bogue Inlet to the Cape Fear River constitutes  the southern
            region (Figure 4). The coastline of this area is fringed with numerous small,
            shallow lagoons interrupted by marshes and bordered with small creeks
            (Marshall 1951). These marshes and creeks are characterized by large amounts of
            smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), muddy Uottoms, and diurnal tides of
            0.9 - 1.5 m. Salinities in the area generally are above 20 ppt, except in the
            upper reaches of the estuaries. Numerous inlets transverse the area, dividing
            the coast into many water bodies (Street and McClees 1981). New River interrupts
            the extensive marshes, extending northerly for 86 km (Sholar 1975).

                 The Cape Fear River stretches 45 km from the salt boundary at Wilmington to
            the river mouth (Weinstein 1979). The area is characterized by high salinities
            that are stratified into a two layer system (Carpenter 19.79). Tidal current

                                                                                                 49

                       Two major tributaries in the northern area are the Pamlico and Pungo rivers.
                  The Pamlico River extends 63 km, while the Pungo River estuary reaches 25 km.
                  Both rivers have salinities ranging from 0 to 20 ppt, and negigible lunar tides,
                  which are overwhelmed by wind tides up to 0.9 m (Hobbie 1970). High marshes
                  (juncus spp.) are found sporadically along both rivers.

                       The central section extends from the mouth of the Pamlico River to the
                  White Oak River (Figure 3). The major water bodies in the area include the
                  western tributaries of Pamlico Sound, Neuse River, Core Sound, and Bogue Sound.
                  Western Pamlico Sound and the lower Neuse River encompass 72,484 ha of estuarine
                  waters (Spitsbergen and Wolff 1974) and are similar to the tributaries of
                  northern Pamlico Sound in salinity and tidal characteristics.

                       Core Sound is a very shallow embayment, averaging 0.9 - 1.2 m in depth.
                  It stretches 67 km from Pamlico Sound southward to Beaufort Inlet, where it
                  meets Bogue Sound (Street and McClees 1981). Bogue Sound extends approximately
                  46 km westerly, averaging 0.8 m in depth (Marshall 1951). Both sounds vary
                  from 1.9 to 5.4 km in width and contain numerous shoals. Sandy bottoms
                  predominate the areas, often covered with eel grass (zostera marina) and shoal
                  grass (Halodule wrightii). Diurnal tides are generally less than 0.9 m in
                  amplitude. Salinities in the sounds vary with locality, being higher near the
                  four inlets (Drum, Barden, Beaufort, Bogue), but generally averaging 25 ppt or
                  more (Street and McClees 1981). The three major tributaries of these sounds are
                  the North, Newport, and White Oak rivers (Figure 3).

                       The area from Bogue Inlet to the Cape Fear River constitutes the southern
                  region (Figure 4). The coastline of this area is fringed with numerous small,
                  shallow lagoons interrupted by marshes and bordered with small creeks
                  (Marshall 1951). These marshes and creeks are characterized by large amounts of
                  smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), muddy bottoms, and diurnal tides of
                  0.9 - 1.5 m. Salinities in the area generally are above 20 ppt, except in the
                  upper reaches of the estuaries. Numerous inlets transverse the area, dividing
                  the coast into many water bodies (Street and McClees 1981). New River interrupts
                  the extensive marshes, extending northerly for 86 km (Sholar 1975).

                       The Cape Fear River stretches 45 km from the salt boundary at Wilmington to
                  the river mouth (Weinstein 1979). The area is characterized by high salinities
                  that are stratified into a two layer system (Carpenter 1979). Tidal current

                                                                                                    50

               velocities are high, averaging 1.5 m/s at the river mouth during ebb tide. The
               Cape Fear River contains extensive salt marshes (8,900 ha) which form the
               largest continuous system of this type in North Carolina (U.S. Amy Corps of
               Engineers 1977). Smooth cordgrass, black needlerush, and giant reedgrass
               (s. cyanosuroides) dominate the vegetation bordering the estuary. Weinstein
               (1979) estimated that the Cape Fear's tidal creeks cover 648 ha, and shoals
               between the channel and salt marshes form approximately 7,285 ha of potential
               nursery habitat for juvenile fish and crustaceans.

                                                 Sampling Gear

                    The primary nursery area stations (92) were sampled with a 3.9 m head rope
               flat trawl composed of 6.3 mm bar mesh knotted wings and body, with a 3.2 mm bar
               mesh knitted tail bag (4" trawl). Secondary nursery area stations (46) were
               sampled with similar gear, except the head rope measured 6.4 mm and the bar mesh
               was 19.2 mm in the wings (3/4" trawl). The secondary nursery area trawl was
               originally fitted with a 19.2 mm bar mesh tail bag; however, a6.3 mm bar mesh
               tail bag was installed in October, 1980 for the central area, in March, 1981 for
               the southern area, and in May, 1981 for the northern area. Both trawls were fitted
               with bottom towing doors and a tickler chain.

                    The primary and sceondary nursery area trawls were standardized by towing at
               a speed necessary to cover 68.6 m in one minute. The primary stations were
               pulled for one minute and the secondary stations forfive minutes. The following
               data were recorded at each station: date, location, tow time, gear type, and
               surface and bottom salinities and water temperatures.

                    All fish and crustaceans were identified and counted, with a maximum of 60
               randomly-selected individuals per species measured at each station. Species
               measured during October and November, 1980 were visually placed in 10 mm modal
               groups and exact lengths were recorded for those measured during 1981. Most       fishes
               were measured in fork length; however,   total length was taken on species without a
               forked tail (Atlantic croaker, summer flounder, etc.). Disk width was recqr     ded for
               skates and rays. Carapace width was recorded for all crabs, in addition to sex and
               maturity state for blue crabs. Exact lengths were taken on blue crabs during 1981
               from the northern and central areas, and 10 mm modal groups were recorded in the

                                                                                               51

                southern area. Shrimp were measured in total length and usually placed in
                10 mm modal groups. Length frequency data were presented as moving averages
                of three, with frequencies rounded to a minimum value of one if specimens were
                captured. Species abundance data were loglo transformed prior to seasonal
                abundance analysis to decrease the effect of extreme values.

                                            RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

                                           Hydrographic Description

                     Monthly ranges of temperatures (OC) and salinities (ppt) for each region
                are presented in Table 1. The highest water temperatures were found in July
                and the lowest in March for all three areas. Water temperatures during 1980
                remained fairly warm through October, averaging approximately 200C. Temperatures
                began to increase again during late March, 1981.

                     Highest salinities occurred in the.proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and
                decreased further inland. The southern area exhibited the widest salinity
                fluctuation, due to daily lunar tidal effects. The central area stations in Core
                and Bogue Sounds were also considerably influenced by lunar tides. The Outer
                Banks and Pamlico Sound buffer lunar tides for most of the central area's stations
                and for all of the northern area's stations. Salinities in the northern and
                central areas were greatly influenced by the natural discharge of the Neuse and
                Pamlico rivers. The lowest salinities in each area were usually recorded upstream
                in those rivers.   The lowest season al salinities were recorded during November, 198
                Salinities continued to rise throughout winter, peaki.ng in March, 1981 for stations
                in the northern and central areas. Salinities remained extremely high in the
                tributaries of Pamlico Sound throughout spring, due to unusually low amounts of rain-
                fall. Salinities*appeared to be the highest ever documented for the March-May period
                in tributaries of western and northern Pamlico Sound.

                                                    Finfish

                                            Total Catch Composition

                     Numerous fishes spawn  in the ocean and enter estuaries during their early
                life stages. Many authors   have noted large number of juvenile fish utilizing

                                                                                                 52

               Table 1. Monthly extremes of salinities (ppt) and temperatures (OC) in
                         North Carolina estuarine waters, October-November, 1980 and March-July,
                         1981. (W=northern area, C=central area, S=southern area.)

                                   Salinity                                  Temperature
                                      Area                                      Area

                         R              C            S              N             C             S
               Oct     6.0-17.0      14.0-33.0    4.0-35.0      18.0-22.0     16.0-23.0     16.0-23.0

               Nov     4.5-22.6      3.0-29.0     4.0-32.0        8.5-14.0      8.0-18.0    11.0-14.5

               Mar     10.5-24.0     1.0-33.0     0.0-30.0        7.1-15.7      2.9-18.0    10.0-16.0

               Apr     2.0-18.5      2.0-29.0     2.0-33.0      16.0-22.0     15.9-22.0     17.0-25.0

               May     2.0-19.0      10.3-33.1    0.0-30.0      15.4-28.0     17.0-25.4     18.0-23.0

               Jun.    6.0-20.0      6.5-30.6     0.0-30.0      25.0-33.0     16.1-32.6     28.5-32.0

               Jul     1.0-21.0      6.5-20.6     0.0-32.0      27.0-32.0     27.7-32.3     28.0-35.0

                                                                                            53

                 shallow estuarine tributaries, a few of which are Dahlberg and Odum (1970), Cain
                 and Dean (1976) and Marshall (1976). The present study captured 88 species
                 during October and November, 1980 and March through July, 1981 (Table 2).
                 Similar North Carolina coast estuarine studies produced 86 to 107 fish species
                 between 1978 and 1980 (Carpenter 1979; Ross 1980, in press). The slightly higher
                 species number in 1978 (107) was due to the inclusion of twelve Outer Banks
                 stations which produced several-stenohaline marine species, and the addition of
                 seine stations which resulted in the capture of more shoreline-associated species.
                 Species composition has not changed measurably during the past four years.

                     The sciaenid family represented by 11 species, composed the majority (72%)
                 of the finfish catch. Leiostomus xanthurus (Spot), Micropogonias undulatus
                 (Atlantic croaker), Bairdiella chrysoura (silver perch), and Cynoscion regalis
                 (weakfish) were the most abundant sciaeni.ds. Other well-represented families
                 included engraulids (23%), consisting almost entirely of Anchoa mitchilli (bay
                 anchovy), and clupeids (N), composed Of Brevoortia tyrannus (Atlantic menhaden)
                 and alosids. Spot was the most abundant fish, comprising 61% of the total juveniles
                 captured (Table 3). The percentage of spot in the total catch in 1981 was con-
                 siderably higher than the 48% and 41% found during 1979 and 1980 (Ross 1980, in
                 press).

                     Bay ahchovies, second in numerical abundance, composed almost 25% of the total
                 catch in 1981. Ross (1980, in press) found similar percentages in previous surveys.
                 Atlantic croaker was the third most abundant fish, composing 5% of the total number.
                 This percentage was lower than the 10% of the 1979 catch and the 23% of the 1980
                 catch (Ross 1980, in press). Two other sciaenids, silver perch and weakfish, were
                 also common, ranking fourth and sixth in abundance, respectively. Both species were
                 considerably more abundant in trawl catches during 1981 than in 1980 or 1979, when
                 each composed 3% of the total numbers caught. Some increase in numbers may reflect
                 a more efficient sampling gear in deeper waters. Silver perch only composed 0.7%
                 of the total catch in 1979 and 0.8% in 1980, and weakfish, only 0.1% and 0.3%.
                 Menhaden represented 3% of the total catch (fifth in abundance), compared to 7% in
                 1979 and 3% in 1980 (Ross 1980, in press).

                     The.present juvenile survey compares favorably with similar studies along the
                 Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, where sciaenids, engraulids, and clup6ids were
                 the most abundant taxa'in estuarine waters -(Dahlberg 1972, Christmas and Waller 1973,

       Table 2    Total numbers and size range   of fish collected by flat trawls in North Carolina estuarine monitoring for
                  October 1980    July 1981.

                                                                                  Areas

                                                 Northern                           Central                            Southern

                                     1/4" trawl        3/4" trawl      1/4" trawl       3/4" trawl       1/4" trawl        3/4" trawl

                                             gize             Size            Size             Size              Size            Size
       Species                               range    N       range    N      range    N       range      N      range    N      range

       Carcharhinidae

          Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
          (Atlantic sharpnose shark)                                                                                      1          331
       Dasyatidaet,
          Dasgati.5'" awricana
          (southern-.stingray)                                                                                            1          269
          Dasyatls sabina
          (Atlantic stingray)           1       990-                    1                                                 1          391
       Lepisosteidae
          Lepisosteus,osseus
          (longnose-gar)                8       880
       .Elopidae
          Vlops saurus
          (ladyfish)                    4    367146                    26     25-418                     26      25-148
       Anguillidae

          Anyuilla rostrata
          I
          ,,(American eel)             44    51-535  16      125-460  144     53-520 18        212-705   18      53-397   7      174-274
       Ophichthidae
          Myrophis punctatus
          (speckled worm eel)                                                                             1          235
                                                                                                                                       Ln

      Table 2     (continued),

                                                                                                   Areas

                                                         Northern                                Central                                   Southern

                                           1/4" trawl             3/4" trawl       1/4". trawl            3/4" trawl        1/411 trawl           3/4" trawl
                                                   Size                Size                Si ze-               Size                Size                Size
      Species                               N      range       N       range        N      range         N      range        N      range       N       range
     .Clupeidae

         Alosa aestivalis
         (blueback herring)                    7   35-78          10    49-222

         A. mediocris
         (hickory shad)                                                                                      1      138

         A. pseudoharengus
                                                                                       .1
         (alewife)                             3   73 '101          3   77-125                    .72

         A. sapidissima
         (American shad)                                                                                                        1      -40
         B.reVOOrtia'-,--.'ty.tannus
          Atlantic.menhaden)               3,304   18-135        526    32-244      1,116    21-146       694 30-183 3,699          23-140       989    31-158

         Dorosoma cepedianum
         (gizzar&shad)                         3   75-261         10    135-305          2  124-241                             2   85-104
      Engraulidae

         Anchoa hepsetus
         (striped anchovy)                     35  42-89          54    48-74            1        59         2  76-100                              4   45-71

         A. mitchilli
         (bay anchovy)                    18,535   16-86      10,435    21-92      22,335     17-106  15,631 22-105 4,300           19-93      6,134    26-86
      Synodonitidae

         Synodus foetens
         (inshore lizardfish)                                                            3    38-107                           33   33-205          8   72-157
      Cyprinidae
         Notiro.bis- hu'dsoni us
         (spottail shinner)                    6 15-25
                                                                                                                                                              Ln

        Table 2.      (continued)

                                                                                                              Areas

                                                               Northern                                      Central                                        Southern
                                                  1/4'.' trawl            3/4" trawl           1/4" trawl                3/4" trawl         1/4" trawl                3/4" trawl
                                                           Size                  Size                   Size                    Size                  Size                 Size
        Species                                       N     range       N        range           N      range            N      range         N       range         N      range
           Not  @p@4plq spp.                           6    15-25
        Ictaluridae'
           lctalurus.,C'atus                           1      225                                                                             1          165        2      182-425
           (whi     catfish)
        Batrachoididae!
           Opsanus-.'I@u
           (oyster toadfish)                                                                     2      25-105          2      196-201        4      55-135         4      73-176
        Gobiesocida:e
           Gobiesox strumosus                                                                    1          46

        Gadidae

           Urophycis    floridana
           (southern'@hake)                                                                                              5      75-147
           U. regi a
           (spotted    hake                                             10 147-181               2      64-132         45       82-159                            58       727179
        CyprinodontidaO

           Fundulus    hetetoclitus
           (mummichog)                                                                                                                                   52
            ii n d D !'Us* S'PP.'-                              52

           Lucania parva
           (rainwater killifish)                    230 16-@50
        Atherinidae

           Membras martinica
                                                                                                                                                                                  ON
           (rough silverside)                          1
           Menidia beryllina
           (tidewater silverside),                     6 45-@-105                                5      35-63

       Table -2. (contin ed)

                                                                                              Areas

                                                       Northern                               Central                                Southern
                                         1/4'! trawl          3/4" trawl       1/4" trawl            3/4" trawl        1/4" trawl        3/4" trawl
                                                 Size               Size               Size                 Size              Size              Size
       Species                             N     range       N      range       N      range        N      range       N      range      N      range

         M. menidia
         (Atlantic silverside)                                                  21     59-113                          4     61-86

       Syngnathidae
         Syngmathus floridae
         (dusky pipefisO                                                        3      83-236       2       168-194

         S. fuscus
         (northern pipefish)               5     82-164                         2      129-147      1           173

         S'. - louisianae
         (chain pipefish)                                                                                                                7       106-348
       Percichthyidae

         Morone americana
         (white perch)                    48     65-225                         1           230     1           188
       Serranidae

         Mycteroperca microlepis
         (gag)                                                                                      1           175    1         41
      .Centrarchidae

         Centrarchus macropterus
         (flier)                          1.           29
         Leponds gibbosus
         (pumpkinseed)                    16     73-185                         6      64-195

         L. macrochirus
         (bluegill)                                                                                                                                   195

                                                                                                                                                        Ln
                                                                                                                                                        ,@j

       Tabl e      (continued).

                                                                                        Areas

                                                   Northern                             Central                               Southern
                                      1/4" trawl          3/4" trawl      1/4" trawl          3/4" trawl       1/4" trawl        3/4" trawl
                                               Size             Size               Size              Size             size              Size
       Species                         N       range     N      range       N      range      N      range      N     range      N      range
       Percidae

          Perca fla%@escens
          (yel low perch                                                    1         175
       Pomatomidae

          Pomatomus saltatrix
          (bluefish)                     6     52-103    20     59-155      5      66-94      3      96-227     4     63-72      7      21-227
       Carangidae
          Caranx hippos
          (crevalle Jack)                7     34-72     19     32-128      52     24-43      3      34-52      11    27-41      3      21-32
          Ohl orosconOkUb - chrysutu's
          (Atlantic bumper)                                                 2      50-64      5      32-92

          Selene vomer
          (lookdown)                                      1         75                        1          32     3     37-61      6      43-63
       Lutjanidae
          Lutjanus -gri�eus--
          (gray@snapper)                                                                                        3     65-115     1         135
          L.' synagrig.:..@
          (lane snapper)                                                                      1         130     1          55
       Gerreidae

          Diapterus auratus
          (Irish pompano)                                                                                       9     34-56
          Eucinostomus argenteus
          (sPotfin moJarra)                                                 19     45-65
                                                                                                                                            Ln
                                                                                                                                            CO

       Table 2     (contin ed)

                                                                                            Areas

                                                      Northern                              Central                                      Southern
                                          1/4" trawl          3/41' trawl        1/4" trawl           3/4" trawl        1/411 trawl        3/4" trawl
                                                 size               size                size   f            Size               Size              Size
       Species                            N      range       N       range       N      range       N       range      N       range      N      range
         E. gula
         (silver Jenny)                        7 45-55                                                                     58  36-75         52  55-105
       Haemulidae
         or@ho,pli-44':,chrysoptera
         (Plgfish)                                                                 14 23-165             4   105-204        5  20-135
       Sparidae
         Archosargus probatocephalus                                                                                        2  95-135
         (sheepshead)
         Lagodon rhomboides
         (pinfish)                          199 24-125          6 29-85           350 18-180            40   56-165 2,043      16-145      462 21-146
       Sciaenidae

         Bairdiella chrysoura
         (silver perch)                   1,863   8-126     5,299 12-258        3,609 11-205           199   24-172        30  51-141        96 111-162

         Cynoscion nebulosus
         (spotted seatrout)                   22 22-58           3 52-56                                 1       102                           1      175
         C. regalis                                                                                                                          4'
         (weakfish)                          198 14-108     4,7915 23-272         354   18-182      2,101    25-257                          18  153-228

         C. nothus
         (silver seatrout).                                                                                               43 30-73           124 31-145

         Leiostomus xanthurus
         (spot)                          39,391  17-195 23,920 31-195         42,614    17-219     50,009    18-214 40,097 15-183        13,583  18-199
         Menticirrhus americanus                                                                                                                        Ln
         (southern kingfish)                                                                             1        47                                    UD

         M. saxatilis
         (northern kingfish)                                                                                                                 20 41-101
         m m m m m m                                 . m m m m m m m M M m m m m

       Table       (continued),

                                                                                         Areas

                                                 Northern                                Central                              Southern,
                                        1/411 trawl       3/4" trawl        1/4" trawl         3/4" trawl       1/41' trawl        3/4" trawl
                                               Size              size              Size               Size              Size              Size
       Species                           N     range     A       range___    N     range       N      range       N     range      N      range

         Micropogonjas undulatus
         (Atlantic croaker)           3,425    15-240 3,882      29-283     1,489    9-194   3,676    26-240    1,279   15@158 4,803      12-230

         Pogonias cromis
         (black drum)                                                                                               2       225

         Sciaenops ocellata
         (red drum)                                          2   23-42          5  51-268        17   36-76
         stellifer.:Ianceolatus                                                                                                      7
         (star drum)                                                                                                                           75
       Ephippidae
         Chaetodipterus faber
         (Atlantic spadefish)              2   38-65         3   48-56          3  38-54         11   52-95         1       129      3    27-33
       Mugilidae
         Mugil cephalus
         (striped mullet)                  6 122-205         6   90-233        55  23-408       28 115-322         15   31-289       26   31-155
       Sphyrae,,'nlidae
        @Sphyraena spp.                                                                                                              1         31
       Blennidae.

         Hypsoblennius   en tZi
         (feather bl ennA                                                                                                            1         75

         H. ionthas
         (freckled. blenny)                                                     1        39                          1       45
       Gobiidae

         Gobionellus boleosoma                                                                                                                 CD
         (darter goby)                                                                                              12    15-52

      Tabl e 2.      (continued).

