NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-53

Distribution of Neustonic Sablefish

Larvae and Associated lchthyoplankton

in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska, May 1990

by

B. L. Wing and D. J. Kamikawa

June 1995
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS

The National Marine Fisheries Service’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center uses the

NOAA Technical Memorandum series to issue informal scientific and technical

publications when complete formal review and editorial processing are not

appropriate or feasible. Documents within this series reflect sound professional

work and may be referenced in the formal scientific and technical literature.

The NMFS-AFSC Technical Memorandum series of the Alaska Fisheries Science

Center continues the NMFS-F/NWC series established in 1970 by the Northwest

Fisheries Center. The new NMFS-NWFSC series will be used by the Northwest

Fisheries Science Center.

This document should be cited as follows:

Wing, B. L., and D. J. Kamikawa. 1995. Distribution of neustonic

sablefish larvae and associated ichthyoplankton in the eastern Gulf of

Alaska, May 1990. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFSAFSC-53, 48 p.

Reference in this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by the

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA.
NOAATechnical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-53

Distribution of Neustonic Sablefish

Larvae and Associated lchthyoplankton

in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska, May 1990

by

B. L. Wing and D. J. Kamikawa’

1Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Auke Bay Laboratory

11305 Glacier Highway

Juneau, AK 99801-8626

2

 P.O. Box 16337

Fresno, CA 93755
This document is available to the public through: 

National Technical Information Service 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

5285 Port Royal Road 

Springfield, VA 22161 

www.ntis.gov 
iii

ABSTRACT

Ichthyoplankton were taken in neuston tows at

67 oceanographic stations in the eastern Gulf of Alaska (east of

long. 140°W and between lat. 54°30'N and lat. 58°N) in-May 1990.

Larvae of 25 taxa and eggs of 6 taxa were identified. Sablefish

(Anoplopoma fimbria) were the most abundant species observed and

most frequently captured larvae (57 stations). The highest

catches of sablefish larvae (46 per 10 m2) were observed during

night sampling, 160 km offshore. Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes

hexapterus) larvae ranked second in abundance and third in

frequency of

(Hexasrammos

frequency of

occurrence in our samples. Larvae of greenlings

spp.) ranked third in abundance and second in

occurrence. Irish lord larvae (Hemileoidotus spp.)

ranked fourth in abundance and third in frequency of occurrence

in our samples.

Abundant quantities of fish eggs for ragfish (Icosteus

aenismaticus), Dover sole (Microstomus oacificus), and rex sole

(Errex zachirus) were observed in our samples. Ragfish eggs were

most numerous offshore in the southern half of the study area.

Dover sole eggs were most numerous over the continental shelf and

slope in the northern half of the study area. Rex sole eggs were

most numerous at two offshore stations west of Sitka.

V

CONTENTS

Abstract .................................................. iii

Introduction........... .................................. l

Methods ................................................. ...3

Results ................................. ............... ...5

Neuston collections.................................. 5

Oceanographic conditions .............................10

Summary ................................................... l2

Acknowledgments ...........................................l4

Tables .................................................... l8

Figures ................................................... 22

Appendices ................................................ 41

INTRODUCTION

Sablefish (Anonlopoma fimbria (Pallas)), commonly sold as

blackcod or butterfish, presently ranks fourth in value of

Alaskan groundfish (Kinoshita et al.1 in prep., P. Bearden,

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Alaska Regional Office,

Juneau AK 99802, pers. commun. 16 February 1995). Sablefish

recruit to the fishery at age 4 or 5 years. Recruitment is

characterized by large variations of year-class strength;

consequently the catch may be strongly influenced by a single

year class for 4 or more years (McFarlane and Beamish 1986,

Saunders et al. 1987, Sigler and Fujioka 1988). Early forecasts

of recruitment depend on an understanding of the ecology of the

pre-recruits, particularly that of the eggs and larvae. A better

understanding of the physical and biological determinants

growth and survival of larval sablefish may contribute to

improved forecasts of recruitment 3-5 years before a year

enters the fishery (Kendall and Matarese 1987).

of

class

Anecdotal information from the commercial fishery suggests

that the peak spawning period for sablefish in the eastern Gulf

of Alaska occurs late February through March along the

continental shelf slope. This is about 2 weeks to a month later

than the spawning time reported for sablefish in British Columbia

by Mason et al. (1983). Although some sablefish spawning may be

as shallow as the shelf break (200 m), most spawning is below

1

Kinoshita, R. K., A. Greig, J. D. Hastie, and J. M. Terry.

