Hyponeustonic Fish Larvae in the Northumberland Strait During Summer 1962

Abstract

A neuston net with mesh openings of 1.3 mm was towed in the surface waters of the north basin of the Northumberland Strait at irregular intervals from mid-June to mid-September 1962. Fifteen genera of teleost larvae belonging to 11 families were collected. Of these, the following eight species occurred in regular abundance and were termed "abundant larvae": sand lance, Ammodytes americanus; radiated shanny, Ulvaria subbifurcata; lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus; fourbeard rockling, Enchelyopus cimbrius; Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus; cunner, Tautogolabrus adspersus; white hake, Urophycis tenuis; and Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus harengus. Larvae were collected in variable numbers, with the sampling data suggesting they were aggregated in the water. The total abundance of all larvae was about 50 larvae per tow except for a peak in July. The regular appearance of the "abundant larvae" resulted in unique combinations of spawning and hatching times for each species. The larvae of spring-spawners were present in June and were gradually replaced by the larvae of summer-spawners.