                                                                                                   Areas.

                                                          Northern                                Central                                        Southern
                                            1/4" trawl           3/4" trawl          1/4" trawl              3/4" trawl          1/4" trawl           3/4" trawl
                                                     Size                 Size                 Si zi-7                                   S.-
                                                                                                                     Fi-ze                 ize                Size
      Species                               N        range       N        range       N        range        N        range       N       range        N       range
         G. has  tatus
         (sharptail Oby)                                                                                                          2      65-105
         GoSiosoma bosci
         (naked goby)                       139      15-51                           109.".    10-53                             27      22-45
         Microgobius thalassinus
         (green goby)                       133      21-51                             84      21-47        1             30
      Trichiuridae

         Trichiurus lepturus
         (Atlantic cutlassfish)                                                                             1           476                          15        186-691
      Scombridae

         Scomberomorus maculatus
         (Spani sh-..macker@i Y                                    2      84-105
      Stromatei dae

         Peprilus alepidotus
         (harvestfish)                         7     28-48        114     28-95        10      23-55        26       34-90        1           73      1              95
             triaca'hthus
         (butterfish)                          1         48"       1          68                            6        32-54        7      41-75       19         24-101
      Triglidae

         Prionotus evolans
         (striped seayobi,n',)@,                                   2      42-51          1         151      4        42-66        5      37-81       24         25-151

         P. scitulus
         (leopard. searb4in                                                                                 2             85
                                                                                                                                                                  M
         P. tribulus
         (bighead searobin).                                                             1          43      13       35-100

        Table 2.    (continued).

                                                                                                Areas

                                                       Northern             t                  Central                              Southern
                                            1/4" trawl         3/4" trawl         1/49 trawl           3/41' trawl     1/4." trawl          3/4" trawl

                                                    Size              Size               Size                 Size             Size                 Size
        Species                             N       range     N       range       N      range        N       range    N       range        N        range
        Bothidae

          Ancylopsetta quadrocellata
          (ocellated flounder)                                                    1         139       2       101-105                       6       89-105
          Citharichthys spilopterus
          (bay whiff)                       3       74-86                       23       42-115     14        99-130   19      35-88      15        41-105

         ,'Etropus@crossotus
          (fringed flounder)                                                                          1            95    1          95    31        53-115
          Paralichthys dentatus
          (summer flounder)                 1          300    22      86-288 10          21-161     10        122-291  36      28-125       8       37-130
          P. lethostigma
          (southern flounder)             330       12-292    75      44-210 422         15-405     125       32-341   324     12-146     21        35-245

          Scophthalmus aquosus
          (windowpane)                                                                                2       89-101                      30        52-90
        Soleidae

          Trinectes maculatus
          (hogchoker)                     119       25-143    67      54-145 273         11-146     147       27-163   21      41-78      15        51-82
        Cynoglossidae
          symphurus plagiusa
          (blackcheek tonguefish)                              2      91-104      9      31-79      15        65-150   32      35-88      24        26-134
        Balistidae

          Monacanthus hispidus
          (planehead filefish)                                                                        .1          105                     15        36-115

       Table   2.  (continued),

                                                                                        Areas

                                                 Northern                              Central                          Southern
                                      1/4" trawl          3/4" trawl      1/4" trawl       3/4" trawl       1/4" trawl      3/4" trawl
                                             Size             Siie             Size              size             Size            Size
       Species                        N      range       N    range      N     range       N     range     N      range     N     range
       Tetraodontidae

          Sphberoides maculatus
          (northern puffer)                                                                                1       17

        Total vo. -Apecies                         43                                  57                               61

       iSizes reported in fork length or total length (mm) except stingrays, which are measured in disk width.

                                                                                                   64

            Table 3. Total numbers and percent of total catch for the most commonly occurring
                      juvenile finfish captured by trawl (all stations combined) in North
                      Carolina estuarine waters, October-November, 1980 and March-July, 1981.

                                                                         Percent of
            Species                          Total number                total fish  caught
            *Leiostomus xanthurus               209,584                         61.46
             Anchoa mitchilli                   77,370                          22.69
            *Micropogonias undulatus            17,244                          5.06
             Bairdiella chrysoura               11,097                          3.25
            *Brevoortia tyrannus                10,338                          3.03
            *Cynoscion regalis                    7,465                         2.19
             Lagodon rhomboides                   3,168                         0.93
            *Paralichthys lethos.tigma            1,297                         0.38
             Trinectes maculatus                   642                          0.19

             Gobiosoma bosci                       275                          0.08

            *Anguilla rostrata                     242                          0.07
             Lucania parva                         230                          0.07
             Microgobius thalassinus               217                          0.06
             Cynoscion nothus                      167                          0.05
            *Peprilus alepidotus                   159                          0.05
            *Mugil cephalus                        136                          0.04
             Eucinostomus gula                     117                          0.03
             Urophycis regia                       116                          0.03
             Anchoa,hepsetus                         96                         0.03
             Caranx hippos                           95                         0.03
            *Paralichthys dentatus                   87                         0.02

            *Commercially important species

                                                                                               65

                Shealy et al. 1974). The relatively shallow estuarine waters of North Carolina
                offer habitat for numerous species; however, a few particular species, such as
                spot, croaker, bay anchovies, weakfish, silver perch, and menhaden dominate the
                areas sampled. Species numerically dominating estuarine waters are migratory,
                usually returning to the ocean or more open waters to spawn. Weinstein (1979)
                noted the importance of these species to the ecology of the shallow marsh
                habitat in southern North Carolina. He observed that if the transient species
                of the shallow marsh community were removed, the remaining year-round
                inhabitants would form a community noted for the scarcity of its taxa.

                                            Interregion Comparisons

                     The largest number of specie s (61) was captured in the southern area. Pre-
                vious investigations also found more species in the southern area relative to
                other state regions (Carpenter 1979; Ross 1980, in press). Carpenter (1979)
                attributed the high number of species in the southern region to the influx of
                stenohaline marine species and to the occurrence of more warm  water species. The
                relatively high exchange of water in the area's estuaries with the Atlantic Ocean
                provides fish with easily accessible habitat, characterized by desirable higher
                salinities. The lack of such habitat in the northern area may account for the
                death of stenohaline marine species in that area's collections.

                     The most abundant species (spot, bay anchovy, Atlantic croaker) were similar
                in percent composition among regions (Table 4). Spot and bay anchovies composed
                the majority of the juvenile catch by number and appeared.ubiquitous. Copeland
                and Birkhead (1972) and Weinstein (1979) found spot, croaker, and bay anchovies
                to dominate catches in the southern area. Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974) and
                Purvis (1976) found similar species compositions in the central and northern areas.
                Spot were much more common and caught in higher quantities in the central and
                northern areas during 1981 than during -any other similar Division investigation.
                Spot composed 63% and 54% of the total catch in each area, compared to 35% and 40%
                during 1979 and 1980 (Ross 1980, in press). Purvis (1976) found  'spot accounted
                for 55% of the commercially-important individuals captured in a juvenile survey
                during 1974-75 in the northern region. Spot represented 79% of the commercially-
                important species captured in 1981.   In the central area during 1972-73,
                Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974) found that spot composed 45% of the commercially-..
                important fish captured, compared to 90% of the catch in 1981.

          Tabl e 4.  Total numbers and percent of total catch by area for selected species captured by trawl in North Carolina
                     estuarine waters, October-November, 1980 and March-July, 1981.

                                                                                  Areas

                                             Northern                             Central                          Southern

                                                     Percent of area's              Percent of area's               Percent of area's
         .Species                         - N       total number              N     total number              N     total number
          *Leiostomus xanthurus          63,111           53.9             92,623         63.4            53,680          68.0
           Anchoa mitchilli              28,970           24.7             37,966         26.0            10,434          13.2
          *Micropogonias undulatus        7,307           6.2               5,165         @.5              6,082          7.7
           Balrdlella chrysoura           7,162           6.1               3,808,        2.6                 90          0.1
          *Cynoscio'n regalis             4 , -07 -07 3   4.2               2,455         1.7                 18          0.1
          *Brevoortia tyrannus            3,830           3.3               1,810         1.2              4,688          5.9
          *Paralichthys lethostigma         405           0.3                 547         0.4                 345         0.4
           Lagodon rhomboides               205           0.2                 390         0.3              2,505          3.2
           Trinectes maculatus              186           0.2                 420         0.3                 36          0.1

           Total Number                 117,429                           146,061                         78,873

          *Commercially important species

                                                                                                                                             CA

                                                                                                 67

                      Differences in annual species composition between regions were also noticeable
                 with Atlantic croaker. In 1981 croaker were less abundant in juvenile trawl
                 catches than during any other similar investigation. Croaker composed only 3% of
                 the central region's catch in 1981, compared to 8% in 1979 and 29% in 1980 (Ross,
                 1980, in press). Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974) found croaker accounting for 29%0 of
                 the commercially-important species in the central area during 1972-73. In 19815
                 croaker representedonly 5% of the@commercial species captured -in the region. Croaker
                 accounted for only 6% of the northern area's total catch during 1981, compared to
                 15% and 24%,found in 1979 and 1980 (Ross 1980, in press). In the southern area,
                 Atlantic croaker composed 8% of the total catch. Weinstein (1979) reported that
                 croaker were vi.rtually absent in the tidal creeks of the Cape Fear region, while
                 Copeland and Birkhead (1972) Tisted croaker as one of the more abundant species in
                 the lower.Cape Fear.

                      Juvenile Atlantic menhaden were common in all three regions. Previous
                 investigators noted the species' abundance in catches (Carpenter 1979; Ross 1980,
                 in press). In 1981 menhaden represented 1% to 6% of the total catch in each region,
                 with the highest occurrence found in the southern area. Purvis (1976) and
                 Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974) found that juvenile menhaden represented somewhat
                 higher percentages in previous surveys of the northern and central regions; however,
                 studies in 1979 and 1980 found menhaden abundances similar to this study (Ross 1980,
                 in press).
                     Other  distinct differences in relative abundance of species between regions
                 were noted with weakfish, silver perch, and pinfish. Weakfish were more common in
                 catches from the northern and central regions, comprising up to 4% of the total
                 catch. Juvenile weakfish catches in the southern area were insignificant in 1981,
                 a phenomenon also reported by Carpenter (1979) and Ross (1980, in press). In
                 contrast, Hobbie (1971) and Copeland and Birkhead (1972) reported weakfish as the
                 most abundant juvenile finfish in the lower Cape Fear. Weakfish composed a major
                 part of the total juvenile catch in the northern and central areas, ranking fifth
                 in abundance in each region and representing 4% (northern) and 2% (central) of the
                 catch in each region. These percentages are somewhat higher than those found
                 during 1979 (0.3%) and 1980 (0.5%) (Ross 1980, in press). The i.ncreases.were at
                 least partially due to the addition of a smaller mesh tail bag to the secondary
                 areas' sampling gear. Silver perch also occurred in low numbers in the southern.
                 area and relatively high numbers in the northern and central regions. Silver

                                                                                            68

               perch were more abundant in trawl catches during 1981 than  in 1979 and 1980,
               composing 6% of the northern area's and 3% of the central area's total catch.
               The inverse situation holds true for pinfish, where numbers were much higher
               in the southern area than either the northern or central areas.

                                               Major Species

                    Seven species of fish are discussed in detail. These species were chosen
               because of their economic importance and high abundance.

                              Brevoortia tyrannus (Latrobe)-Atlantic menhaden

                    The Atlantic menhaden yield the highest harvest volume of any single fish
               species in North Carolina and the entire Atlantic coast. Itis utilized for fish
               meal, oils, and fish solubles. Atlantic menhaden range from Nova Scotia to Florida,
               spawning in some part of their range during almost every month (Hildebrand 1963,
               Higham and Nicholson 1964). Off  North Ca rolina, menhaden spawn during early winter
               through early spring (Lewis and Mann 1971). After hatching offshore, larvae are
               transported to estuarine waters by currents and tides. Once in estuarine waters,
               larval menhaden move upstream into lower salinities to metamorphose into juveniles
               (June and Chamberlain 1959, Wilkens and Lewis 1971). Metamorphosis usually begins
               at 30 mm FL and is generally complete as the fish approach 40 mm FL (Hildebrand 1963).
               Juveniles, grow rapidly (20-30 mm per month) while in estuaries, where the fish
               generally remain until fall. Juvenile migration towards open water is usually
               completed by late fall, with most of the young moving into the ocean and some over-
               wintering in the estuaries (Kinnear 1973). A large menhaden purse-seine fishery
               exists in North Carolina primarily exploiting age 1 and 2 menhaden (Nicholson 1972).
               Landings during 1981 were 140,350 mt (K. B. We st, pers. comm..). The fishery also
               expl-oi ts.- migrat-ing-young:-Iof-the7wyear during.,the."lat61al I.

                    Atlantic menhaden was the most abundant clupeid captured (10,338 individuals).
               Menhaden were present in the estuaries throughout the sampling period, except during
               November in the southern area (Figure 5). Peak numbers of juvenile menhaden were
               observed in spring. New recruits were first captured in all three regions during
               March, at a size range of 25-48 mm FL (Figure 6). Recruitment began some time
               earlier as indicated by the large size of juveniles. Recruitment extended through

                                                                                                                                      69

                 ,q-   N                                             1/4             C                                             1/4
                                                                  13 3/4                                                       a 3/4
                 3                                       )3- - - - - - - -                                             a---     D- - -- a   _    I
                 2-

                                                                                                     0
              x
              @o
              C>4                                                    1/4            TOTAL                                          1/4
                                                                     3/4                                                           3/4

                 2

                                                                                                    '13
                 1-                                               0-

                       0         N      M        A       M        i       j         0        N       M        A        M
                                           MONTH                                                        MONTH

                 Figure 5.       Seasonal abundance         of Brevoortia tyrannus           in primary (1/4")         and secondary
                                 (3/4") trawl stations in North Carolina during'October and November, 1980
                                 and March - July, 1981. N=northern area, C=central area, S=southern area.
                                 Addition of 1/4" mesh tail bag to 3/4" trawl is denoted by
                                                                                                                               0 3/4
                                                                                                 /13- - @-D-

                                              50-                                                                      70

                                              25-                                     MAR
                                                                                      nz 334

                                                5-

                                              90-

                                              75-

                                              So-

                                              25                                     APR
                                         >-                                          n  1,023

                                         z
                                         LLI

                                         w
                                         ir-
                                         U-
                                              65-

                                              50

                                              25-                                   MAY
                                                                                    n= 923

                                                                                    JUN
                                              15-                                   nz 518

                                              5-

                                                                                    JUL
                                                                                    n = 152
                                              5-

                                                0              50             100
                                                                FORK LENGTH (mm)

                                                Figure 6. Length frequencies Of Brevoortia tyrannus
                                                             captured in primary stations in North Carolina
                                                             (March-July,1981).

                                                                                                 71

                spring, for small fish (less than 25 mm FL) were caught through May. Previous
                investigators have found extended recruitment periods, beginning as early as
                November and extending as late as June. Lewis and Mann (1971) and Wilkens and
                Lewis (1971) found larvel menhaden recruited into North Carolina waters from
                November through May, with large peaks occurring from January through March.
                Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974), Purvis (1976), and Wolff (1976) found that
                recruitment into Pamlico Sound began in February and extended into late spring/
                early summer according to length frequency data. Weinstein (1979) first
                captured young menhaden during March in the Cape Fear River.

                     Peak juvenile menhaden abundance was observed during April in the shallow
                waters of the northern and southern areas, and during May in the central region.
                Relatively high nu mbers of small menhaden (25-60 mm FL) were also captured in
                the secondary areas during April in the central and southern regions. Weinstein
                also noticed that menhad en utilized the open waters of the Cape Fear River soon
                after juvenile recruitment. He found that juvenile menhaden preferred the main-
                stem of the river as nursery habitat and attributed the phenomenon to menhaden's
                feeding preference for zooplankton. As the season progressed, numbers decreased
                in the shallow areas of all three regions, but more rapidly in the southern area.
                Corresponding with decreases in juvenile abundance of the shallow areas were
                increases in the open, deeper waters of the northern and central regions. The
                decreases were apparently due to menhaden migration out of the pri mary habitat
                waters. Juvenile abundance data from secondary stations in the southern area
                indicated that menhaden move rapidly from tidal creeks to open waters, and were
                not nearly as abundant in the region by July. Menhaden were least abundant at
                all stations in the fall, when most juveniles had migrated out of nursery areas
                into the sounds and ocean.

                     At least two menhaden year classes utilized both the upper tributaries and
                open waters during March through July (Figures 6 and 7). In addition to new
                recruits, menhaden greater than 75 mm FL were also captured-in March and April.
                Menhaden range between 50 and 165 mm FL when they form their first annulus and
                growth differentiation among individuals in a year class results in tremendous
                size ranges for menhaden of the same age (Kroger et al. 1974). The larger
                individuals found in March and April were probably small age 1 fish that over-
                wintered in the estuaries or later-spawned northern menhaden that migrated into

                                                                                                         72

                                                                                                MAR
                                                                                                n= 30

                   5-
                   O-_                                                                          T         I

                   15-
                                                                                                APR
                   5-                                                                           n =228
                   0

              z
              LLJ  15-

                                                                                                MAY
                                                                                                n=308
              w
              a:   5
              U_
                                          T_

                   15-

                                                                                                JUN
                                                                                                .n=258
                   5                                                                                      r

                   15-
                                                                                                JUL
                                                                                                n =289

                   5-

                   0-
                     0                   50                    100                  150                 200
                                                  FORK LENGTH (mm)

                     Figure.7. Length frequencies Of Brevoortia tyrannus mtured in secondary
                                 stations in North Carolina (March-July, 1981

                                                                                                 73

                 North Carolina estuaries. After April,separation of year classes by length
                 frequency modes was difficult, due to mixing of faster growing young-of-the-
                 year and smaller yearlings. Previous length frequency data also indicated
                 at least two year classes present in the tributaries of Pamlico Sound, mainly
                 during winter through spring (Williams and Deubler 1978a, Spitsbergen and Wolff
                 1974, Purvis 1976). General estimates of young-of-the-year mehnaden growth
                 approximated by length frequency modes are presented in Table 5.

                                  Anchoa mitchilli (Valenciennes)-Bay anchovy

                      Although many finfish species are not commercially important, they
                 potentially serve an important role in the transfer of energy within the
                 estuarine system (Subrahmanyan and Drake 1975). One such species is the bay
                 anchovy, which feeds on various types of zooplankton and in turn is fed upon by
                 many predacious estuarine fish. Bay anchovies appear abundant throughout their
                 range of Massachusetts to Texas (Hildebrand 1963). Perret et al. (1971) stated
                 that this species probably has the greatest biomass of any fish in the South
                 Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico estuaries. Bay anchovies spawn nearshore in the
                 Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico and also in estuaries and sounds throughout
                 their range (Kuntz 1914, Hildebrand and Cable 1930). The species has a prolonged
                 spawning season, lasting from March through December (Hildebrand and Schroeder
                 1928, Kilby 1955). Spawning in North Carolina occurs from late April to early
                 September, with peak activity in July (Kuntz 1914, Hildebrand and Cable 1930).
                 Very little specific information exists on juvenile movement into and out of
                 estuaries. Gunter (1945) and Christmas and Waller (1973) documented offshore
                 movement of bay anchovies in the Gulf of Mexico during winter.

                     The bay anchovy was the second most abundant species captured (77,370 indi-
                 viduals), representing almost 23% of the total catch. Bay anchovies were
                 captured consistently during the sampling period, but were most abundant in
                 early spring (Figure 8). Relatively low-numbers in the secondary stations during
                 fall in the southern region and during fall and early spring in the northern region
                 could be partially attributed to sampling gears that were selective for larger
                 fish. Previous studies in North Carolina have also found bay anchovies to be one
                 of the most abundant and ubiquitious fish inhabiting estuarine waters (Carpenter
                 1979; Ross 1980, in press).

           Table 5.     Length data for age 0 year class individuals of selected species in North Carolina estuarine waters, all
                        station collections combined by area.* (N=northern area, C=central area, S=southern area.)

                                  M;irqh                       April                          May                           June                          July
                                                                                                                                                  N         C
        Species           N         C         S         N         C         S                   C         S         N         C                                        S
        Leiostomus xanthurus*
         Mean length      26.3     27.8       27.4      38.7      41.4      35.5     44.2      47.1       39.2     55.4      58.0      43.4      70.9       71.8    61.
         Range          17-39      17-40     15-41    19-68     18-65     20-69    21-89      27-79     27-73    36-89      27-99     31-80    46-116    40-106   38-10
         Sample size      331        644       478    1,257     1,850       710    1,273      1,842       656    1,317      2,027        682     1,176    1,664      52

        Micropogonias undulatus
         Mean length 35.7          25.2       34.9      38.0      40.2      28.6      49.5      51.3     45.2      82.4      66.7      72.1      99.8     101.6     81.
         Range          22-38      9-56      21-57    25-78     10-78     16-72    21-96     26-104     18-95    26-126    28@133    30-168    55-148    61-163   50-14
         Sample size          3       95        35       344       297      262        715       473      344    1,068         739       393      889       610      22

        Cynoscion regalis
         Mean length      -                                                                                        50.4      47.8      74        71.1       75.5    -
         Range            -                                                                                      14-99      18-81      -       30-120    31-129     -
         Sample size      -                                                                                          216        79      1         642       465     -

        Brevoortia tyrannus*
         Mean length 34.3          35.0       31.5      34.8      36.6      38.0      37.5     45.3       39.8     53.4      51.4      54.0      62.3       69.0    61.
         Range          28-39      30-39     25-38    18-53     21-66      23-97   26-81      21-86     25-62    34-87      31-91      37-89     42-98    43-96    42-9
         Sample size      193          33       96       574       309      419        537       394      289        216       342        44      254       145        2

                                                                                                                                                                -4
                                                                                                                                                                -P.