In Prep. Economic status of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska, 

1994. U.S. Dep. Commer. NOAA Tech. Memo.
2

300 m (Mason et al. 1983). Investigations off Oregon and

California indicate that some sablefish spawning may occur as

deep as 3,000 m and 370 km offshore (H. G. Moser, NMFS, La Jolla,

CA 92038, pers. commun., 1991). McFarlane and Beamish (1992)

theorize that pelagic sablefish eggs take about 2 weeks to hatch

at depths of 200-400 m and that the developing yolk-sac larvae

sink to l,000-1,200 m before they start feeding. When the

sablefish yolk-sac nears 50% absorption the larvae begin to feed,

swim toward the surface, and become neustonic (McFarlane and

Beamish 1986, 1992; Kendall and Matarese 1987). We have

collected sablefish larvae and early juveniles in neustonic

samples in the eastern Gulf of Alaska from April though July.

During this neustonic period, young sablefish growth and survival

could be strongly affected by oceanic conditions, especially

temporal changes in ocean currents.

Coastal currents in the southeastern Gulf of Alaska have not

been described in as much detail as the currents of the western

Gulf of Alaska. There have been no consistent attempts to

monitor annual and seasonal variation of the eastern Gulf of

Alaska currents. Net transport along the coast of Southeast

Alaska is northward from Dixon Entrance to the entrance of Prince

William Sound. Several components of this northward flow are

known to vary greatly from year to year and within a season, most

notably the Haida Current (Thomson and Emery 1986) and the Sitka

Eddy (Tabata 1982).
3

The objective of -the Auke Bay Laboratory's Marine Resource

Ecology task is to provide an understanding of environmental

variation and environmental effects on fisheries. In May 1990,

when sablefish larvae were expected to be abundant, we examined

ichthyoplankton distribution and temperature-salinity conditions

in the eastern Gulf of Alaska. This report describes the

distribution of neustonic fish larvae in the Gulf of Alaska east

of 14O°W and the potential relationship of this distribution to

coastal currents. The results of oblique bongo net sampling

conducted during the cruise will be published separately.

METHODS

Zooplankton samples were taken by the NOAA ship Townsend

Cromwell, 7-22 May 1990, at 67 stations along 8 east-west

transects from Dixon Entrance (54°30'N) to Cross Sound, Alaska

(58°OO'N). Transects extended across the continental shelf from

nearshore to 136°OO'W in the south and to 140°00'W in the north

(Fig. 1, Appendix Table 1). Oceanographic profiles were taken at

95 stations. Nine oceanographic stations (87-95) were occupied

twice because an unplanned 2-day break at the beginning of the

cruise caused a change in the sequence in the sampling of

stations. Because of the time constraints for completing the

oceanographic survey, zooplankton samples were not collected at

all oceanographic stations. Neustonic samples were collected at

66 stations either immediately before or after the oceanographic

profiles were collected. On the last day of the cruise, we
4

reoccupied Station 44 to collect 7 neuston samples during the day

and 7 samples at night.

Neuston were sampled with a 50 cm by 30 cm Sameoto neuston

net (Sameoto and Jaroszynski 1969) equipped with a 0.505 mm mesh

net and plastic cod end. Flow meters were not installed in the

net frame. To provide standardized catch data, all tows were

made at 7.4 km h-l (4 knots) for 15 minutes. Duration of each

tow was recorded to the nearest second. Nominally, a tow of

1 nautical mile sampled approximately 926 m2. Assuming that the

net samples the top 15 cm of the water, such a tow filtered

139 m3. Immediately upon retrieval, the net was washed down

carefully and the catch preserved in a 4% formaldehyde-seawater

solution buffered with sodium tetraborate.

In the laboratory, all fish eggs and fish larvae were

removed from each sample. Eggs and larvae in samples were

identified by comparison with descriptions in Matarese et al.

(1989) and reference specimens. Egg diameter-s and fish lengths

were measured using an ocular micrometer. After processing, the

eggs were stored in a 4% formaldehyde solution and the fish

larvae in 40% isopropyl alcohol. The invertebrates collected

during the sampling were stored in 40% isopropyl alcohol, and tar

and plastic debris were stored in sterile water.

Oceanographic data were obtained using Sea-Bird Electronics,

Inc. SEACAT SBE 19 Mini-CTDs (conductivity-temperature-depth

recorders) and processed using SEASOFT 3.3H software. All CTD

casts were to a depth of l,000-1,100 m or to within 10 m of
5

bottom when over the continental shelf. Contour plots of

temperature, salinity, density (sigma-t), and ichthyoplankton

distributions were adapted from plots using the Golden Software,

Inc. program SURFER V. 3.00.