       Table   5.(continued)

                                    March                                  1                                                           June                              ju y
       Species             N          C                     N          C          S          N          C          S          N          C          S          N          C         S
       Anchoa mitchilli*
        Mean length 46.8              42.6      41.8       43.0       46.0       51 .5      45.2        50.4      49.3       44.0      51.2         49.8       46.7      42.2 40.0
        Range          ;-'@22-89    20-76      21-71      22-82      23-86      29-93      20-82      19-96      28-83      16-86      20-96      19-86      16-92    17-106 20-84
        Sample s i ze.@!;,- 414        838        234        803        740        511        583        709        476        879     1,432         401     1,174       1,438      308

       Bairdielia 6hrysoura
        Mean length;,,:,                                                                                                     29.0      23.6                    46.0      53.3     68.0
        Range                                                                                                               12-67      11-42                16-103       19-82   51-88
        Sample sizo.@                                                                                                          727        370                   790        580      24

       Paralichthys      lethostigm
        Mean length        19.2       20.4       26.8      31 .3.      38.1       38.9      63.5        54.7      51.7       77.8      81.4         63.8       87.9      89.6       -
        Range            12-25      15-28      10-38      37-54      21-57      26-70     27-122      29-81      38-81    42-120      42-149      54-92     62-124     43-137       -
        Sample size           13        12         86         80        126        144         99         84         15         77         96           6         75         90

       -'!-*Species were measured in        fork length (mm), others in total length (mm).

                                                                                                                         76

                   N                                              1/4    C                                          0 1/4
                                                               0 3/4                                                o 3/4

                                                               -         Ck
                                                          13-

             3-                                    CT'                              ---a-

             2-

                                  )3,

          +
          x  0-
          05-      S                                              1/4    TOTAL                                       1/4
          -1                                                  C) 3/4                                                 3/4

             4-

             3-

                                                                  0
             2-

                                   6
             0

                   0       N       11      A      M       4       J       0      N       IA     A       M      J       J
                                     MONTH                                                 MONTH

                   Figure  8.    Seasonal abundance.of Anchoa mitchilli in primary,.(1/4") and secondary
                                 (3/4") trawl stations in North.Carolina during October and November, 1980
                                 and MarcK ------July.-l98l. 'N=northern area,. C=central area, S=southern area.
                                            .1 -
                              .,..Addition,,.t:.O"/4,",@m,esh -tail bag to the 3/4" trawl is denoted by
                                                          13

                                                                                                   77
                      Bay anchovy recruitment appeared continuous, with individuals 15-20 mm FL
                 found from March through July in the upper tributaries (Figure 9). Two apparent
                 peaks of abundance in the primary stations were observed and were probably
                 associated with juvenile recruitment. One peak was noted during March in the
                 primary stations of all three regions. These fish were predominantly 25-50 mm FL,
                 and apparently were the result of recruitment during fall or winter. The other
                 abundance peak (July) for the northern and central regions was the reault of large
                 numbers of new recruits (15-30 mm FL) first captured during June and reaching peak
                 numbers a month later.  Previous investigators have also noticed continuous bay
                 anchovy recruitment in North Carolina waters. Williams and Deubler (1968a) found
                 the greatest numbers of small anchovies in the Neuse River during June through
                 August, with individuals less than 25 mm TL caught year around. Hobbie (1971)
                 observed large numbers of bay anchovy larvae during June through August in the
                 Cape Fear River. Mean lengths calculated from length frequency modes, also
                 indicated continuous recruitment, as lengths increased and decreased randomly
                 from month to month within areas (Table 5). Weinstein (1979) also reported monthly
                 decreasing bay anchovy lengths in the Cape Fear River that were probably the
                 result of bay anchovy recruitment.

                      Length frequencies were essentially unimodal in the upper tributaries until
                 June, when large numbers of newly recruited bay anchovies were captured. Most of
                 the recruits were found in the shallow marsh and creak habitat; however, gear
                 selectivity may have accounted for low recruit numbers in deeper waters. The
                 secondary areas were inhabited by large quantities of bay anchovies during summer,
                 ranging from 45 to 75 mm FL (Figure 10). Those fish possibly had migrated from
                 primary areas as indicated by length frequencies and abundance data. Migration into
                 open waters was observed during April and May for the southern region, as shown  by
                 large increases in anchovy abundance in the secondary areas, accompanied by decreased
                 catches in primary areas. Abundance in.the secondary areas of the northern and
                 dentral regions in-creased,"gradually from spring through summeri. and primary 'station
                 catches decreased f rom -@March -through May". -Say anchovi es -,'Were sti 11 abundant i n
                 estuar-in-e--.waters during October and November.

                                  Bairdiella chrysoura (Lacepede)-Silver perch

                     Silver perch is a common sciaenid, ranging from New York to Texas (Hildebrand
                 and Schroeder 1928). The species is.commonly found throughout the year in estuarine

                                                                                                              MAR
                              50-                                                                             n: 1,300               78

                              25-

                                 5-

                              100-                                                                            APR
                                                                                                              n= 1,904

                              75-

                              50-

                              25

                                 54   . . . .
                                                                             r
                              50-                                                                             MAY
                                                                                                                 1,072

                              25-

                          z      5
                          w

                                                                                                              JUN
                          w                                                                                   nz 1,649

                          LL. 50-

                              25-

                                 5

                              100-
                                                                                                              JUL
                                                                                                              n 1,913

                              75-

                              25-

                                 5-
                                                                                                                                 T--r
                                 0                                           50          (MW      75                    100
                                                               FORK, LENGTH

                                 Figure 9.       Leh'th frequencies of Anchoa mitchilli
                                                                                                            captured    in primary
                                                 stationt in North Carolina,(Marr-h-July, 1981).

                                                                                                                              79

                                                                                                            MAR
                                                                                                            n -- 186

                                    15-

                                    5-

                                                                                                            APR
                                    25-                                                                     nz 394

                                    5-

                                    -                                                                       MAY
                                                                                                               686

                                    25-

                             Z'
                             LIJ    5j

                             LLI    50-                                                                     JUN
                             Cr                                                                             s1z 13082
                             LL

                                    2

                                    50-                                                                   JUL
                                                                                                           n: Ia52

                                    25-

                                    5
                                    0-
                                    0                  25                   50                  715 j    I   I   1 100
                                                                    FORK LENGTH (rnm)

                                    Figure 10. Length frequencies Of Anchoa mitchilli captured in
                                                    secondary stations in North Carolina (March-July, 1981).

                                                                                                   80

                waters of'the south Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, but is usually most abundant
                during late summer or early fall (Gunter 1938, Dahlberg and Odum 1970, Chao and
                Musick 1977).    Spawning of silver perch is considered to take place in estuarine
                or nearshore oceanic waters. Numerous investigators have noted that silver perch
                spawn from spring to summer throughout their range. Dahlberg (1972) found that
                spawning in Georgia occurred during April and May. Hildebrand and Cable (1930)
                found eggs from April to June in North Carolina while Chao and Musick (1977)
                thought spawning ranged from late spring to early summer in Chesapeake Bay. After
                hatching, young juveniles migrate to various estuarine habitats, where they grow
                rapidly.(Hildebrand and Cabl.e 1930). Most juveniles begin migration during        fall
                into more open waters and by winter, the majority have moved offshore (Gunter
                1945, Christmas and Waller 1973, Chao and Musick 1977). Due to their small size,
                silver perch are not commercially important in North Carolina, but commonly occur
                in the bycatch of other fisheries.

                     A total of 11,097 silver perch were captured during the study period, repre-
                senting 3% of the total finfish catch and ranking fourth in total abundance.
                Catches of silver perch fluctuated greatly within each region. Individuals were
                present in estuarine waters throughout the sampling period, except in the northern
                area, where none were caught during November, March, and May (Figure 11). A
                noticeable increase in abundance occurred during June and July in the northern and
                central areas, attributable to recruitment of young-of-the-year into estuarine
                waters. Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974) and Purvis (1976) observed high numbers of
                small silver perch in Pamlico Sound slightly later (July-August).         Very low catches
                of juvenile silver perch were observed in the southern area relative to the other
                two state regions, especially during June and July. Individuals thought to be
                young -of-the-year ranged in size from 8 to 50 mm TL in the primary stations, with
                a mode of about 25 mm TL (Figure 12). In the secondary stations young-of-the-
                year ranged from 8 to 67 mm TL, with the majority about 30 mm TL during June. The
                large size range for newly recruited young-of-the-year was also observed by Shealy
                et al. (1974) and Chao and Musick (1977). Although recruitment primarily occurred
                in June, a few individuals less than 20 mm TL were noted during July. Recruitment
                peri ods as indicated by length frequencies,agreed with the reported spawni.ng
                period of late April to late June (Hildebrand and Cable 1930).

                     The easily discernible length frequency modes and mean lengths calculated
                from those modes indicated that young-of-the-year growth was rapid (Table 5).

                                                                                     81

                                           1/4                                    1/4
                                        0 V4                                     3/4

           3-
          =2-

          -0
          04 - S                           1/4        TOTAL                       1/4
          0                                3/4                                 0 3/4___

          _j
           3

                                                      Ck
           2-             P_ - -E3                                     MI

                0          M    A                      0         M     A
                            MONTH                                  MONTH

              Figure 11. Seasonal abundance Of Bairdlella chrysoura' in primary (1/4") and
                         secondary (3/4") trawl' stations in.North Carolina during October and
                         November'- 1980 and March-July 1981. N=northern' area, C=central area,
                         S=touthern area. Addition'01/4" mesh tail bag to the 3/4" trawl
                         is denoted by

                                                                                                            MAR        82
                                                                                                            n=49

                                                                                                            AtR
                       51                                                                                   n - 15

                                                                                                            JUN
                       50-                                                                                  nz-855

                  z
                  Ld   25-

                                                                                                            JUL
                       25-                                                                                  nx 965

                       5-
                       0-
                         0               go               160               15,0             200               250
                                                            TOTAL LENGTH (MM)

                                                                                                            MAR
                                                                                                            nz8

                       5-

                                                                                                                I
                                                                                                            APR
                                                                                                            P=50

                                                                                                            MAY
                  Q    5j                                                                                   nZI
                  z
                  LjLj
                       20-                                                                                  JUN
                                                                                                            n =299

                  a:
                  LL.  5-

                                                                                                            JUL
                       20-                                                                                  n=419

                       5-
                       0 i
                         0               50               wo                150              200               2@0
                                                            TOTAL LENGTH (mm)

                    Figure 12. Length frequencfes Gf Bairdiella chrysoura.captured in                       primary
                                    (A) and secondary (B) stations in North Carolina (March-July, 1981).

                                                                                                 83

                 Length estimates corresponded with observations of Hildebrand and Cable (1930)
                 and Christmas and Waller '(1973), who noted an average monthly growth of 15 mm TL
                 during the warmer months in North Carolina and Mississippi, respectively.
                 Hildebrand and Cable (1930) found that silver perch averaged 120 mm TL by the
                 end of their first year. Length frequency plots also showed that at least two
                 year classes of silver perch utilized estuarine waters.. The majority of the
                 larger fish (greater than 90 mm TQ captured during March through May appeared
                 to be the result of the previous spring/summer spawn. Other investigators have
                 noted similar sizes of perch in estuaries during spring (Dahlberg 1972, Shealy
                 et al. 1974, and Chao and Musick 1977). Some yearlings were still present in the
                 estuaries when recruitment of the new year class first occurred, but by July had
                 migrated out of the creeks and bays.

                      Very few silver perch were found in estuarine waters during the fall, except
                 in the open waters of the northern and central areas, where a large number of
                 individuals 95-175 mm TL were captured. Abundance data indicated that most of the
                 perch had migrated out of the estuarine tributaries by November. Abundance data
                 also exhibited an apparent difference in habitat preference by silver perch
                 juveniles between the northern and central areas during recruitment. Recruits in
                 northern Pamlico Sound were abundant in both shallow.tributaries and open waters,
                 while those in western Pamlico Sound were noticeably more common in shallow
                 tributaries than in open-waters.

                               Cynoscion regalis (Bloch and Schneider)-Weakfish

                      The weakfish or gray trout is a littoral sciaenid, commonly found from
                 Massachusetts to Florida (Hildebrand and Cable 1934). Weakfish is a major commercial
                 and recreational species from North Carolina to New York (Bigelow and Schroeder
                 1953). Historically, most of the commercial catch came from off the coasts of New
                 York and New Jersey, but since 1958,.North.Carolina has been the major weakfish-
                 producing state along the Atlantic coast. North Carolina weakfish landings have
                 risen rapidly since 1975, reaching 9.196 mt in 1980 (K.B. West,pers. comm).
                 Although weakfish are presently relatively abundant, the stocks have apparently
                 fluctuated widely in abundance (Joseph 1972).

                   @ More information has been published about the reproductive biology of weakfish
                 than any other sciaenid studied along the Atlantic coast of the United States.

                                                                                                       84

                Several researchers have reported weakfish spawning around the inlets and in
                nearshore areas along the coast of North Carolina (Welsh and Breder 1923, Higgins
                and Pearson 1928, Hildebrand and Cable 1934). Merriner (1976) noted that weakfish
                may also spawn in.North Carolins's sounds and bays. Weakfish spawning has been
                documented along the Atlantic coast from the Gulf of Maine to Georgia (Pearson
                1941, Harmic 1958, Dahlberg 1972). The magnitude of northern area spawning is
                unknown (Merriner 1976). Harmic (1958) concluded that spawning activity north of
                Chesapeake Bay was insufficient to maintain the northern stock. Questions remain
                as to whether Chesapeake Bay and nearshore waters serve as major weakfish spawning
                grounds (Chao and Musick 1977). Massman (1963) suggested the southern spawning
                stocks may provide Chesapeake Bay's weakfish population.

                     Merriner (1976) reported weakfish spawning in North Carolina from March through
                August and reported peak spawning activity from April through June. He also observed
                a second spawn of smaller magnitude in late July and August. After hatching,
                weakfish larvae are dispersed by either wind or lunar tides into the estuaries
                (Hildebrand and Cable 1934, Massman et al. 1958). The sounds and bays of North and
                South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland serve-as nursery grounds for young juveniles
                along the Atlantic coast (Merriner 1973). Growth is rapid once the weakfish enter
                the estuaries (Pearson 1941, Massman et al. 1938, Merriner 1973). The juveniles
                remain in the estuaries until late fall or realy winter, when they migrate to
                deeper, more open waters (Hildebrand and Cable 1934, Massman et al. 1958, Merriner
                1973).

                     Weakfish are exploited by many fisheries in North Carolina. Long haul seines
                and pound nets are two major gears used to harvest weakfish in Pamlico Sound and
                its tributaries. Wolff (1972) stated that substantial numbers of small weakfish
                were taken incidentally with shrimp trawls, long haul seines, and pound nets.
                In recent years, a large offshore winter trawl fishery for weakfish has developed
                along the North Carolina coast.

                     A total of 7,365 weakfish were captured during the investigation, represent-
                ing 2% of the total finfish-catch. Weakfish were captured thr     o.ughout the study
                period, except during November, March,-and Apri-l in the northern area, March in
                the central area, and November and March in the southern area (Figure.13). They
                were not abundant anywhere until June and July, when large numbers of newly
                recruited you.ng-of-the-year were captured. Juveniles were captured only in the

                                                                                                                          85

               4-                                             1/4           C                                        1/4
                                                            a 3/4  A                                                 3/4
                                                                                                                         '13

               2-

             +

             X

             kD
             04-     S                                        1/4           TOTAL                                    1/4
             _j                                             13 3/4                                                13 3/4/

                                                                                                                  1P

                                                                                                          _d

               0-1
                     0       N       M       A      M       i      1        0       N      M       A       M       j      i
                                       MONTH                                                  MONTH

                  Figure 13.      Seas onal abundance of cynoscion regalis in primary (1/4") and
                                  secondary (3/4") trawl stations in North Carolina during October
                                  and November, 1980 and March-July 1981. N=northern area, C=ce'ntral
                                  area, S=southern area. Addition of 1/4" mesh tail bag to the 3/4"
                                  trawl is denoted by

                                                                                               86

               northern and central regions, with tributaries of Pamlico Sound serving as
               the major nursery areas. Juvenile weakfish were first noted during June at a
               size range of 19-99 mmTL (Figures 14 and 15). Recruitment times in Pamlico
               Sound indicated that spawning occurred earlier than previously reported by
               Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974) and Purvis (1976). Recruitment times substantiated
               Merriner's (1976) conclusion that the weakfish spawning peak occurred from late
               April/early May through June in North Carolina. Peak weakfish numbers were
               observed during July, when large quantities of young-of-the-year were present
               in the estuaries, agreeing with the findings of former Pamlico Sound investi-
               gations (Purvis 1976; Ross 1980, in press).   Hobbie (1971) noted peak abundance
               of young weakfish in the Cape Fear River during July and commented that weakfish
               was the most abundant finfish in the estuary from summer through fall. In
               contrast, Ross (1980, in press) and the present investigation found very low
               numbers of weakfish in the southern region. No weakfish were captured in the
               primary stations of the southern region.

                    Length frequencies and mean lengths calculated from length frequency modes
               (Table 5) indicated rapid growth for juveniles, agreeing with the results of
               previous investigations (Hildebrand and Cable 1932, Massman et al. 1958, Chao
               and Musick 1977). Length frequenc ies showed at least two size classes present in
               estuarine tributaries. The few weakfish captured in the fall of 1980 (57-210 mm TQ
               appeared to be young-of-the-year and yearlings. During the spring, relatively large
               individuals (89-188 mm TQ were still evident in the tributaries. The majority were
               probably approaching a year in age. Extended and multiple spawning made separation
               of year classes by size.difficult, except during major recruitment periods. Two size
               modes were obvious in June and July. Fish, greater than 120 mm TL were probably
               yearlings, while those less than 120 mm TL were probably a mixture of slowergrowing!
               later recruited individuals of the 1980 year class and newly recruited.you.ng-of-the
               year. Merriner (1973) found most weakfish reached 200 mm TL their first year.

                    Weakfish were consistently more abundant in catches from the secondary stations
               (Figure 13). New recruits seemed to favor the secondary areas as nursery habitat,
               reaffirming similar observations by Spitsbergen and Wolff  -T9T4), Purvis(1976), and
               Baisden (1979). Most weakfish migrated out of the tributaries by late fall and did
               not return until April. Age 0 weakfish were more abundant in 1981 in the northern
               and central areas' primary stations than during 1979 and 1980 (Table 6). Catch-per-
               unit-effort data exhibited larger weakfish catches with the 3/4" trawl when the tail
               bag 'mesh size 'was.decreased in 1981.

                                                                                                                              87

                                                                                                           NOV
                                                                                                           n=1

                                                                                                           T       T-

                                                                                                           APR
                                                                                                           n:1

                                                                                                           MAY
                                   5-                                                                      nz- 6

                              z                                                         A /I r\ IN         f'k
                              Ld
                              D
                                                                                                           JUN
                                                                                                           n: 33

                                                                                                     ri

                                                                                                           JUL
                                                                                                           n: 310

                                  15-

                                   5-
                                   04
                                     I                            I                -T          I           V
                                     a                 50                  too                 w                 z
                                                                   TOTAL LENGTH                (mm)
                              Figure 14.       Length frequencies Of Cynoscion regalis' cap'tured in primary
                                               stations in North Carolina (October and November, 1980 and
                                               MArch-July,'.'1981).

                                                                                                                       88

                                                                                                         OCT
                                                                                                         n-- 29

                                                                                   C@n m

                                                                                                         NOV
                             5-                                                                          n -- 2

                                             T_

                                                                                                         APR
                             5-                                                                          n:20

                             5-                                                                          MAY

                                                                                ri-11    f, f\

                                                                                                         JUN
                                                                                                         n : 276

                            15-

                             5-

                                                                                     9     r1p

                                                                                                       JUL
                                                                                                       nz 843
                            ?5-

                             5-

                             0-       F                             CP      1)               P             r% r%
                               0             .50             100            150             200            250
                                                                TOTAL LENGTH (mm)

                          Figure 15. Length freqtiencies'of Cynoscion reg'alis captured                   in secondary
                                          stations in-North Caroli'na.(Octob6r and November               1980 and March-
                                          July,-1981.).

          Table     6. Catch per unit effort data (No. fish/trawl) by general area in North Carolina estuarine waters for major
                        commercial species, March           July, 1979-81.1

                                                                                         Northern Area

                                                     March                  April                    May                     June                     July

                                                 1/4       3/4          1/4       3/4          1/4        3/4           1/4         3/4          1/4         3/4
          Species                    Year      trawl      trawl       trawl      trawl       trawl       trawl         trawl       trawl        trawl      trawl
          Leiostomus                 1979      93.73       1.33       331.74     34.20       254.16       12.27        186.32        2.71       62.70        18.00
              xanthurus              1980      16.32       2.31       96.00      19.63       92.73        15.56        66.55        16.88       28.39        13.94
                                     1981      101.38      3.62       450.59     31.33       496.16      '7 15..9 32   143.39       13.072      55.37      311.6  92
          Micropogonias              1979      13.06       0.00       76.87       2.20       89.25        23.87        54.00        26.64       23.09        22.40
              undulatus              1980        1.39      0.19       30.34       1.88       67.36         4.38        69.15        24.44       32.15        12.56
                                     1981        0.15      0.00       22.28       1.53       32.19        47.202       29.12        76.732      19.13        "�0. 94 2
          Cynoscion                  1979        0.00      0.00         0.00      0.13         0.00        0.33         0.19         1.21        0.58         0.40
              regalls                1980        0.00      0.00         0.00      0.06         0.00        0.06         0.15         0.06        1.24         2.00
                                     1981        0.00      0.00         0.00      0.00         0.00        0.00         0.76        '34. 40 2    5.73      265.942
          Paralichthys               1979        0.03      0.07         1.81      0.00         1.50        1.13         1.29         0.86        0.70         0.47
              lethostigma            1980        0.71      0.38         1.06      0.44         2.48        0.25         2.24         0.69        1.58         1.13
                                     1981        0.54      0.00         2.56      0.13         2.42        1.602        2.00         1.202       2.10         1. 38 2
          No. trawls                 1979           33        15           31        15           32          15            31           14         33           15
          (units of effort)          1980           31        16           32        16           33          16            33           16         33           16
                                     11981          34        16           26        15           26          13            32           15          31           15

                                                                                                                                                                  00

            Table 6     (dontinued).

                                                                           Central Area

                                               March                April                  May                   June                 July
                                           1/4       3/4        1/4       3/4         1/4        3/4         1/4       3/4        1/4       3/4
            Species               Year     trawl    trawl       trawl   trawl        trawl     trawl        trawl    trawl       trawl     trawl
            Leiostomus            1979     41.14    37.56      357.32     16.89     247.49        1.50     159.21       2.67     73.14       5.22
               xanthurus          1980     1.02     54.61      124.11     15.50     115.60       18.442     53.20      20.39     36.11      14.39
                                  1981     63.51    .5.002     483.72   705.502     218.34     1132.56     178.00    673.282     65.67     333.942
            micropogonias         1979     4.65      4.44       63.52      3.33      50.09        5.31      32.00      15.17     17.36      12.67
               undulatus          1980     2.21     223.892     20.37     10.72      75.16       23.72      62.39      23.94     30.78      23.12
                                  1981     2.21      0.94.      9.14      33.892      6.79       31.942      9.63      60.672     4.37      52.942
            Cynoscion             1979     0.00      0.50       0.18       0.61       0.30        0.75       0.07       2.00      1.61       2.06
               regalis            1980     0.00      0.00       0.00       0.17       0.03        2.72       0.44       0.17      0.20       0.84
                                  1981     0.00      0.002      0.02       0.492      0.18        0.882      1.58      12.942     6.44     101.172.
            Paralichthys          1979     1.12      0.17       2.59       0.00       2.63        0.25       1.40       0.28      0.70       0.00
               lethostigIma       1980     0.22      0.78       1.33       1.23       2.73        0.17       1.44       0.62      1.04       0.67
                                  1981     0.44      0.83       3.12       0.56       2.08        1.60       2.49       1.20      1.40       1.38
            No. trawls            1979        43        18         44         18        43           16         43         18        44         18
            (units of effort)     1980        43        18         46         18        45           18         46         18        45         18
                                  1981        43                   43         18        43           18         43         18        38         16

                                                                                                                                               C)

           Table        (Aontinued).

                                                                                     Southern-Area

                                                   March                     April                     May                     June                  July
                                                1/4        3/4          1/4          3/4         1/4          3/4          1/4        3/4        1/4        3/4
           Species                  Year        trawl    trawl         trawl       trawl        trawl       trawl        trawl      trawl      trawl      trawl
           Leiostomus               1979       164.33      14.16      1004.22        3.67       186.06        2.50       74.33        2.67     45.78        2.42
              xanthurus             1980       112.94      78.67        405.39       59.42      257.00        13.33      87.17        2.08     46.72        2.50
                                    1981      558.28     257.752       1367.92      566.172     138.50      1453.942     112.17     46.252     40.67      -20.582
           Micropogonias            1979        2.67        0.50        12.44        1.67       16.28         1.42       23.56        9.08       9.22       2.50
              undulatus             1980        4.00       14.75        10.44       100.92      46.27         20.33      26.78      14.42      14.11        3.33
                                    1981        2.28       84.172       16.44      -156.082     17.61        137.172     12.83      25.502     13.67      -26.082
           Cynoscion                1979        0.00        0.08         0.00        0.00        0.00         0.17         0.00       0.50       0.00       0.33
              regalis               1980        0.00        0.17         0.00        1.33        0.00         0.50         0.00       0.17       0.00       0.08
                                    1981        0.00        0.00         0.00        0.332       0.00         0.582        0.00       0.332      0.00       0.172
           Paralichthys             1979        15.00       0.17         9.28        0.08        0.11         0.00         0.56       0.33       0.11       0.00
              lethostigma           1980        1.22        0.33         5.00        0.67 2      2.33         0.08 2       0.56       0.17       0.00       0.002
                                    1981        4.89        0.00        11.78        0.67        0.78         .0.67        0.28       -0.171-    0.00       -0.1.7
           No. trawls               1979           18         12            18          12           18          12           18         12         18         12
           (units of effort)        1980           18         12            18          12           18          12           18         12         18         12
                                    1981           18         12            18          12           18          12           18         12         18         12

            Tabl e  6.   (continued).

                                                                                 All Areas Combined

                                                   March                April                      May_                   June                 July
                                               1/4       3/4         1/4       3/4          1/4         3/4          1/4        3/4       1/4        3/4
            Species                 Year       trawl    trawl       trawl     trawl        trawl       trawl        trawl      trawl     trawl      trawl
            Leiostomus              1979      83.19     19.24      474.54      19.13       237.89       5.53        151.74       4.73    64.33        8.73
               xanthurus            1980      28.07     44.64       176.68     29.68       141.63      16.84        92.00       15.05 2  32.09       11.64
                                    1981     165.55     77.44      657.12      442.962     300.82      734.092      153.24     419.33    57.33      244.46'
            Micropogonias           1979       7.22      1.91       58.09        2.51      57.02       10.70        37.76       17.16    17.81       13.20
               undulatus            1980       2.28     95.68       23.03      32.59       70.75       16.84        61.24       22.61    45.98       14.93
                                    1981       1.61     15.512      15.08      55.692      18.08       66.632       17.09       56.642   11.08       59. 152
            Cynoscion               1979       0.00      0.22        0.09        0.29       0.14        0.44         0.10        1.34     0.95        1.04
               regalis              1980       0.00      0.05        0.00        0.45       0.01        1.27         0.27        0.14 2   0.55        1.09 2
                                    1981       0.00      0.00        0.01        0.552      0.08        0.492        0.99       16.73     4.93      141.90
            Paralichthys            1979       3.39      0.13        3.62        0.02       1.75        0.49         1.20        0.48     0.59        0.16
               lethostigma          1980       0.39      0.55        1.33        0.87.      2.71        0.18         1.63        0.55 2   1.09        0.41 2
                                    1981       1.39      0.352       4.60        0.442      1.93        1.302        1.89        0.84     1.35        1.50

            No. trawls              1979          94        45          93         45          93          43           92         44         95         45
            (units of effort)       1980          92        44          91         44           91         44           92         44         91         44
                                    1981          87        43          93         45          87          43           94         45         91         46

            'Data for 1979 taken    from Ross (1980);'data    for 1980.taken froi,,I  Ross (in press)..
            2A 1/4 inch bar mesh    tail bag was added to the 3/4 inch flat trawl in 1981 replacing the original 3/4 inch bar mesh
            @-'tail bag used in 1979-80.

                                                                                                                                                        ko
                                                                                                                                                        rIJ

                                                                                           93

                                    Leiostomus xanthurus (Lace'pede) Spot

                    The spot is a commercially and recreationally important sciaenid species
               found along the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico from Massachusetts to the
               Bay of Campeche (Chao 1978). Historically, a large commercial fishery existed
               for spot in the south Atlantic and Chesapeakc@. Bay (Pacheco 1962), but recently
               the major production area has shifted solely to the south Atlantic, with
               North Carolina the principal Atlantic coast state harvesting spot. Spot ranks
               third among North Carolina sciaenids in poundage and value, behind croaker and
               weakfish. Long haul seines and pound nets are the predominant gears that
               commercially harvest spot in North Carolina (Sholar 1979; DeVries 1981, 1982).
               These fisheries are principally located in Pamlico Sound and its tributaries. Spot
               are also landed in large numbers as bycatch i n the Pamlico Sound shrimp trawl
               fishery (Wolff 1972). During winter, spot are captured by the trawl fishery
               operating off the North Carolina coast (Pearson 1932).

                    Spot are one of the most frequently-studied sciaenids from the Gulf of
               Mexico and Atlantic coast. Spot along the Atlantic coast spawn during fall through
               winter, with the northern individuals usually spawning later than those in warmer
               waters (Dawson 1958, Pacheo 1962, Dahlberg 1972). The majority of spot apparently
               spawn offshore (Hildebrand and Cable 1930, Dawson 1958, Pacheco 1962). Postlarvae
               enter the estuaries of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts from late fall through spring
               (Dawson 1958, Sundararaj 1960, Pacheco 1962). Spot usually remain in the estuaries
               until the following fall, when a general migration to open waters begins (Dawson
               1958, Pacheco 1962, Chao and Musick 1977).

                    Spot was the most abundant finfish collected during the study. A total of
               209,584 individuals were caught, representing almost 62% of the total juvenile
               fish captured. Spot were present throughout North Carolina's coastal estuaries
               during the entire study period, being most abundant during spring and least abun-
               ,dant during fall (Figure 16).   Newly spawned juveniles first appeared in catches
               during March, at a size range of 15-41 mm FL (Figures 17 and 18). Small post-
               larvae (less than 15 mm TL) have been captured in North Carolina waters as early
               as December (Hildebrand and Cable 1930). Many North Carolina investigators have
               reported large numbers of new recruits during March and April (Tagatz and Dudley
               1961, Williams and Deubler 1968a, Wei nstein 1979). Small spot preferred the

                                                                                                    94

           5-   N                                       1/4  C                                      114
           4-                                        0 3/4                       IP-                3/4
                                                                                                    13
           3-                        ///41/                  CI,
                                   P                                a,

           2-

         x
           0-
                S                                       1/4   TOTAL                                1/4
                                                    0 3/4                                          3/4

           4-
                             P-                              Ck           10
           3-

           2-

           0-

                0      N     M      A     M      1            0     N      M     A     M
                               MONTH                                        MONTH
               Figure  16.  Seasonal abundance of-Leiosto=s    xanthurus.in primary (1/4")   and
                            secondary.(3/411) trawl stationt in North Carolina duri   'ng October
                            and Novdmber'-, 1980 and March-July, 1981.: Additi,6h*of 1/4" mesh
                                 bag,to-the-    n-trawl*is-denoted'by-"//'.
                            tail--           3/4
                                                       c

                                                                                                   3/

                                                                          _@3

                           -1                                                            OCT
                       2                                                                 n=203
                                                                                     ----- r------T-                                        95
                                                                                         NOV
                       20                                                                n=4

                                                                                         MAR
                       140-                                                                1,528

                       80-

                       20-

                       240-                                                            APR
                           -                                                            n 3,836

                       160-

                       80-

                       20,
                   z
                   LLJ 160.
                   CY      -                                                         MAY
                   w                                                                  n  3,019

                   LL.

                       so-

                       2
                                                       e;tz =:i-

                                                                                     JUN              Figure 17.        Length frequencies
                                                                                         2@SSO                          Of r_-iostomus xanthul.,
                                                                                                                        captured in primary
                                                                                                                        stations in North
                                                                                                                        CarGlina (October anj
                                                                                                                        November, 1980 and
                       20-                                                                                              March-July,' 1981).

                       so                                                            JUL
                                                                                     nz 2@268

                       2

                                        do.
                                                 FORK LENGTH (MM)

                                                                                                                                   OCT
                                                                                                                                   n=579                       96

                                        60-

                                        201
                                        60-                                                                                        NOV
                                           -                                                                                       n= 196
                                        20-

                                        60-                                                                                        MAR
                                                                                                                                   rn 7 4"16

                                        20-

                                                                                                                                   APR
                                        120-                                                                                       n = 2,634

                                        60-

                                        20-

                                                                                                                                   MAY
                                        180                                                                                        n z 1,348

                                 Z      120-
                                 LU        -
                                 D

                                 LLI    60-
                                 cc:
                                 Lj_    20

                                        ISO-                                                                                       JUN
                                                                                                                                   n  1,2T4

                                        120

                                        60-

                                        2
                                        01

                                        1180-                                                                                      JUL
                                                                                                                                   n I,Z98

                                        120

                                        60

                                           0                  50                                          150                  200
                                                                          FORK LENGTH (MM)
                                                                              C OS 0
                                 F.igure 18. Le          .ngth frequen'i                 f Leiostomus xanthurus captured.in secondary
                                                      stations in North Carolina (October'and Novembert 1980 and March-
                                                      July, 1981).

                                                                                                 97

                 shallow marshes and-creeks as initial estuarine habitat, although large numbers
                                    -'n
                 were captured in the'deeper waters of the southern area during March. Recruits
                 were much more abundant during March in the southern region than in the other
                 two regions (FigureU). Peak numbers of recruits were noted in April in the

                                    "a
                 primary stations at@,' size range of 15-70 mm FL. Many larger young-of-the-year
                 spot (80-120mm FL) were also observed in the secondary areas during April
                 (Figure 18). Ross (1980, in press) also found high numbers of juvenile spot
                 during April at comparable sizes.

                      Emigration from the shallow creeks and tributaries began during late April
                 or May, as juvenile abundance in the primary stations of the central and southern
                 areas declined significantly. Mass movement out of the primary stations in the
                 northern area apparently did not begin until June (Figure 16). Length frequency
                 data indicatedthe presence of slightly larger young-of-the-year spot in the
                 more open waters as the season progressed. Spot numbers in both the primary and
                 secondary stations of the souther n area decreased more rapidly than those in the-
                 central and northern reg ions (Figure 16). Spot apparently migrated quickly out of
                 the southern area's estuarine waters after peak recruitment in April, aphenomenon
                 also noted by Weinstein (1979). Abundance and length frequency data showed that
                 spot in the northern and central. regions moved from primary areas to secondary areas
                 after spring recruttment, and then gradually migrated into deeper waters.

                     At least two,.size classes of spot utilized North Carolina's eatuarine waters
                 (Figures 17 and 18). According to age/length estimates, these size classes were
                 composed of primarily young-of-the-year and yearlings (Dawson 1958, Sundararaj
                 1970, DeVries.1982). Length frequency modes were easily.discernible during March
                 through May in data from both the primary.and secondary stations. Juveniles
                 dominated catches in both the primary and secondary areas, except during March,
                 when yearlings were abundant in the secondary stations. After May, young-of-th@*@-
                 year modes were still obvious; however, lengths from faster growi-ng juveniles began
                 to equal or exceed those of slower growing yearlings, making separation of year
                 classes difficult. Monthly mean lengths calculated from juvenile length frequency
                 modes are presented in Table 5.
                     The majority of spot captured during the fall were 75-125 mm FL. This rangg@_
                 agreed with yearling sizes found elsewhere (Welsh and Breder 1923, Sundararaj 1.9609
               'Chao and Musick 1977). Similar-sized spot were also noted the following spring,
                 indicating that some individuals overwintered in the estuaries or that some.

                                                                                                   98

               yearlings returned to the estuaries during spring. Yearling and older spot
               in Virginia estuaries leave those waters after September and do not return until
               the following spring (Chao and Musick 1977).

                     Catch rates for spot from the primary stations were consistently higher
               during 1981 than during the previous two years (Table 6). Most of these fish
               were juveniles. Significant increases in catches of spot in the secondary areas
               occurred when the stations were sampled with a 3/4" trawl having a smaller tail
               bag mesh.

                             Micropogonias undulatus (Lihnaeus)-Atlantic croaker

                     The Atlantic croaker is one of the most important commercial and recreational
               species of the southeastern coastal states. It has been found from Nova Scotia to
               the Bay of Campeche (Chao 1978). Croakers account for more commercial poundage than
               any other sciaenid. In past years, the commercial fishery for croaker as foodfish
               was primarily located in the Chesapeake Bay area (Haven 1957), but recently the
               south Atlantic area has become the major producer of croaker for foodfish. Since
               1976, North Carolina fishermen have harvested more croaker for foodfish than any
               other state. Croaker commercial landings in North Carolina increased from 1812 mt
               during 1973 to 9513 mt during 1980 (K. B. West, pers. comm.). Although North
               Carolina croaker landings are   presently the highest ever recorded, croaker*stocks
               have a history of dramatic fluctuations (Joseph 1972).

                     Atlantic croaker have an extended spawning period, ranging from late summer
               through early spring. Spawning north of Cape Hatteras commences during mid-August
               and is completed by January, with peak spawning occurring in October and November
               (Wallace 1940, Morse 1980). Haven (1957) and Chao and Musick (1977) inferred late
               winter or early spring spawning offshore Virginia based on length-frequency dat,6.
               White and Chittenden (1977) stated that cro   aker spawning i-n wam temperate waters-
               extends from September to late March, with a peak during October. Atlantic croaker
               spawn for several months offshore North Carolina. Hil    debrand and Cable (1930)
               captured individuals less than 10 mm TL during January through May and September
               through December near Beaufort Inlet.' -Hobbie (1971) and Weinstein et al. (1980)
               reported croaker larvae from October through April in the Cape Fear River.

                     Young croaker are.transported into estuarine waters by currents (Wallace
               1940, Haven 1957,, Weinstein et al. 1980). Small croaker commonly prefer the

                                                                                                99

                 deeper estuarine areas as nursery habitat (Haven 1957, Chao and Musick 1977,
                 Weinstein 1979). However, large numbers of young croaker have also been,
                 observed in the marsh shallows of the Gulf of Mexico (Parker 1971, Arnoldi et
                 al. 1974, Kobylinski and Sheridan 1979). Once in the nursery areas, growth is
                 rapid. Most investigators have estimated young-of-the-year croaker reach 130-
                 180 mm TL their first growing season (Welsh and Breder 1923, Haven 1957, White
                 and Chittenden 1977). However, Louisiana researchers have estimated extremely
                 high croaker growth rates, reaching a minimum of 200 mm their first year
                 (Arnoldi et al. 1974, Knudsen and Herke 1978). Croaker begin leaving estuarine
                 waters during late summer and early fall (Haven 1957, Shealy et al. 1974, Chao
                 and Musick 1977). Tagging studies in the Gulf of Mexico haye indicated that
                 juvenile croaker sometimes migrate quickly out of tidal marshes, utilizing the
                 nurseries for a maximum of four months (Arnoldi et al. 1974, Knudsen and
                 Herke 1978).

                     A substantial.commercial fishery  exists for croaker within North Carolina's
                 estuarine waters, primarily utilizing long haul seines and pound nets (Higgins
                 and.Pearson 1928; Sholar 1979; DeVries 1981, 1982). The winter trawl fishery
                 and an expanding gill net fishery also exploit croaker off the North Carolina
                 coast. Large numbers of small croaker are taken as bycatch in the Pamlico Sound
                 shrimp trawl fishery (Fahy 1965, Wolff 1972).

                     A total of 17,244 Atlantic croaker were captured during the survey, represent-
                 ing 5% of the total juvenile fish catch. Croaker were relatively common, ranking
                 third in abundance and being observed every month of the study period. Recruit-
                 ment of recently spawned croaker(less than 20 mm TQ was observed in both fall
                 and spring. Recruitment times generally agree with those found by previous North
                 Carolina investigators (Hobbie 1971; Ross 1980, in press; Weinstein et al. 1980).
                 Spring recruitment in the central,and southern areas was observed during March,
                 but was not noticed until April in the northern area. Peak numbers of newly -
                 recruited croaker were evident during April through June for all three regions.
                 Early growth was rapid, with the ma jority of individuals ranging from 25-50 mm TL'
                 during April and reaching 75-125 mm TL by July. Length frequencies were similar to
                 thos e recorded during 1980 (Ross, in press), but sl ightly smal-ler than those
                 observed during 1979 (Ross 1980). North Carolina croaker captured in estuarine
                 tributaries ranged predominantly from 100 to 175 mm TL in the fall of 1980 (Figures
                 19 and 20). These individuals were probably juveniles approachi.ng a year in.age,

                                                                                                     OCT
                                   5                                                                 n=87
                                                                                                                        100

                                                                                                     Nov
                                   5                                                                 n : 7

                                                                                                     MAR
                                                                                                     n : 141

                                   5-

                                                                                                     APR
                                                                                                     n -- 741

                                   25-

                                                                                                     MAY
                                                                                                         1,004

                             L)25-
                             z
                             w

                             w
                             cr 5-
                             LL

                                                                                                     JUN
                                                                                                     n: 1,279

                                   25-

                                   5-i     I                                                                  -T

                                   25-                                                               JUL
                                                                                                     n   734

                                   5-

                                   0
                                   0             50      -1     160                                            Z50
                                                                                                                r
                                                             TOTAL LENd'FH (MM)."
                           Figure 19. Le.ngth frequencies of micropogonias undulatus captured in
                                   IL

                                           primary stations in North Carolina (October and November,
                                           1.980 and March-July, 1981).

                                                           OCT
               15                                          n= 310    101

               5-

                                                                   7

                                                           NOV
               15-                                         n: 224

               5-

                                                           MAR
                 -                                         nz 104

               5-

                                                           APR
                                                           n392
               15-
               5                  -rj@ @@@

                                                           MAY
                                                           n : 708
             w
             S 15-
             w
             w 5-
             LL_

                                                           JUN
                 -                                         n941

               15-

               5-

                                                      d9
                                                           JUL
                                                           n : 1,065
               25-

               15-

               5

               0
                 0      50      100      150     21MM)     250    300
                                   TOTAL LENGTH

             Figure 20. Length frequencies Of Ricropogonias.undulatus captured in secondary
                     stations in North:Carolina (October and Novemberi,1980 and March-
                     July, 1981).

                                                                                               102

               according to lengths observed or back-calculated from scale samples by other
               researchers (Bearden 1964, Chao and Musick 1977, White and Chittenden 1977). Noss
               1982 (in press) estimated a mean back-calculated length at first annulus of
               179 mm TL for North Carolina croaker. Monthly croaker mean lengths calculated
               from length frequency modes are shown on Table 5.

                    Several croaker size classes utilized the estuarine tributaries of North
               Carolina. During the fall of 1980, croakers less than 35 mm TL and those
               between 75-190 mm TL reflected two distinct size modes. The modes represented
               new juvenile recruits and fish probably approaching one year in.age. New
               recruits were more common in the primary stations, while older individuals were
               more abundant in the deeper areas. Larger individuals (100-150 mm TQ captured
               in the spring had either overwintered in the estuaries or had migrated into the
               area from other estuarine waters. The yearling mode can be followed through May
               in the secondary areas. Theyearling modewas accompanied throughout spring by a
               mode representing new recruits (Figures 19 and 20). Distinct separation of length
               frequency plots by year class was difficult due to rapidly growing young-of-the-
               year and slower growing yearlings. Young-of-the-year croaker were still present
               in both the primary and secondary areas during July.

                    Peak croaker numbers were observed during spring recruitment and lowest
               numbers during fall, corresponding with juvenile migration to open waters.
               (Figure 21).  Croaker were more  abundant in the secondary areas. Apparent
               differences in croaker relative abundances were noted between regions. Croaker
               inhabiting the southern area during the fall were more abundant in the primary
               areas, while croaker in the northern and central areas were more numerous in the
               deeper waters. Numbers rose during November in the southern area's primary
               stations, but declined noticeably in the other regions, especially in the northern
               area. Throughout spring, croaker from the southern region were much more abundant
               in deeper waters. The samples were composed of yearlings or older individuals (109-
               230 mm TQ during March and a mixture of young-of-the-year and yearlings during
               April and May (17-179 mm TL). Weinstein (1979) found that croaker in the Cape   Fear
               River primarily utilized the main channel of the river as nursery habitat. Catches,
               in the southern area's secondary stations dropped substantially during June and
               July, while abundance in the primary stations remained fairly steady through spring
               and summer (Figure 21). Croaker catches in the deeper waters of the northern and

                                                                                                                  103

              4-   N                                    1/4           C                                  1/4
                                                    a 3/4                                              o 3/4

              3

              2-

                                         )3

              0
             1>4-   S                                   1/4                                              1/4
            L                                                         TOTAL
            0                                        D 3/4                                               3/4
                                                                                                         - E3-   -13

                                                                                     Cr

              0.
                    0      N       M      A     M                      0      N      M      A       M             i
                                     MONTH                                             MONTH

                  Figure 21.    Seasonal abundance of micropogonias undulatus in primary (1/4") and
                                secondary (3/4") trawl stations in North Carolina during October and.
                                November, 1980 and March-July, 1981. N=northern area, C=central area,
                                S=southern area. Addition of 1/4" mesh tail bag to the 3/4" trawl
                                denoted by

                                                                                                 104

               central areas generally increased as the season progressed, while those in the
               shallows decreased. This inverse relationship and shifts in length frequency
               modes indicated migration from the primary areas began in late spring/early

               summer.

                    Croakers were consistently less abundant in primary stations of the northern
               and central areas during 1981, relative to 1979 and 1980 (Table 6). Catches in
               the southern area varied sporadically. Increased catches in the secondary areas
               reflected the use of a smaller mesh tail bag.

                      Paralichthys lethostigma (Jordan and Gilbert)-Southern flounder

                    Southern flounder is one of the most common paralichthid flounders found in
               North Carolina estuarine waters. The Albemarle Sound area is the northern limit
               of the species' range, which extends as far south as Texas (Ginsberg 1952 in
               Powell 1974). Southern flounder spawn during fall and early winter (Smith et al.
               1975). Postlarvae enter North Carolina est  uaries during the winter (Deubler 1958,
               Tagatz and Dudley 1961, Williams and Deubler 1968b). Juveniles seek nursery grounds
               characterized by low salinities and muddy substrates. Movement out of estuarine
               waters is tho'ught to begin after the juvenile flounder become;, yearlings (Powell and
               Schwartz 1977). Various ages of adult southern flounder also utilize North Carolina's
               estuaries. Significant pound net fisheries have developed to exploit adults during
               fall migrations from the estuaries (Wolff 1977, DeVries 1981).

                    Southern flounder was the most common flounder captured (1,297 individuals)
               during the study period. Southern flounder were captured in all three regions, but
               were not abundant anywhere, representing a maximum of 0.4% of the total finfish
               catch in each area. Carpenter (1979) and Ross (1980, in press) also found similar
               distributions and. general abundances during previous studies in North Carolina.

                    Southern flounder young-of-the-year were first captured in estuarine waters
               during March,.at a size range of 10-40 m TL (Figure 22). Young juveniles evidently
               sought the upper reaches of tributaries during recruitment since juveniles were
               captured in open water stations until April and then very-few were observed. Peak
               southern flounder abundance'o.ccurred during Apr-il in all three areas (Figure 23), when
               young-of-the-year dominated upper tributary.-.flounder c4tC-'hes*at a size range of 18-65
               mm TL. Relatively high abundances of new recruits were also noticed during March in

                                -n                                                                            FREQUENCY

                         r- C+. m

                         00     11
                             -j. m

                                m
                             0

                                m

                             W  0
                             'I -h

                             0
                             C+ 0    ril
                             0.:3.                                                 -
                             cr kc -
                             M. W

                                rA
                             0. rt

                             m

                                Cf*

                             00 "1
                             C> m                       z                                                                                     >
                                CL                                               z                                                            -D
                             iw                                                                                                               z
                             = -J.                                             -4
                             CL
                                                                                                                                           0

                             =r IV

                                                                                                                      106

            J N                                          o@ 1/4          C                                        1/4
                                                         c 3/4                                                 a 3/4

            '3-

            2-                                           ---------

          = I-                                                                            --- 13-
          +-       CLI                      lit                          Cr
          x
            '0-

          04-      S                                       1/4           TOTAL                                    1/4
                                                           3/4                                                 o 3/4

                                                 CX.                                           -rr

            0-
                    0      N       M      A      M              1        0      N       M       A      M       j
                                     MONTH                                                MONTH

                    Figure   23.   Seasonal abundance      of Paralichthys lethostigma in primary (1/4") and
                                   secondary (3/4") trawl stations in North Carolina.during October and
                                   November, 1980 and-March-July, 1981. N=northern area, C=central area,
                                   S=southern area. Addition of 1/4" mesh tail bag to the 3/4" trawl is
                                   denoted by
                                                                                                               Cr

                                                 Ct'

                                                             -C

                                                                                                     107

                 the southern area. Juvenile.southern flounder utilized the areas of the coast
                 differently. Southern flounder numbers decreased rapidly in the southern area
                 after April; the fish completely migrated out of the upper creeks by July. A
                 few individuals remained in open waters. Weinstein (1979) and Ross (1980, in
                 press) also fo und peak juvenile abundance in the southern area during March
                 and April, and rapidly declining numbers thereafter. Flounder in the northern
                 and central areas utilized the shallow tributaries through July, with numbers
                 generally decreasing as the season progressed (Figure 23). Purvis (1976) and
                 Ross (1980, in press) found similar occurrences.

                      Several year classes of southern flounder utilized North Carolina estuarine
                 tributaries (Figures 22 and 24). Two size classes of flounder were captured during
                 March and April in both the upper creeks and more open waters. The smallest size
                 group represented young-of-the-year. The larger individuals represented yearlings
                 according to size and age compositions reported by DeVries (1981). Juveniles
                 approaching one year in age were taken in October and November according to length
                 frequency data (60-160 mm TQ. Powell and Schwartz (1977) estimated southern
                 flounder juveniles reached 130 mm TL by the end of their first year (December);
                 90-100 mm TL individuals, caught in the spring, represented extremely fast growing
                 young-of-the-year juveniles that were recruited in early winter. They con   cluded
                 that growth ceased by autumn and did not resume until spring, when the fish were
                 age 1. The southern flounder age.and growth o  bservations of this study and of
                 DeVries (1981) differed considerably from those-ofPowell and Schwartz (1977).
                 These data indicated that the 90-100 mm TL specimens caught in the spring were
                 probably slow growing juveniles, recruited the previous winter and spring, and
                 were already age 1. The apparent growth cessation noticed by Powell and Schwartz
                 (1977) during the fall was possib ly caused by the migration of smaller fish into
                 open waters, where most of the investigators' stations were located. Powell and
                 Schwartz (1977) also utilized sampling gears selective for larger individuals.

                     Different length-frequency modes were discernible for juveniles and yearlings
                 during March through May, but were difficult to distinguish in June and July. There-
                 fore, length estimates present a very general approximation of growth. Growth
                 estimate s for early spring indicated that flounder from the southern area were
                 slightly larger than those from the central and northern areas, probably due to
                 earlier recruitment of individuals into the region. Weinste  in (1979) presented

                                                                                                                   108

                                                                                                OCT
                                                                                                n5
             5-

                                                                                                NOV
                                                                                                n 13

                                                                                                MAR
             5-                                                                                 n = 16

           U
           z
           LLI
           :D                                                                                   APR
                                                                                                n= 20

                                                                                              r%
           LL                                                                                   I
                                                                                                MAY
                                                                                                  57'

                                                                                                JUN
             5-                                                                                 n= 36

                                                                                                JUL
                                                                                                n = 72

                                                             cp [-V-\ r\ /_@_r=       i@.j__-V-\, rv-\ MQ
              0       20              60              160             140             180             240            240
                                              TOTAL LENGTH (mm)

                    Figure 24.      Length frequencies Of Paralichthys lethostigma captured in secondary
                                   stations in North Carolina (October and NovemberS 1980 and March-
                                   July, 1981).

                                                                                                    109

                length data on southern flounder in the Cape Fear region for February through
                April, finding smaller fish than those captured in this study. Larger flounder
                were captured coastwide during March through July, 1981 when compared with
                length frequencies from similar areas and times during 1979 and 1980 (DeVries 1981).

                                                 INVERTEBRATES

                                            Total Catch Composition

                     Although most juvenile estuarine surveys have  concentrated on finfish
                population s, investigators have also noted large numbers of mobile invertebrate
                species in shallow estuarine creeks and marshes (Hackney et al. 1976, Carpenter
                1979, and Baisden 1979). Species reported in the southeastern United States
                have primarily been penaeid and caridean shrimps and the blue crab (@Caiiinectes
                sapidus). The present study collected 23 species of invertebrates (Table 7).
                with almost 94% of the total invertebrate catch represented by penaeid.shrimp
                and blue crabs. Species composition during 1981 was very similar to a previous
                North Carolina study during 1978 (Carpenter 19791,except relatively few shrimp
                (Palaemonetes spp.) were collected. Brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus).was the most
                common penaeid shrimp captured, accounting for 81% of the commercially-important
                shrimp catch. Pink shrimp (P. duozarum) was second in abundance, representing 11%
                of the coastwide totals. Blue crabs were the most abu  ndant invertebrate in the
                samples, representing almost 43% of the total invertebrate catch.

                                            Interregion Comparisons

                     The southern area contained the largest number of invertebrate species. This
                phenomenon was probably due to the proximity of the area's estuaries to the
                Atlantic Ocean. The same characteristics which allowed the area to support
                relatively more fish species also hold true for invertebrates: extensive tidal
                action over a generally limited area provides easy.tr ansport to marshes and
                creeks and also maintains higher salinities. Warmer winter water temperatures
                may also contribute to greater diversity. The northern and central areas appeared
                to support similar species,@and together differed noticeably.from the southern
                region's species composition. Catches from the southern area contained higher

                                                MJM M M                                         M M                            RM.M =
                                                                                                                                               00jal 1
         Table 7. Total numbers and size range of invertebrates captured during North Carolina estuarine monitoring program
                     stations combined) for October-November, 1980 and March-July, 1981.

                                                                                           Areas

                                                          Northern                        Central                                   Southern

                                                                                                                                                  t
                                            1/411 trawl        3/4" trawl         1/4" trawl        3/4" trawl          1/4" trawl         3/4    rawl

                                                    Size               Size               Size              Size                 Size              Size
         Species                              N      range       N      range       N      range      N      range        N      range       N      range
         Class,'Cephalopoda
          Order,.Ddcapoda

             r
             J01 igo Opp
                                              5                 46                  2                                   51                132
         class  Crustacea
          Order  Stomatopoda
             squilla.empusa
             (mantis',shr'imo)                                                      1    130                              2    17-38        12    14-128
         '_'0rder',":Myifdacea
             Neomysis-*.amer'icanus                                                                                     54     12-19
         ..0eider')Ded4odda
          ,'Fami TYPPenadfdae

             Penaenus,setiferus
             (white shrimp)                  38    38-95        15     65-135     231    25-125     24     45-135      119     45-135     182     65-145

             P. duararum
             (pink shrimp)                  173     15-105       5     45-109     142    25-145     20     85-135      404     25-125      89     45-135
             P. az'@6dus
             (brown shtimp)                 754     15-151  1,317      45-136  1,251     15-155    372      55-155   1,745     15-145     807     35-145
             P.rachypenaeus constrictus                                                                                 13     19-41         7    31-59
             Family Sergestidae
             Acetes americanus                                                                                          22     15

                                                                                                                                                        CD

       Ta bl e. -7  (continued).
                                                                                          Areas

                                                       Northern                             Central                           Southern

                                           1/4" trawl        3/4" trawl        1/4" trawl         3/4" trawl        1/4" trawl        3/4" trawl

                                                     ze              size              Size              Size               Size              Size
                                            N      range      N      range      N      range       N     range        N     range      N      range
       Species
         Family Pala6monidae
           Periclizienes longicudatus                                                                                 20    15-19
           Palaemonetos vulgaris                                                                                        5   35
           P. intermedius                                                                                             92    18-37
           P. puglo                                                                                                   188   17-34       17    24-32

           P. sPP.
           (shore@'�hrimp)                   96    25                           65     25-42
          Family Alpheidae
           Alpheus heterochaelis
           (pistol shrimp)                                                                                              3   37-38        1    32

           A. spp.
           (snapping shrimp)                                                      1    65
         Family Portunidae
           Ovalipes ocellatus
           (spotted Iady crab)                                                                                          1   33
           0. quadulpensi s-
           (lady crab)                                                                                                13    24-33
           Pottunus gibbesfi                                                                                          27    34-85
           Callinectes sapidus
           (blue crab, male)               998      5-175    698     15-185    928      5-163     692    10-92        314    5-165     143    15-175

           C. sapidus
           (blue crab, female)             517      4-163    489     15-185    514      5-155     493    18-175       73    25-155     189    25-165
           C. sapidus
           (sex unknown)                   343      4-28                          5     6-15
        so smos                                                                             M      JM 5 JMM         M     M       M 34M31-MM

       Tabl e 7    (continued)..
                                                                                    Areas

                                                   Northern                        Central                             Southern
                                         1/4" trawl      3/4" trawl       1/4" trawl       3/4" trawl       1/4" trawl       3/4" trawl

                                                Size             size            Size             Size             Size             Size
                                          N     range     N      range     N     range      N     range      N     range      N     range
       Species
         Family Xanthidae
           Rhithr6panojeus!'harrIsii      12     5-22      2     20-21
           (riff crab)
           Neopaneope texan.a sayi                                                                           13    24-23
         Fami I y. Maj i dae
           Mithrax hispidus
           (coral crab)                                                                                                        3    12-16

       Total no species                               9                                10                               21

       1Sizes reported in total length (mm) for shrimp (tip of carapace to tip of rostrum) and in carapace width (mm) for crabs.
        Squid were.not measured.

                                                                                                    113

                numbers of stomotopods, mysid shrimps, sergestid shrimps, shore shrimps
                (Pezriclimenes spp.), snapping shrimps (Alpheus spp.), lady crabs Ovalipes spp.),
                and coral crabs (Mithrax hispidus). Brown shrimp was the major invertebrate
                caught in the southern area, while blue crabs dominated the northern and central
                catches (Table 8). Pink and white (P. setiferus) shrimps also occurred more
                commonly in trawl samples from the southern area than in those from the northern
                and central regions, perhaps reflecting preferences for hi.gher salinity habitats
                (Williams 1965).

                     Past investigations have also found brown shrimp to be the most abundant
                penaeid shrimp in North Carolina estuarine waters (Spitsbergen and Wolff 1974,
                Purvis 1976, Weinstein 1979). The higher numbers of juvenile brown shrimp are
                reflected in the species' importance in North*Carolina's major commercial shrimp.
                Pink shrimp were second in commercial shrimp abundance in catches from the northern
                and southern areas. Previous studies,have shown that pink shrimp usually reach
                their highest numerical peak in the estuarine tributaries of North Carolina during
                late summer and early fall (Williams 1955, Spitsbergen and Wolff 1974, Purvis 1976).
                The sampling period covered by this study did not include this period. Also,
                Purvis (1976) noted sampling difficulties encountered with pink shrimp due to  their
                nocturnal habits. White shrimp also reach peak numbers during late summer/early
                fall (Williams 1955, Carpenter 1979); therefore, the same  seasonal sampling
                limitations apply to this species.

                     Unlike previous studies by Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974), Purvis (1976), and
                Carpenter (1979), blue crabs represented the major portion of the invertebrate
                catch i n the northern and central areas duri ng 1.981 (Tabl e 8). These areas provi de
                the vast majority of North Carolina's commercial crab harvest.

                                                Major Species

                     Three species of penaeid shrimps and the blue crab were chosen for discussion
                because of their commercial importance and relatively high abundance. Length
                frequency and abundance data are presented in similar fashion as previous fish data.

                                     Penaeus aztecus Oves)-Brown shrimp

                     Spawning of brown shrimp takes place offshore during late winter and early
                spring (Williams and Deubler 1968b). Williams (1969) found young brown shrimp

                Table 8. Total numbers and percent of total catch by area for commercial invertebrates captured by trawl
                            in North Carolina estuarine waters, October - November, 1980 and March            July, 1981.

                                                                                      Areas

                                                   Northern                         Central                           Southern

                                                     Percent of area's                 Percent of area's                 Percent of area's
                Species                    N         total number            N         total number            N         total number

                Pen'aen-us setiferus         53              1.0              255              5.4             301               6.3

                P..duorarum                 178              3.2              162              3.4             493              10.3

                P. aztecus                2,071             37.6            1,623             34.2            2,552            .53.4

                Callinectes sapidus       3,045             55.3            2,632             55.4             719              15.1

                            'e r,
                   a   -numb.             5,508                             4,748                            4,775

                                                                                                                                                 4@b

                                                                                                115

                postlarvae moving through several North Carolina inlets into estuarine waters
                from January through May, with the largest numbers found in March. Subsequent
                studies also noted spring recruitment (Purvis 1976, Carpenter 1979, Weinstein
                1979). Postlarval brown shrimp.migrate to brackish creeks, characterized by
                soft bottoms and usually covered with di)ssolved forest litter (Williams 1955).
                Brown shrimp juveniles pprefer salinities greater than 10 ppt in North Carolina
                waters (Carpenter 1979, Jones and Sholar 1981). Brown shrimp grow rapidly
                (1-1 .5 mm/day) in estuarine tributaries (Williams 1955, McCoy 1968). The shrimp
                migrate out of estuarine areas toward the ocean as they become larger. Spitsbergen
                and Wolff (1974) and Purvis (1976) noted migration from the shallow tributaries
                when brown shrimp reach.95 mm. Brown shrimp usually leave North Carolina estuarine
                waters by late fall.

                     The present investigation collected 6,246 brown shrimp. The species was
                collected throughout the study period, except during March  .and ranged in size
                from 15 mm during April, 1981 to 155 mm during November 1980. Brown shrimp recruit-
                ment for 1981 began during April in the southern area and early May in the central
                and northern areas (Figure 25). Temperatures during recruitment ranged from 15 -         I
                280C in all three regions and salinities, from 0 to 33 ppt. Williams and Deubler
                (1968b) reported most postlarval brown shrimp in North Carolina waters recruited
                during temperatures between 11 and 220C and were found at salinities of 0.1-34.8 ppt.

                     The highest numbers of brown shrimp were captured in the southern area, with
                peak abundances occurring in the shallow tributaries during May at 15 to 95 mm.
                Peak numbers in the southern area's secondary stations were found a month later at
                55 to 125 mm and declined rapidly thereafter. Weinstein (1979) and Carpenter (1980)
                found the highest numbers of brown shrimp in the southern area during May in
                shallow water habitats.

                     Peak brown shrimp numbers in the northern and central areas' primary stations
                did not occur until June. Shrimp sizes during June ranged from 25 to 129 mm. Previous
                studies have shown that peak abundance periods in the shallow tributaries of Pamlico
                Sound are variable, occurring between May and July, depending upon the year and the
                location (Williams 1955, Purvis 1976, Jones and Sholar 1981). The highest number.of
                brown shrimp in the secondary stations of the central area were noted during June .    ._I
                (Figure 25). Peak abundances in the open water stations in the northern area did not
                occur until July and were accompanied by a decrease in catches from the upper
                stations   Shrimp captured in the secondary areas were a combination of juveniles and

                                                                                                                            116

              4-     N                                             1/4            C                                            1/4
                                                                   3/4                                                     (3 3/4

              2-

             +I-                                                                  C@

              0-
             04-     S                                             1/4            TOTAL                                        1/4
                                                                   3/4                                                         3/4

                                                                                  C@

                                               rl
              0-                               1
                     0        N        M       A       M                          0       N       M        A
                                         MONTH                                                       MONTH

                       Figure    25.    Seasonal abundance         of  PenaeuS    aztecus@in      primary @1/4") and
                                        secondary (3/4") trawl stat           ions in North,Carolina.during
                                        October and November.1980 and March-July'9 1981. N=northern
                                        area, C=central area, S=southern area. Addition of 1/4" mesh
                                        tail bag to the 3/4" mesh trawl is denoted'by

                                                                                          117

                adults, ranging from 47 to 136 mm in size. Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974),
                Purvis (1976), Carpenter (1980) and Jones and Sholar (1981) observed high
                numbers of brown shrimp remaining in estuarine tributaries of Pamlico Sound
                until August. Brown shrimp were abundant in this investigation through July.
                Lowest brown shrimp numbers were encountered in the fall of 1980 due to
                migration out of the estuaries.

                                  Penaeus duorarum (Burkenroad)-Pink shrimp

                     Pink shrimp is the only penaeid shrimp which overwinters in significant
                quantities in North Carolina's estuarine waters. Depending on winter conditions,
                large numbers of juveniles and sub-adults may overwinter in the relatively muddy
                bottoms of northern and western Pamlico Sound and the sandy/grassy bottoms of
                Core Sound and the Outer Banks (Williams 1955, Purvis and McCoy 1972, Wolff 1976).
                Surviving shrimp move out of their overwintering burrows as water temperatures
                reach 150C or greater in the spring (Williams  1955, Purvis and McCoy 1972).
                Survivors support the spring/earl y summer pink shrimp fishery of Pamlico and Core
                sounds (Purvis and McCoy 1972). Growth is rapid (13 mm/week) once water tempera-
                tures increase (Williams 1955). Young adults begin maturing during May. By late
                June, the majority are usually sexually mature and have migrated to the Atlantic
                Ocean. Most postlarval recruitment occurs in North Carolina waters during May
                through August, varying annually and among localities (Williams 1955, Spitsbergen
                and Wolff 1974, Purvis 1976, Weinstein.1979). Recruitment does continue into late
                November, which is indicative of a protracted spawning period.

                     Pink shrimp were captured throughout the study period in the southern region
                and captured in all months except March and July in the northern and central areas.
                The shrimp ranged from 15 to 135 mm. Abundance graphs generally exhibit the pink
                shrimp estuarine utilization cycle in North Car olina waters (Figure 26). Two
                abundance peaks are noted for the state: the first one i-n October and November,
                when both adults and sub-adults (75-135 mm) are present in estuarine waters just
                before overwintering and the second during April, when small shrimp were first.
                observed in Pamlico Sound and recruitment appeared well underway in the southern
                region. March water temperatures during the recruitment period of the southern.
                area ranged from 10 to 160C. April water temperatures for all areas ra.nged from
                15.90C to 250C.

                                                                                                   118

           4-   N                                e 1/4         C                                   1/4
                                                 0 3/4                                          E3 3/4

           3-

           2-

         x
         @o                                                                                           7
         0
         C>4-   S                                  1/4         TOTAL                               1/4
         _j                                        3/4                                          t3 3 A

           3-

           2-

                                                                                         13
                                                               ck,

                ELI

                      -13-
                                                 cr                                             rl
                 I      I     I      I     I      I     I      I                          I     I     r
                 0     N      M     A      M                   0      N     M      A      M
                                MONTH                                         MONTH
                   Figure 26.   Seasonal abundance of   Penaeus duorarum in  primary kl/4") and
                                secondary (3/4") stations in North Carolina during October and
                                November, 1980 and March-July, 1981. N-northern area, C=central
                                area, S=southern area. Addition of 1/4" mesh tail bag to the
                                3/4" trawl is denoted by

                                                                                                     119

                          Pink shrimp were most abundant in trawl catches from the southern area.
                     Peak abundance was noted in the upper creek stations during fall,-at a size
                     range of 25 to 75 mm. The highest numbers in the open water..stations were
                     recorded during May, when the shrimp were 85-135 mm in length. Carpenter
                     (1980) also observed p6ak abundance in the southern area's shallow stations
                     during May; however, Weinstein (1979) found that abundances in the Cape Fear
                     area peaked in July and declined afterwards. The greatest numbers in the
                     northern and central areas' upper stations occurred during fall, agreeing with
                     previous investigations in Pamlico Sound (Spitsbergen and Wolff 1974, Purvis
                     1976, Carpenter 1980). Shrimp in these areas varied. tremendously in size,
                     ranging from 15 to 135 mm. Juvenile numbers in the upper tributaries again
                     reached a maximum during April, a result of either new recruitment in 1981 or
                     overwintering juveniles from the fall of 1980. Pink shrimp were not abundant
                     anytime in the northern and central areas during March through July 1981,
                     supporting previous observations of Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974) Purvis (1976),
                     and Carpenter (1980).

                                    Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus)-White shrimp
                                                                                               .'           I
                         The least common penaeid shrimp occurring in North Carolina is the white
                     shrimp. Spawning of white shrimp in North Carolina takes place offshore during
                     May through September, with postlarvae and small juveniles first appearing in
                     estuarine waters during June (Williams 1959, Spitsbergen and Wolff 1974).
                     Recruitment usually extends through September, with   peak numbers occurring in
                     July, August, or early September  (Williams 1955, Weinstein 1  979, Carpenter
                     1980). Juvenile growth is rapid   (36 mm/month) upon entering the shallow
                     tributaries (Williams 1955). As   the shrimp reach the-sub-adult stage, growth
                     slows considerably (12 mm/month)  and movement is initiated toward open waters
                     (McCoy and Brown 1967). Most of   the white shrimp move out of estuarine waters
                     by November. A small portion of   the population overwinters in the southern
                     region (Carpenter 1980).
                         Only 609 white shrimp were captured    duri.ng the study period., ranging in
                     size from 25 to 145 mm *  Recruitment was  first observed during June in the
                     southern area, and a month later in the central and northern areas. Small shrimp
                     (less than 35 mm) were also noted during   October, 1980 in the central area. Peak

                                                                                              .120

                  numbers were observed in the central and southern areas during fall at 25
                  to 145 mm, and during the initial recruitment period in the northern area,
                  at 38 to 54 mm. Copeland and Birkhead (1972) also found peak numbers in the
                  fall for the southern area, while Weinstein (1979) found both initial
                  recruitment and high abundances during July. Spitsbergen and Wolff (1974)
                  and Purvis (1976) reported high numbers during the fall for western and
                  northern Pamlico Sound. The present investigation terminated before white
                  shrimp peak abundances normally occur in each respective region (July -
                  September). Juvenile shite shrimp (8) were captured in the northern and
                  western tributaries of Pamlico Sound during March, a phenomenon previously
                  unreported.    The shrimp ranged in size from 45 to 85 mm. This occurrence
                  may indicate isolated juvenile overwintering in Pamlico Sound or an unusual
                  seasonal recruitment into Pamlico Sound during 1981.

                                   Callinectes sapidus :(Rathburn)-Blue crab

                       Blue crabs are one of the most important commercial estuarine resources
                  along the Atlantic coast. The major fishing areas are Chesapeake Bay,
                  Pamlico Sound, and the St. Johns River, Fl  orida. Blue crab mating occurs in
                  brackish water between May and October (Van   Engel et al. 1973). Females mate
                  once, but males may mate several times. After mating, females migrate to
                  higher salinity waters near inlets. The male blue crabs usually remain in
                  brackish tributaries and overwinter in muddy substrates when water temperatures
                  decline in early winter, Females spawn in higher salinity waters during spring
                  thro.ugh fall after mating (Van Engel et al.. 1973). Individuals potentially
                  spawn several times during'the season and some females may also spawn the next
                  year after overwintering in the sediments near the inlets. In North Carolina,
                  tagging studies have indicated that some females move back to estuaries after
                  spawning in the ocean (Judy and Dudley 1970). Hatched larvae migrate or are
                  carried offshore by currents (Nichols and Keney 1963, Dudley and Judy 1973).
                  About six months after hatching, the juvenile crabs migrate back to the
                  brackish estuaries, where the y grow to maturity (Dudley and Judy 1973).

                       A total of 6,396 blue crabs were captured during the study period,
                  ranging in size from 4 to 185 mm for males and 5 to 185 mm for females.
                  Le ngth frequencies of male and female blue crabs captured in the  primary and

                                                                                                121

                   secondary stations of Pamlico Sound during March through July are presented
                   in Figures 27-30. Exact lengths were not taken in October and November, 1980,
                   preventing use of fall data for length frequency analysis. Abundance by sex
                   in the shallow creeks and deeper waters for each region are shown in Figure 31.
                   Abundances of new recruits (crabs less than 40 mm) are also graphed in Figure 31.

                        Blue crabs were abundant everywhere and were captured during all months.
                   Abundance data indicated continuous recruitment. Crabs less than 40 mm were
                   most abundant in catches during April, but only decreased slightly thereafter.
                   Blue crab juvenile recruitment has been noted to exhibit two peaks in Pamlico
                   Sound: one during August through November, and the other during March through
                   May (Dudley and Judy 1973; Carpenter 1979, 1980; DeVries 1981). Large quantities
                   of small blue crabs were also noted in this study during October and November.
                   Small recruits were most evident in abundance plots for males in the northern
                   area (Figure 31).

                        Abundance of male blue crab remained high in the primary areas'l catches
                   through spring in  all regions. A decline in catches was not observed until June.
                   The majority of males captured were less than 30 mm through May. Apparent move-
                   ment of male recruits into open waters was noted in June and July, when large
                   increases in the number of blue crabs greater than 50 mm were observed (Figure 28).
                   Male blue crabs were more abundant in the secondary areas during June (central
                   area) and July (northern area) than in the shallow tributaries, and represented
                   s.ignificant increases over the numbers found during March through May in the
                   deeper waters.

                        Female blue crabs were generally less abundant than males in all areas.
                   Females increased slightly in number from March through June in the primary
                   stations. Female blue crabs in those areas usually were less than 40 mm (Figure
                   29). Abundances in the secondary stations increased steadily in the northern and
                   central areas as spring progressed. Females became more numerous in the open
                   waters, relative tothe shallows, during June in western Pamlico Sound and July,
                   in northern Pamlico Sound. The increase was due to higher catches of 40 to 80 mm
                  .crabs in June and 50 to 120 mm crabs in July (Figure 30). Female blue crabs in
                   the southern area were more abundant in the open waters throughout spring, a
                   phenomenon also reported by Carpenter.(1980).-.
                        The results of.this study agree with the observations of Dudley and Judy
                   (1973). Juvenile blue crabs usually recruit and peak in number during late

                                                                                                                        122

                                                                                                    MAR
                                                                                                    n=206

                    6-
                    2-

                                                                                                   APR
                                                                                                   n=323

                    6-

                    21

              >-    10-                                                                            MAY
              0                                                                                    n = 248
              Z
              w
                    6-

              w
              a:    2-
              LL

                                                                                                   JUN
                                                                                                   n = 503
                    'o-

                    6-
                    2-

                    to-                                                                           JUL
                    -                                                                             nz4ZO

                    6-

                    2-
                .0
                    0                              60                               120                              ISO
                                                   CARAPACE WIDTH hm)

                     Figure 27. Size frequencies of male Callinectes sapidus captured in primary
                                    stations in No   rth Carolina (Marc     h-July, 1981).

                                                                                                                                                                                                FREQUENCY
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             01 1 oil

                                                                                 un

                                                                            0) N
                                                                            C+

                                                                            0

                                                                            W (D
                                                                                 .0

                                                                                 0                      M-
                                                                            0                    0      0
                                                                                 5m
                                                                            C+                   >
                                                                            =r                   x
                                                                                 0
                                                                            C-) h                >
                                                                            ru
                                                                                 5
                                                                            00)

                                                                                 (D

                                                                            0 (D

                                                                                 (D
                                                                                                 3
                                                                            1< Lo

                                                                            kc ou
                                                                            00 c:

                                                                                 0
                                                                                 0)
                                                                                 -0
                                                                                 C+

                                                                                                                                                                       c-                                                  c-
                                                                                 (D                                                                                    c:                                                  C
                                                                                 CL                                                                                     r                                                  z                             iA- -<                j

                                                                                 0

                                                                                 CL
                                                                                 0)

                                                                                                124

                                                                                      MAR
                                                                                      n

                                                                                      APR
                                                                                      n  162

               2-

                                                                                      MAY
            Z                                                                            152
            w

            w  2-                   Afn A
            w                            @@@                                a r\    =@ rv-\
            LL

                -                                                                     JUN
                                                                                      n=277
               6-

                                                                                      JUL
                                                                                      n  179
               6-

               2

                0                           60                          120                         180
                                            CARAPACE       WIDTH (mW
                  Figure.29.   Size frequencies of female Callinectes sapidus:captured in.
                               primary stations in North Carolina (March-July, 1981).

                                                                                                            125

                                                                                                MAR
                                                                                                n  6

                                                                                                APR
                                                                                                n= 35

                                                                                                MAY
                                                                                                n=66

            L)                                                                                  JUN
            Z                                                                                   n= 354
            w
            M   6-
            Or
            w
            X   2-

                                                                                                JUL
                I0-                                                                             n=462

                0 1
                  0                             6'0                                                             1
                                                                                120                             180
                                                 CARAPACE WIDTH (MM)

                     Figure 30. Size frequencies of female Callinectes sapidus captured in secondary
                                    stations in North Carolina tMarch-July, 1981).

                                                                                            126
                                         A         <40 nim

                                                                            NORTHERN
                                    4_                                     CENTRAL
                                    x                                     G SOUTHERN
                                    0        13--                     A
                                    C)
                                    _j

                                      0-                    ........................

                                                     MONTH
               B

                N           MALE                          N            FEMALE
          3-

          2-

                R                                         13                             1/4
                                              1/4                    J3-  -cr
                                             03/4                                      0 3/4

          0-

        ,-3-    C                                         C

        xz-

        CD           C@         13-
        01-                                   1/4                                        1/4
        _j                W                  D 3/4                                       3/4

          0-    1    1 @   I     I     I     I     I      I                                   I
          3-    S                                         S

                                              1/4         0-      41                     1/@
                                             Q 3/4                                       3/4

          0                                  1     1      1    1     1     1  .   t           I
                0    N     M     A     M     1            0                A     M
                            MONTH                                      MONTH
          Figure 31.  A. Seasonal abundance Of  Callinectes sapidus recruits (less than 40 mm) in
                         the northern, centra], and southern study areas of North Carolina, March-
                         July, 1981' (all stations combined).
                      B. Seasonal abundance of male and female c. sapidus in primary (1/4") and
                         secondary (3/4").trawl stations in North Carolina during October and
                         November, 1980 and March-July, 1981. N=northern area'. C-central area,
                         S=southern area. Addition of 1/4" mesh tail bag 'to the 3/4" trawl is
                         denoted by II/Pl.

                                                                                           127

                   winter/early spring and then move from shallow tributaries into bays and
                   sounds during summer and early fall. The larger blue crabs recruit into  a
                   commercial pot and trawl fishery that occurs in Pamlico Sound and its
                   tributaries. Tagging studies by Judy and Dudley (1970) indicated that the
                   North Carolina commercial fishery in any estuary depended on the numbers of
                   crabs that reached maturity within each system. Commercial size crabs
                   (greater than 125 mm).were present in estuarine tributaries beginning in
                   April and were increasing in frequency through July.

                                               ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

                        Appreciation is extended to the following Marine Fisheries personnel who
                   performed all field work and assisted with data preparation: biologists Steve
                   W. Ross, Douglas A. DeVries, and Richard K. Carpenter; technicians Manly Gaskill,
                   Paul Moore, Thomas Arnold,.Gregory Judy, J. Darrell Mumford, Clifton Harvell,
                   Morris Allison and Elizabeth Griffin. Steve W. Ross, Douglas D. DeVries,
                   Sheryan P. Epperly, Terry M. Sholar and Michael W. Street reviewed the manu-
                   sci--ipt and provided many constructive comments. I am grateful to Murial Roy,
                   Juanita Tripp, Marian Alligood and Margaret Stafford for typing the manuscript.

                                                                                          128

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                                                                                                137

                                                    PROJECT II

                                       INSHORE PARALICHTHID FLOUNDER TAGGING

                                                         by

                                                Douglas A. DeVries'

                                                        and

                                                Clifton,H. Harvell

                                                                                                138

                                                      ABSTRACT

                       Of 495 southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) tagged in the Pamlico
                 River near Washington, N.C. during Fall 1980, 169 (34.1%) were recaptured.
                 Most of the recoveries were short term (<-40 days), most (89.3%) occurred
                 within 6.4 km of the release site, and most (152 or 89.9%) were taken in gill
                 nets. Twelve fish were recovered in the southeastern portion of Pamlico Sound
                 and northern Core Sound. One other fish was recaptured near the North Carolina/
                 South Carolina border and another was taken off Winyah Bay, S.C., indicating
                 some flounder migrate considerable distances. Six short range, long term
                 (104-219 days) returns indicate some fish overwinter in the river or return
                 there the following spring. Although the exploitation rate over about 10 months
                 was 34.1%, this must be considered an overestimate because the tags tended to
                 tangle in gill nets, making tagged fish more vulnerable than untagged fish to
                 that gear.   Fifteen (9.4%) of 158 southern flounder tagged in lower Core and
                 Back Sounds  in October and November 1980 were recaptured - all but two within
                 45 days and  6.4 km of the release site. The remaining two recoveries were made
                 off eastern  Florida in February and July. Of 311 P. lethostigma tagged in the
                 Neuse River  in April 1981, 110 (35.4%) were recaptured. Through July 1981,
                 106 (96.4%)  of the recaptures had occurred within 11.3 km of the release site,
                 indicating very limited movement. Two long range recaptures were made - one
                 about 50 km downstream in Core Creek and the other about 70 km downstream off
                 Beaufort Inlet. Gill nets accounted for most (101 or 91.8%) of the recaptures
                 in the Neuse River. Sixty-seven summer 'flounder (Paralichthys   -dentatus) were
                 J;.-.agged from Cape Lookout to Beaufort Inlet in June and July 1981. Only one
                 fish was recaptured, and it was taken two days after release in the release area.

                                                                                              139

                                                   INTRODUCTION

                       Paralichthid flounders, particularly summer flounder, Paralichthys  dentatus,
                  and southern flounder, P. lethostigma, are very important commercial and
                  recreational species in North Carolina. Commercial landings of flounder, com-
                  prised primarily Of P. dentatus taken in the offshore winter trawl fishery
                  and, to a much lesser extent, P. iethostigma taken in the inshore pound net
                  fishery (Wolff 1977, DeVries 1981), have ranged from 5.4-to 7.7 million kg worth
                  2.84-7.95 million dollars annually from 1974 through 19801 (U.S. Dept. of
                  Commerce 1977, 1978, 1930). In total value,.flounder has been the leading food-
                  fish landed in North Carolina since at least 1965, and in 6 out of the last 10
                  years, it has ranked second only to shrimp among all North Carolina fisheries,
                  including menhaden (Street 1981).

                       In order to effectivelymana:g-e and maintain these valuable flounder fisheries,
                  the sources, locations, movements and numbers of stocks involved must be
                  determined. Several tagging studies have been conducted on P. dentatus to answer
                  these questions (Westman 1946, Poole 1962, Murawski 1970), including a two year
                  program conducted on the offshore overwintering grounds off North Carolina by the
                  Division of Marine Fisheries. Despite these studies, questions still remain,
                  especially concerning the contribution of Pamlico Sound juveniles to the offshore
                  stocks. Poole (1966) suggested that Pamlico Sound may serve as a major nursery
                  area for summer flounder. Published tagging work on P. lethostigma has been
                  limited to a single Texas study (Stokes 1977) in the Aransas Bay area.

                       The objectives of this study were to determine the movements, number, and
                  distribution of stocks of southern and summer flounder in the estuarine waters
                  of North Carolina, particularly Pamlico and Core Sounds and their tributaries.

                                                     METHODS

                       Flounder were captured primarily by gill net and a 26 ft wing trawl, with
                  a few taken by other trawls and hook and line. Most of the tagging occurred in

                  'Landings data from 1977 through 1980 are preliminary and subject to revision
                  in the Fishery Statistics of the United States.

                                                                                            140

                 in three general areas during two time periods: upper Pamlico River just
                 below Washington, N.C. and lower Core Sound/Back Sound during October and
                 November 1980 and upper Neuse River just below New Bern, N.C. in early
                 April 1981 (see Figure 6 for locations). Gill nets were used during the fall
                 of 1980 and the 'wing trawl in.April 1981. A small number of flounder were tagged
                 throughout the Pamlico Sound system whenever they were captured during other
                 Division sampling. In addition, P. dentatus were captured in late June and July
                 1981 at Cape Lookout Bight and along Shackleford Banks using hook and line.

                      Fish were tagged above the lateral line over the pectoral fin or along
                 the posterior dorsal edge of the body with al 9mm diameter Petersen disc
                 attached with a nickel pin. All specimens were measured to the nearest mm total
                 length (TL) at the time of tagging. Rewards of 1, 5, 10, and 25 dollars were
                 randomly assigned to individual tags before tagging started. The project was
                 publicized by placing posters at fish houses and other public places where
                 fishermen might gather.

                      Distances traveled by recaptured fish were computed as the most direct,
                 straight-line route by water.

                                              RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

                      A total of 1,001 southern flounder were tagged in North Carolina estuaries
                 during October 1980 - July 1981; 299 (29.9%) were recaptured during that period.
                 Because of the difficulty in obtaining large numbers of summer flounder, only 73
                 were tagged, and only 1 was recaptured through July 1981. Most of the southern
                 flounder (962) were tagged in three widely separated locations over relatively
                 short periods of time (11-45 days), and results from each release area will be
                 discussed separately.
                 Pamlico River, September-November 1980
                      A total of 495 southern flounder 252-503 mm TL (Figure la)   were-tagged and
                 released in the Pamlico River 6.4 km (4 mi) east of Washington,   N.C. during the
                 period 23 September - 6 November 1980. One hundred.. sixty-nine   (34.1%) ranging
                 from 275 to 467 mm TL (Figure la) were recaptured. Most of the    recoveries were
                 short term; 72 occurred within 0-10 days, 8l.within 11-40 days,   5 within 41-70
                 days@, and 11 wi.thin 71-219 days.

                                                                                                    141'

                             80-
                                                                           0 -Tagged   N 495
                                                                           M-Recaptured , N=169
                             60-
                                                                               Intermediate and long
                                -                                              range recaptures 1>22kml
                             40-                                               N=18

                             20-

                             30                                                                N=158
                          LU     b                                                             N=15
                          0  10-
                          Uj

                          LL                                                         I

                             50- C                                                             N 311

                                                                                               N=110

                             30-

                             10-

                                                                      T'                             I
                                                                                               N =67
                             10
                                                                                               N=1

                                       20             30             40              50             60."
                                                   TOTAL      LENGTH        (CM1

                         Figure 1.   Length frequencies of  southern flounder'tagged in a'). Pamlico
                                     River 23 Sep - 6 Nov.1980, b) southern   'Core* and,Back-sounds,
                                     3 Oct   10 Nov 1980,  and c)'Neuse'River  3-13  Apr 1.981, and
                                     summer flounder tagged d) between Cape    Lookout  Bight and
                                     Beaufort Inlet 25 Jun  and 9, 10  Jul. 1981.@

                                                                                             142

                     Most of the recaptures (89.3%) occurred within 6.4 km (4 mi) of the
                release site. These short range recaptures included 141 (92.9%) of the 151
                fish caught within 40 days, 2 of the 5 taken within 41-70 days, and most
                notably, 8 of the 11 recovered within 71-219 days (Figures 2-5). Four
                recaptures were made at intermediate ranges 22.5 - 30.6 km (14-19 mi) down-
                stream of the release site, three at Mixon's Creek 9,11, and 16 days after
                release and one near the mouth of South Creek 119 days after release
                (Figures 2, 3, and 5).

                     Fourteen long range (84-386 km) recaptures were made and these are
                detailed in Table 1. Ten of the 14 were caught in the southeastern corner
                of Pamlico Sound off Cedar Island and in northern Core Sound, and two were
                caught near Ocracoke Inlet (Figure 6); these 12 fish were at liberty an
                average of 31 days. The remaining two long range recoveries were made in the
                Intercoastal Waterway (IWW) near the North Carolina-South Carolina border 184
                days after release and off Winyah Bay, S. C. 111 days after release.

                     Gill nets were responsible for 152 (89.9%) of the recaptures. Of the
                remaining 17 returns, one was found dead, two were taken by hook and line, and
                seven each were caught by trawl and pound net. The 152 gill net recaptures
                were all made in the Pamlico River, where the total number of returns was only
                155. This very high proportion of returns from gill nets reflects the rather
                intense flounder gill net fishery located around the release site and the pro-
                nounced tendency of Petersen disc tags to become tangled in gill nets. The
                seven pound net recoveries represented all the returns from Core Sound and the
                one from Portsmouth Island, areas which both have an extensive flounder pound
                net fishery. The four returns from the Cedar Island Beach area were all taken,
                in shrimp trawls.

                     The large number of short term (0-40 days), short range (<6.4 km) returns
                provides little information on movements, but mainly reflects the intense gill
                net fishery which was operating in the tagging area and-the tendency of the
                tags to entangle the fish in those nets. The significant number of short range
                returns (81, 47.9%) taken 11-40 days after release suggests that at least some of
                the tagged fish, if not the population in general, remain in the area for at
                least a few weeks.   The-..,.low number of recaptures within 41-70 days (7) and
                71-103 days (2) may reflect, in part, a sharp drop in effort during the winter

                                                                                                                                                                                                 143
                                      Washingtorl                                   N

                                                   3                                                                                               Release site'                           Ark

                                                           2
                                                                                                                                                   Recapture-site and                     I.-V
                                                                                      Uses,    I.                                                  number at that site
                                                                                       Goose                              U
                                                                              3

                                                                  miffs
                                        2 MILES
                                                                                                 Pamlico
                                                                                        eels                 River                            Is
                                                                              2       Pit.

                                                                                                                                                             Hickory
                                                                                                                                                                                    Islaw

                                                                                                                                                             d,

                                       Figure 2. Recaptures withi'n 0-10 days of release of southern                                                                 flounder
                                                             tagged in the Pamlico River 23 Sep                                         6 Nov 1980. See
                                                             Figure 6 for long range recaptures.

                                    Wash   ington                                N

                                                                                                                                                                                           A]@L
                                                                                                                                                   Release site

                                                         5                                                                                         Recapture site and
                                                                                                                                                   number at that site
                                                                     .8.             uop*r     4.
                                                                                     Goose
                                                              7              2

                                                                Hills
                                      2 MILES
                                                                                               Pamlico
                                                                            4        pt.
                                                                                                                                           2

                                                                                                                                                            Hicke"
                                                                                                                                                                                   Waad

                                       Figure        3.      Recaptures             within        11-40.days.of               release          of    southern          f1oulider
                                                             tagged..in@the Pamlico,                      River.23          Sep     - 6      Nov     1-980. See
                                                             Fi.gure 6 for long 'range recaptures..

                                      Washingwri                                        N                                                                                                         .144

                                                                                                                                                              Release site                              A3!hL

                                                                                                                                                              Recapture site and
                                                                                a                                                                             number at that site

                                                                     Hills
                                                                     PI.
                                        2 MILES
                                                                                                       Pamlico
                                                                                                                                                           Imam

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Iflooll

                                       Figure 4. Recaptures within 41-70 days of release of southern                                                                                 flounder
                                                                tagged in the Pamlico River 23 Sep                                                      Nov 1980.;' See Figure 6
                                                                for long range recaptures.

                                   Wa   A   Ington                                    N

                                                   3                                                                                                          Release site

                                                                                                                                                              Recapture site and
                                                                                                                                                              number at that site

                                                                                                                                Is
                                                                   "lift
                                      2 MILES
                                                                                                      Pamilea
                                                                                7.4
                                                                                            "s
                                                                                 2        pt.

                                                                                                                                                                        Hichoty

                                                                                                                                                                                    IN

                                       Figure          5.       Recaptures.within-71-219'days-of release of                                                        southern..flounde'r.
                                                                tagged in the Pamlico-River,-23 Sep .- 6@Nov 1980.--The.numbers
                                                                outside the circles indicate the days                                                 at':Iiberty"            for those fish.
                                                                See Table             Vfor          long'range               recaptures.

                                                                                                        145

                    Table 1. Long range recaptures of southern flounder tagged in the Pamlico
                                 River just below Washington, N.C., 23 September - 6 November 1980

                   Tagged                                  Recaptured
                                                                                               Kin/Mi       Days
              Date        TL(mm)       Date              Location                     Gear     traveled    out

            30 Sep 80      435      30 Oct 80    Mouth of Thorofare Bay,              Pound      97/60        30
                                                 Core Sound                           net
              1 Oct 80     302       6 Nov 80    Northern Core Sound near             Pound      92/57        36
                                                 Marker #13                           net
              2 Oct 80     314      12 Nov 801   Chain Shot Island, northern          Pound      89/55        41
                                                 Core Sound                           net
              2 Oct 80     406      20 Nov 80    Near Wainwright Island,              Pound      89/55        49
                                                 northern Core Sound                  net
              3 Oct 80     410      25 Oct 80    Northern Core Sound, 5 mi.           Pound      92/57        22
                                                 NE of Atlantic, NC                   net
              3 Oct 80     467      28 Oct 80    Off Cedar Island Beach               Shrimp     84/52        25
                                                 southeastern Pamlico Sound           trawl
              3 Oct 80     382      30 Oct 80    Off Cedar Island Beach,              Shrimp     84/52        27
                                                 southeastern Pamlico Sound           trawl
              3 Oct 80     390      31 Oct 80    31-, mi. off Cedar Island Beach,     Shrimp     84/52        28
                                                 southeastern Pamlico Sound           trawl
              3 Oct 80     372       4 Apr 81    Near marker #99, IWW near            Hook &    322/200      184
                                                 Ocean Isle, NC                       line
              8 Oct 80     406      12 Nov 80    Banks side of Core Sound,            Pound     109/68        3.5
                                                 south of Drum'Inlet                  net
            10 Oct 80      422      18 Oct 80    Near Portsmouth Island               Pound      92/57         8
                                                 at Ocracoke Inlet                    net
            14 Oct 80      328      28 Oct 80    Off Cedar Island Beach,              Shrimp     84/52        14
                                                 southeastern Pamlico Sound           trawl
            14 Oct 80      323      4 Dec  80    4 mi. E. of Ocracoke Inlet,          Fish      101/63        54
                                                 Atlantic Ocean                       trawl
            28 Oct 80      390      16 Feb 81    3 mi. N. of Winyah Bay, S.C.,        Shrimp    386/240      ill
                                                 Atlantic Ocean                       trawl

            lApproximate recapture date.-

                                                                                                                            Rose B.
                                                                                                                             Swenquarter B.

                                                                                    Pungo R.

                                            0 Washington                                 Pamlico A.                                                              Pa
                                                                                                                                                                  S

                                                           Release sites                              Say R.

                                                                                                                                                          14       2
                                                                                                                                                          2.5(D42
                                                           Recapture    sites and
                                                           number at    each site                                                             West a.
                                                                                                            Broad
                                                                                                             Cf.

                                                                                                                                                          Cedar
                                                                                                                                                          Is.

                                                             N:W 0
                                                             B rn

                                                                                                                                                            35

                                                                                                                              82    North R.                     0
                                                                                                                                                                CO
                                                                                                                      Cara,
                                                                                                                       Cf.
                                                                                                                                                                0
                   Figure 6..        Long range recaptures of southern flounder
                                                                                                                 Newport
                                     tagged.in the Pamlico Ri             'ver 23 Sep - 6 Nov                        R.
                                     1980 (circles) and the Neuse River 3-13 Apr                                                            '440
                                     1981 (diamonds). The numbers outside the                                                              14
                                     circles and diamonds indicate the days at
                                                                                                                                   >efort inlet  Barden
                                     liberty for those fish.                                                                                     Inlet
                                                                                                                0                       4
                                                                                                             e                                              Cape
                                                                                                                                                             Lookout

                                                                                                147

                  months. Six of the short range returns were taken 104-219 days after release
                  (Figure 5), indicating that some flounder either remain in the upper Pamlico
                  River through the winter or return there the following spring or summer.
                       The intermediate and long range returns (122.5 km) indicate a downstream
                  movement, primarily to and into Core Sound (Figure 6), presumably enroute to
                  the ocean via Drum, Barden, and Beaufort Inlets. The two returns from near
                  Ocracoke Inlet, one from four miles offshore, indicate at least some southern
                  flounder utilize that inlet as well. Most of the fish recovered in or near
                  Core Sound had traveled an average of 2-3 km (1-2 mi) per day, assuming straight
                  line courses, although one fish averaged 11.5 km (7.1 mi) per day.

                       Some southern flounder apparently migrate considerable distances, as
                  evidenced by the two longest range returns - one from the IWW near the North
                  Carolina/South Carolina border and one from the Atlantic Ocean off Winyah Bay,
                  S. C. (Table 1). The fish recaptured in the IWW traveled a minimum of 322 km
                  (200 mi) in 184 days, while the fish from off Winyah Bay traveled a minimum of
                  386 km (240 mi) in 111 days.

                       These long distance movements are not unprecendented. Stokes (1977)
                  reported that a southern flounder tagged at Port Aransas, Texas was recaptured
                  in the Gulf of Mexico in 36 fathoms of water 451 km (280 mi) northeast of the
                  tagging site. Tagging studies of the closely related summer flounder
                  (Marawski 1970, unpublished N.C. Div. of Marine Fisheries data demonstrated
                  movements of at least 386-483 km (240-300 mi) in the Atlantic Ocean.

                       Analysis of the length frequency of the 18 intermediate and long range
                  (L22.5 km) recaptures suggests that a much higher proportion of age II or older
                  flounder than age I fish migrate to the ocean in the fall. The length frequen'cy
                  of all fish tagged (Figure la) shows two distinct modes which probably represent
                  mainly age I and II fish, based on ageingdata from DeVries (1981). However,
                  age II or older fish comprised twice as much of the intermediate and long range
                  recaptures as did age I fish (Figure la). When the short range (S6.4 W)
                  recaptures are included in the length frequency (Figure la), the proportion of
                  age I and II or older fish is similar.

                       The exploitation rate of these fish while in the Pamlico River for the
                  period of 23 September 1980   31 July 1981 was 31.1%. This fiqure must be
                  considered an overestimate, given the tendency of the Petersen disc to easily

                                                                                            148

               tangle in gill nets (Murawski 1970, Ricker 1975). Exploitation rate here is
               defined as the number of recaptured tagged fish/total number of fish tagged
               (Ricker 1975). Although nonreporting of recaptures and tagging mortality
               would have resulted in underestimates of exploitation, the tendency to tangle
               in gill nets was almost certainly a more important factor in recapture rates,
               considering the very high (89.9%) rate of gill net recaptures.

                    Only 1.4% of the Pamlico River fish were recaptured in the fall pound net
               fishery from OCracoke to Beaufort Inlet, but this figure is probably an under-
               estimate of the true harvest rate for the following reasons. First, because
               of the tendency of the tags to tangle in gill nets, a greater proportion of
               tagged than untagged fish were caught whil:e in the river, so conversely, a
               lower proportion of tagged than untagged fish were able to migrate from there.
               Second, an unknown proportion of flounder apparently overwinter in the upper
               river, so that some of the tagged fish, even if they were not caught in a gill
               net, were probably not exposed to the pound net fishery. Finally, nonreporting
               of recaptures almost always occurs to some unknown extent.

               Core and Back Sounds, October-November 1980

                    One hundred fifty-eight southern flounder 290 to 562 mm TL (Figure lb) and
               one summer flounder were tagged and released in lower Core and southern Back sounds
               from 3 October to 10 November 1980. Of these, 15 (9.4%) fish ranging from 378 to
               473 mm TL were recaptured - 10 in <14 days, 3 in 23-45 days, I in 131 days, and 1
               in 275 days. Thirteen (86.7%) were captured within 6.4 km (4 mi) of their release
               site (Figure 7). Three flounder moved towards Beaufort Inlet and three to or
               through Barden Inlet. Only one fish moved north - a fish tagged in southern Back
               Sound was recaptured three days later in the Straits north of Harkers Island about
               9 km (6 mi) from the release site (Figure 7). Two long distance recaptures were
               made. One fish was-recaptured in February (131 days at liberty) 4.8 km (3 mi) off
               of the mouth of the St. John's River, Fla., a straight line distance of about
               645 km (400 mi) and an average movement of 4.9 km (3.1 mi)/day. Another flounder
               was recaptured 275 days after release (31 July 1981) by hook and line at Ponce
               de Leon Inlet, Fla., a distance of about 740 km (460 mi).

                    Of the 15 returns, 6 were taken by   gill net, 4 by hook and line, 2 by gig,
               I by pound net, I by trawl, and I unknown. Two.of the gill net recaptures were
               made in our project gear.

                            Newport
                              River                                      North
                                                                         River

                                                                                        %

                                                                                                     3
                                                                                                                                  32
                                                                                            The Straits

                                                                                                                                         4'
                                                                                                              ar  ns         7
                                                                 3-                          Ila             131  nd
                                                                  1                            rk era  IS/           1%4 4
                               sea     rt        %
                                  InI t               CO          8
                                                        Shock/      2                          ack SOLIJIC;,
                                                                 rd
                                                                        taflka

                          Recapture $Its and
                         nurnbeit'at that-site

                                                                                                                       46
                       Figure 7.      Location and number of recaptures of                                   23       2 IZ7
                                      southern flounder tagged in lower Core                                   Barden
                                      and southern Back sounds 3 Oct - 10 Nov                                  Inlet
                                      1980. The numbers outside the circles
                                      indicate the days at liberty for those
                                      fish. See text for information on two
                                      recaptures from Florida.

                                                                                                                  Cape
                                                                             2@p

                                                                                                                  Lookout

                                                                                                 150

                      The low number of returns for these flounder probably resulted from the
                 fish being tagged during their spawning migration to the ocean and close to
                 Beaufort and Barden Inlets, so their availability to capture  , especially by gill
                 nets,-was limited-compared to fish tagged in Pamlico and'Neuse rivers. The two
                 recoveries from Floridalwhich are the longest distance returns to date.may
                 also partly explain the lack of ret6rns, in that they provide additional
                 evidence that some southern flounder leave North Carolina waters and travel

                 considerable distances southward.   It i s unknown i f these f i sh ever return to

                 North Carolina.

                 Neuse River, 3-13 April 1981

                      A total of 311 P. lethostigma were tagged in the Neuse River just below
                 New Bern, N.C. between Johnson and Fort Points, 3-13 April 1981 (Figure 8).
                 The tagged fish ranged from 200 to 414 mm TL (Figure lc) so most were probably
                 age II (DeVries 1981). One hundred ten (35.4%) of these flounder ranging
                 from 200 to 414 mm TL (Figure lc) were recaptured through July 1981 - 47 (42.7%)
                 within 0-10 days, 16 (14.5%) within 11-40 days, 30 (27.3%) within 41-70.dayS2,
                 and 17 (15.5%) within 71-113 days (Figures 8-11). As'in the Pamlico River,
                 gill nets accounted for most (101 or 91.8%) of the recaptures, with 1 fish taken
                 by trawl, 1 by crab pot, I by gig, and 7 by unknown means.

                      Through July 1981, all but four of the recaptured fish exhibited only very
                 limited movement; 106 (96.4%) were recaptured within 11.3 km (7 mi) of the
                 release site. Of the 4 other returns, one was taken 8-12.9 km (5-8 mi) down-
                 stream of the release site, and about 6.4 km (4 mi) west of Slocum Creek
                 (Figure 9); one 16 .1-20.9 km (10-13 mi) downstream, 1.6 km (l,mi) east of
                 Slocum Creek (Figure 11); one 49.9-54.7 km (31-34 mi) downstream at the Core
                 Creek Bridge (Figure 6); and one 69.2-74.0 km (43-46 mi) from the release site,
                 off Beaufort Inlet (Figure 6). The fartherest upstream recoveries were two
                 taken 1.6 km (I mi) north of the Highway 17 Bridge and 4.8-11.3 km (3-7 mi) from
                 the release area. No fish were recovered from the Trent River.

                 2EIeven tags were returned without.specific recapture dates, only a time period
                  which equated to a possible range of 42-83 days at liberty. All of these fish
                  are included in Figure 10.

                                                                                                                                                       151

                                                                                               0      11
                                                                                               k*      0                                     . OP
                                              Sandy
                                               Pt

                                                 3
                                  No                                Gelb
                                  Be rn                                  @at
                                                                            Cr

                                                     Fort                                                                           Release site
                                                       Pt
                                    W.                                            6                                                 RecaPtUrO site and
                                                                                          : " Neuse -River                          number at that site
                                                                           Johnson
                                                                                Pt      6

                                Figure 8          Recaptures within 0-10 days of release of'souther                                n
                                                  flounder tagged.in the Neuse River 3-13 Apr 1981.

                                           Sandy      c.
                                            Pt
                                ow         _09)    3             Gelb as
                               Born                                       CO,

                                                                    2
                                                     rt                                                                         Release site
                                                     Pt
                                                                                                                                Recapture site and
                                                                                                                                                       @2
                                                                                                                                number Al that site
                                                                                                NeuseL River
                                                                        Johnson
                                                                              Pt

                                Figure 9. Recaptures within 11-40 days                           of   relLeasel.of      southerin'flounder
                                                  tagged     in the      Neuse River:3-13 Apr              1981.--

                                                                                                                                           152

                                            Sandy
                                           pt
                               Now                            At th'V                       Ir
                               earn                                 *at  Ores,

                                                 Fort                                                                      Release Wts
                                                   Pt

                                                                            2                                              Recapture site and
                                                                     Johnson               Neuse River                     number at that site
                                                                           Pt

                                                                                                              I MILE

                            Figure 10.         Recaptures within 41-70 days of release of southern
                                               flounder tagged in the Neuse River 3-13 Apr 1981. The
                                               number within the square refers to a group of fish
                                               recaptured in the area.indicated by the brackets sometime
                                               between 42 and 83 days after release.

                                                                               &A

                                                                                      0      00

                                        Sandv
                                     3  pt
                            Now        0
                            earn                                     C.0

                                                              2
                                               Fort                                                                      Release site
                                                 Pt
                                                                                                                         Recapture It. and
                                                                                                                         number at that site
                                                                                          Neuse        River
                                                                     Johnson
                                                                          p?

                                                                                                              I MIMS

                            Figure 11.         Recaptures       within 71-113 days of release                 of.'southern,'.."
                                               flounder tagged in the Neuse'River 3-1.3.Ap''r 1981. See'-
                                               Figure 6      foradditional long range recaptures.

                                                                                               153

                       The very large proportion of short range (<11.3 km) returns indicates
                  that most of the southern flounder tagged in the Neuse River spent the spring
                  and summer months there. The lack of recoveries from very far upstream or
                  the Trent River suggests that the Neuse River just below the Highway 17
                  Bridge at New Bern may be the normal upstream limit of distribution for the
                  species. Keup and Bayless (1964) noted that P. iethostigma, although
                  occasionally found in freshwater in the Neuse River, were most common in
                  salinities above 1.75 ppt. During the tagging bottom salinities in the
                  release area were about 3 ppt. Another likely reason for the lack of upstream
                  and Trent River recaptures is the lack of effort directed towards flounder in
                  these areas, which are traditionally fished for fresh or anadromous species.

                       The recaptures made in Core Creek and off Beaufort Inlet, both in early
                  July, suggest that some flounder move to or towards the ocean in the summer,
                  four or five months before the peak fall spawning migration.

                       The exploitation rate of the Neuse River fish from April through July 1981
                  was 35.6% but this is probably an overestimate for the same reason given for the
                  Pamlico River fish, i.e. tangling of tags in gill nets.

                  Miscellaneous Locations, November 1980-July 1981

                       Twenty-five southern flounder 192-318 mm TL were tagged in several locations
                  in southern and western Pamlico and northern Carteret counties, November 1980-
                  July 1981. These fish were tagged during the course of other Division sampling
                  when tags were available. Only one of these fish was recaptured - a fish
                  released in a tributary of Broad Creek (star in Figure 6) in southern Pamlico
                  County on 22 June 1981 was recaptured 22 days later in Broad Creek about 2 km
                  from the release site.

                       In addition 13 southern flounder 313-343 mm TL were tagged on 14 and 17
                  April 1981 in the upper Pamlico River in the same area where the fish were
                  tagged the previous fall. Four of these fish were recaptured, all in gill nets,
                  2-3 km upstream after 8, 19, 21, and 26 days. These few returns show the same
                  pattern seen with the Neuse River fish tagged in Apri.l.

                                                                                              154

                 Cape Lookout - Beaufort Inlet, June-July 1981

                       Sixty-seven summer flounder 210-421 mm TL were tagged and released from
                 Cape  Lookout to Beaufort Inlet on 25 June and 9 and 10 July 1981. Only one
                 fish  was recaptured through July 1981 and it was caught by hook and line two
                 days  after release in the release area.

                                                 RECOMMENDATIONS

                 1.   Continue tagging for at least two more years and attempt    to tag much
                      greater numbers of both southern and summer flounder to better define
                      movements and exploitation rates by various gears and hopefully prov   ide
                      mortality rate data with second and third year returns.

                 2.'  Tag southern flounder in Albemarle Sound to determine their migration
                      routes.

                 3.   Tag flounder off Cedar Island Beach to determine the exploitation rate in
                      the Core Sound pound net fishery.

                 4.   Use pound net for tagging in Core Sound in the fall to increase the
                      numbers tagged there.

                 5.   Convince other states to tag southern flounder off northeast Florida,
                      South Carolina, and Georgia to see if any northward migration occurs.

                 6.   Determine feasibility of using a non-tangling tag in the Neuse and
                      Pamlico rivers to get better estimates of exploitation.

                 7.   Detemine sex ratio and its relationship to size of flounder in the tagging
                      areas at the time of tagging.

                                                 ACKTIOWLEDGEMENTS

                       Thanks are due to all of the stock assessment biologis   ts and technicians
                at the Morehead City and Washington offices for,assisting with the actual tagging.
                Michael Street and Steve Ross reviewed the manuscript and provided many helpful
                suggestions. Margaret Stafford typed the manuscript.

                                                                                                      155

                                                      LITERATURE CITED

                      DeVries, D. A.
                           1981. Stock assessment of adult fishes in the Core Sound, N.C. area.
                           Compl. Rep., Proj. No. 2-326-R. N.C. Dept. Nat. Res. & Comm. Devel.,
                           Div. Mar. Fish., 54 p.

                      Keup, L. and J. Bayless..
                           1964. Fish distribution at varying salinities in Neuse River basin,
                           North Carolina. Chesapeake Sci. 5(3):119-123.

                      Murawski, W. S.
                           1970. Results of tagging experiments of summer flounder, Paralichthys
                           dentatus, conducted in New Jersey waters from 1960 to 1967. N.J. Dept.
                           Environ. Protec., Div. Fish Game and Shellfish, Nacote Creek Res. Sta.,
                           Misc. Rept. 5M, 51 p.

                      Poole, J. C.
                           1962. The fluke population of Great South Bay in relation to the sport
                           fishery. N.Y. Fish Game J. 9(2):93-117.

                           1966. A review of research concerning summer flounder and needs for
                           further study. N.U. Fish Game J. 13(2):9-26-232.

                      Ricker, W. E.
                           1975. Computation and interpretation of biological statistics of fish
                           populations. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, Bull. No. 191. 382 p.

                      Stokes, G. M.
                           1977. Life history studies of southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma)
                           and Guld flounder (P. Albigutta) in the Aransas Bay area of Texas. Texas
                           Parks Wildl. Dept., Tech. Ser. No. 25, 37 p.

                      Street, M.  W.
                           1981. Trends in North Carolina's commercial fisheries, 1965-1980. N.C.
                           Dept.  Nat. Res. & Comm. Devel., Div. Mar. Fish., 13 p.

                      U.S. Dept.  of Commerce.
                           1977. Fishery statistics of the United States, 1974. NOAA, Natl. Mar.
                           Fish.  Serv. Statistical Digest No. 68. 425 p.

                           1979. M-herystatistics of the United States,          1975. NOAA, Natl. Mar.
                           Fish.  Serv. Statistical Digest No. 69. 418 p.

                           1980. Fishery statistics of the United States, 1976. NOAA,          Natl. Mar.
                           Fish. Serv. Statistical Digest No. 70. 419 p.

                                                                                              156

                  Westman, J. R.
                       1946. Some studies on the life history and economics of the fluke.
                       (Paralichthys dentatus) of Long Island waters. A report printed under
                       sponsorship of the Islip Town Board, Islip, N.Y. 15 p.

                  Wolff, M.
                       1977. Preliminary stock assessment, North Carolina: flounder
                       (Paralichthys sp.) Compl. Rep. Proj. No. 2-294-T. N.C. Dept. Nat.
                       Res. & Comm. Devel., Div. Mar. Fish., 19 p.

                                                                                                157

                                                  PROJECT III

                               WESTERN ALBEMARLE SOUND NON-ANADROMOUS FISHERIES

                                                       by

                                             Robert C. Harriss, Jr.

                                                                                               158

                                                  ABSTRACT

                       The size and age composition of the Albemarle Sound commercial harvest
                  of white perch, channel catfish and white catfish was examined. White perch
                  from age groups  three through eight were present during the 1979-80 season,with
                  age groups four  and five dominating the samples. The situation was similar
                  during 1980781. Channel catfish from age groups two through nine were present,

                  w
                     th age groups three, four, and seven dominating the harvest. White catfish
                   i 46
                  from age groups  three through seven were present, with age groups three and
                  four dominating  the samples.

                                                                                                159

                                                  INTRODUCTION

                         The commercial fisheries of the Albemarle Sound area have been
                    historically dependent upon the harvest of anadromous fishes during their
                    spring migrations to and from the spawning grounds. Due to the seasonality
                    of the anadromous fish harvest, area fishermen and dealers have become in-
                    creasingly interested in the harvest of nonanadromous species. The commerc-
                    ially significant nonanadromous species are white catfish (ictalurus catus),
                    channel catfish. (-Tctalurus punctatus), white perch (Morone americana), American
                    eel (Anquilla rostrata), southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigm ), and
                    blue crab (callinectas sapidus). The landings for white perch and both
                    species of catfish combined in the Albemarle Sound area compared with the
                    entire state's landings during the period from 1976 to 1981 are shown in
                    Table 1 .
                         Catfish landings in the Albemarle Sound area averaged approximately
                    1,620,000 pounds over the five year period beginning in 1976. Landings
                    peaked in 1977, and have declined slightly each year since. The Albemarle
                    Sound area produces approximately 90% of the total catfish harvest in the
                    state White perch landings peaked in 1978. The Albemarle Sound area accounted
                    for approximately 85% of the total North Carolina harvest during 1976-80.
                    Since 1978,white perch landings have generally declined.
                         The purpose of this study was to obtain data necessary to develop and
                    implement improved management of white perch and catfish in the Albemarle
                    Sound area. Past work objectives of this study were to investigate the
                    relative abundance of juvenile white perch and catfish in the Chowan River,
                    determine time and areas of white perch spawning in the Chowan River, examine
                    the age and size composition of the-commercial harvest of white perch and cat-
                    fish, and conduct a tagging study on white perch.
                         Due to termination in federal funding for project 2-372-R, field work
                    was abandoned after February 1981. It should be noted that due to loss of
                    funding, only one-half of the adult harvest data was collected for 1980-81,
                    and no catfish tagging programs or juvenile assessment programs were undertaken.

                                                                                                   160

                   Table 1     North Carolina and Albemarle Sound area landings for catfish
                               and white perch for 1976-1981 (Published and unpublished data,
                               Division of Marine Fisheries and NfIFS, Beaufort, N.C.)

                   Species       Year    North Carolina      Albemarle Sound        Percent Albemarle
                                         landings (lb.)      area landings (lb.)    Sound area landings

                   Catfish       1976    1,538,124           1,480,200                     96.2
                                 1977    2,073,100           2,043,600                     98.6
                                 1978    1,713,102           1,637,774                     98.5
                                 1979    1,651,600           1,495,100                     90.5
                                 1980    1,625,739           1,402,770                     86.3
                   Jan - July    1981    1,524,795           1,306,061                     92.0

                   White perch   1976      183,625             175,800                     95.7
                                 1977      268,200             257,700                     96.1
                                 1978      687,414             482,619                     70.2
                                 1979      361,032             320,800                     88.9
                                 1980      104,803               80,625                    76.9
                   Jan   July    1931      268,177             233,252                     88.8

                                                                                                161

                                                    METHODS

                                              Adult Harvest Survey

                         During 1978-80, Keefe and Harriss  (1981)  sampled three sites in the
                    Albemarle Sound area monthly to determine the   age and size composition of
                    the commercial harvest of the principal nonanadromous species (Figure 1 ).
                    Collectively, these sites best represent the commercial harvest in the area.
                         Beginning in October 1980,length frequencies of white perch and catfish
                    were taken monthly at the same three sites, with spines (catfish) and scales
                    (white perch) taken semi-annually (in the spring and fall) for age determina-
                    tion., Due to reduction of federal funding for Project 2-372.-R,,Al1l Albemarle
                    Sound area field work was discontinued after Februaryl.9al.. The report, there-
                    fore, only considers information obtained from October 1980 through February 1981.
                         Sample size depended on the number of specimens and the size range present
                    at the individual locations; all specimens were measured (FL) to the nearest
                    millimeter and weighed to the nearest O.Olkg. Sex information was obtained
                    for white perch during the spawning season when gonadal material could be
                    squeezed from the abdomen.
                         Scale samples were obtained from white perch in the area between the
                    dorsal fins and above the lateral line. Approximately one dozen scales were
                    obtained from each white perch sampled. Scales were placed in coin envelopes
                    and allowed to dry. Approximately six scales were mounted and impressions
                    were made on acetate slides by means of a roller press. Scale impressions
                    were viewed under a binocular dissecting microsc6pe with a micrometer eyepiece.
                    Annuli were counted to determine age according to the criteria set forth by
                    flansueti (1961).
                         The left pectoral spine was removed from white and channel catfish.
                   .When the left pectoral spine was broken or damaged, the right spine was removed.
                    Pectoral spines were removed by clipping the joint with wire cutters, then pull-
                    ing the spine outward and rotating ituntil free. Spines were prepared according
                    t6'.the me thod'described by Sneed (1950). Spines were sectioned by making two
                    cuts with a hobby saw approximately 1mm apart. Spine sections were immersed
                    in a watchglass containing glycerine and viewed under reflected light with a
                    binocular dissecting microscope. Winter zones were counted to determine the
                    age of the catfish.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        162

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                                                                                              163

                                             RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

                                                   White Perch

                       Because of the timing of termination of funding and the planned sampling
                  schedule, a total of only 88 white perch were sampled for age. Number, mean
                  fork length and weight, and standard deviations for each age group of white
                  perch, sexes combined, sampled from the Albemarle Sound commercial harvest
                  during 1980-81 are presented in Table 2. During 1980-81, white perch from
                  ages three through eight were present in samples. White perch of ages four
                  and five accounted for 52% of the harvest. These figures correspond closely
                  with those of the adult harvest for the previous two years (Keefe and Harriss
                  1981). The fish generally tended to be longer and heavier than during 1979-
                  1980 (Keefe and Harriss 1981).

                       The length frequency distribution for white perch in 10 mm size groups
                  are presented in Figure 2. White perch ranged in fork length from 180 to
                  290 mm and were dominated by those occurring in the 231-240 size range. The
                  mean fork length at age three was 221 and at age eight the mean was 249.

                       A total of 121 white perch were examined from the commercial catch to
                  determine sex ratios. The sex ratio was 3.03:1 (females to males) as com-
                  pared to 2.58:1 and 2.39:1 in the past (Keefe and Harriss 1981). Females
                  dominated all age groups. The departure from the expected 1:1 sex ratio
                  probably is due to the selectivity of commercial gear for faster growing females,
                  as noted by Keefe and Harriss.

                                                     Catfish

                       Catfish are commercially harvested in the Albemarle Sound area by pound
                  nets, gill nets, fyke nets, trot lines, haul seines, and fish pots. It was
                  assumed that sampling in the fish houses obtained catfish from all gears used
                  commercially. No attempt was made to analyze the data separately for each gear.

                       A total of 373 catfish were sampled for length frequency, of which 125 were-
                  found suitable for age determination.. Forty-five of these were channel catfish,
                  while 80 were white catfish.

                       Number, mean length and weight, and standard deviation for each age group
                  of channel catfish are shown in Table 3. Channel catfish, sampled from the.

                                                                                                    164

                   Table 2. Number, mean length and weight, and standard deviations by
                              age for white perch, sexes conbined, sampled from Albemarle
                              Sound, N.C. commercial harvest during 1980-81.

                                          % of          Fork length mm)         Weight (kg)
                   Age      Number        sanple        mean       SD           rdean  SD

                   111      15            17            221        12.9         0.21   0.033

                   IV       28            32            229        13.8         0.23   0.044

                   V        18            20            239        23.7         0.32   0.25

                   VI       15            17            255        19.4         0.32   0.92
                   VII        8             9           263        11.2         0.37   0.066
                   VIII       4             5           249        23.3         0.29   0.069

                            88

                                                                                                   165

                   50                            P,

                   45                                                  White perch
                   40                                                  N   208

                   35

                   30

               MIr 25

                   20

                   15

                   10

                   5.

                      190    200   210   220    230   240   250.   260-1.- 270  280   290 -..1300
                                                 Fork  length (m

                        Figure 2.   Length frequency  di.stribution foe white perch,'sexes. combined
                                    sampled from the, Albemarle Sound--commercialharvest   during 19AO-81.

                                                                                                                   166

                        Table 3. Number, mean length and weight, and standard deviations by
                                    age for channel catfish, sexes combined, sampled from the
                                    Albemarle Sound, N.C. commercial harvest during 1980-81.

                        Age       [lumber         % of           Fork length (nn)           Weight (kg)
                                                  sample         mean        SD             mean    SD

                        11        5               11             225         40.8           0.15    0.069
                        111       9               20             284         76.1           0.34    0.32

                        IV        8               18             309         111.2          0.55    0.84

                        V         3                 7            393         30.6           0.78    0.25

                        VI        7               16             410         96.0           1.16    0.75

                        VII       10              22             457         122.8          1.56    1.26

                        VIII      2                 4            572         104.7          2.63    1.56

                        Ix        1               -2             622                        3.39

                                  45

                                                                                               167

                 comr.iercial catch, ranged from age two to nine, and age group seven was the
                 most abundant.
                         [lumber, mean length, weight, and standard deviations for each age
                 group of white catfish are presented in Table 4.    From the data collected,it
                 appears that white catfish do not live as long or   grow as large as channel
                 catfish (Keefe and Harriss 1981). White catfish     from age groups three to
                 seven were present, and age groups three and four   were the most abundant in
                 the commercial harvest. White catfish from age groups three and four accounted
                 for 790% of the fish sampled.
                         The length frequency distribution for channel and white catfish in 10mn
                 size groups are presented in Figures 3 and 4, respectively. Channel catfish
                 ranged in fork length from 190 to 750mm, and were weakly dominated by those
                 occuring in the 210-LO39mm and 400-40.9mn size classes. White catfish ranged
                 from 179mm to 490mm FL and were dominated by those in modal groups between
                 240mm and 339mm.
                         As discussed by Keefe and Harriss (1981),enlargement of the lumen
                 was observed in most of the pectoral spines examined from both species of
                 catfish. The lumen increased at the expense of adjacent bony material ob-
                 literating the first and sometimes two or three annuli. Generally, one
                 annulus was added to both channel and white catfish if the lumen radius was
                 greater than 10 units and the distance to the first visible annulus was
                 greater than 18 units.

                                             ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

                         The authors would like to extend thanks to several persons for their
                 assistance during the study:
                         Marine Fisheries Technicians, Doug Crocker and Sara 'Winslow for
                 helping with the adult harvest survey,
                         Marine Biologist Harrel B. Johnson for lending advice and assistance
                 and also for assuring that equipment and personnel were available for field
                 sampling,and Fisheries Management Section Chief, Michael U. Street,for reviewing
                 this report.
                         Special thanks are extended to Jackie Davis and Margaret Stafford for
                 typing the report.

                                                                                                      168

                       Table 4. Number, mean length and weight, and standard deviations by
                                 age for white catfish, sexes combined, sampled from the
                                 Albemarle Sound, N.C. commercial harvest during 1989-81.

                       Age     Number        /0 of         Fork length (mm)         Weight (kg)
                                             sample        Mean       SD            mean   SD

                       111     35            44            261        46.5          0.31   0.16

                       IV      28            35            328        52.8          0.62   0.33

                       V       10            13            341        45.8          0.71   0.38

                       VI        5             6           410        68.0          1.17   0.47

                       VII       2             2           408        36.1          1.18   0.24

                               80

                                                                                                169

                 20

                 15

                                                                Channel catfish
                                                                N   99

                 10

                  150    ?00   250   300   350   400  450    500    550   600   650   700   750
                                                 Fo rk length (mm)

                     Figure 3. Length frequency  distribution for channel catfish, sexes combined,
                                sampled from the Albemarle Sound commercial harvest during 1980-81.

                                                                                                    170

                      35

                      30

                                                                 14hite catfish
                                                                 N   274

                      20

                       5                         1Jj 11

                                                                 Soo
                      150   200   250   300    350               --4--             M ---700
                                                        Fork length  (mm)

                         Figure 4. Length frequency distribution for white catfish, sexes combined,
                                    from the Albemarle Sound comnercial harvest during 1980-81.

                                                                                            171

                                                       C T
                                            LITERATURE  ITED

                 Keefe, Scott G., and R. C. Harriss, Jr.
                      1981. Preliminary assessment of nonanadromous fishes of the Albemarle
                      Sound. N. C. Dept. [lat. Res. and Community Development, Div. Mar. Fish.,
                      Completion Report for project 2-324-R, 46p,,

                 Mansueti, Roneo J.
                      1961. Movements, reproduction, and mortality of the white perch,
                      Roccus americanus, in the Patuxent estuary, Maryland. Chpsapeake
                      Sci. 9. (3-4): 142-2105.

                 Sneed, K. E.
                      1950. A method for calculating the growth of channel catfish,
                      Ictalurus lacustris punctatus. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 80: 174-183.

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