RESULTS

Neuston Collections

 A total of 86 neuston tows were made at 67 stations during

the cruise. Sixty-six stations were sampled during the quasisynoptic survey, of which 6 were sampled twice due to a change in

sampling sequence. Fourteen of the samples were taken when

Station 44 was reoccupied for the day-night comparisons.

Twenty-five taxa of fish larvae were identified in the

neuston samples (Table 1). Sablefish was the most abundant and

second most frequent species, occurring at 57 of the 67 neuston

stations. More than 13,000 sablefish larvae were collected

during the survey and an additional 811 were taken during the day

and night replicate tows (190 and 621, respectively). The

largest catches of larval sablefish were at stations located

beyond the edge of the continental slope from 45 to 160 km

offshore (Fig. 2). All samples yielding more than 100 sablefish

larvae were taken during hours of darkness, except at Station 39

which was sampled near sunrise. Samples taken during full

daylight generally had low (<lOj catches of sablefish larvae.

The few daylight samples with greater than 10 sablefish larvae
6

were observed adjacent to areas with high nighttime catches and

near or beyond the continental slope. Nearshore stations had

zero or low sablefish catches during both daylight and darkness.

Although variances were high, comparison of the day-night

replicate tows at Station 44 (Table 2) indicated that nighttime

catches of sablefish larvae (i = 89+73) were significantly

greater than daylight catches (i = 27+14) by threefold (p c 0.05,

t-test for difference of means with unequal variances, Ostle

1963).

Other abundant species encountered in our samples were

Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexaoterus), three species of

greenlings (Hexasrammos spp.), and three species of Irish lords

(Hemileoidotus spp.).

Pacific sand lance were present as larvae and early-stage

juveniles, ranking second in abundance and tied for third -in

frequency of occurrence (Table 1). Most (97%) of the 9,021 sand

lance were collected at night (Table 1). Both nearshore and

offshore areas of sand lance abundance were evident in the night

catches. The largest night catch of Pacific sand lance (8,131 at

Station 95, Fig. 3) consisted of early-stage juveniles that may

have been schooling. The largest of the 14 daytime catches of

sand lance (194

average catches

this station.

Greenlings

at Station 39) was taken near sunrise. Aboveof sablefish and greenlings were also observed at

(Hexagrammidae) were the most frequently

occurring fish larvae in the neuston tows occurring at 62 of the
7

 67 stations (Fig. 4). Rock greenling (Hexasrammos lasocephalus)

were the most abundant and frequently encountered greenling (42

stations)', followed by whitespotted greenling (Hexasrammos

stelleri) (23 stations). Kelp greenling (Hexasrammos

decaarammus) ranked third in abundance of the hexagrammids, but

was fourth in frequency of occurrence (9 stations). Lingcod

(Ophiodon elonaatus) was the least abundant of the hexagrammids

and was collected at 14 stations. Although we commonly found two

species of greenling and lingcod co-occurring, at no time did we

find all three species of greenlings together. The two centers

of nearshore abundance (near Khaz Point and near Cape Ommaney)

were dominated by whitespotted and rock greenlings, respectively.

Offshore catches were predominately rock greenling, although

whitespotted and kelp greenlings were also encountered. Daynight differences were not clearly evident in the hexagrammid

catches. At station 44, the 24-hour station, mean catches of

rock greenling and whitespotted greenling were lower at night

than during the day (Table 2).

Sculpin larvae (Cottidae) were captured at 35 of the 67

stations. The red Irish lord (Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus) was

the most abundant and most frequently encountered cottid,

followed by the yellow Irish lord (H. jordani). Only one brown

Irish lord (B. spinosus) was collected during the cruise. The 

Irish lord catches tended toward higher frequency and abundance

at night (Table 1) and in the offshore tows (Fig. 5). One
8

buffalo sculpin (Enophrys bison) and one cabezon (Scorpaenichthys

marmoratus) were collected during our sampling.

Rockfish (Sebastes spp.) were captured in small numbers at

only 13 stations, 8 of these stations were occupied during hours

of darkness. Although at least two types of rockfish larvae were

present in our samples, we were not able to assign them specific

names. Most of the Arctic shanny (Stichaeus ounctatus), found at

12 stations, were also collected at night.

Blue lanternfish (Tarletonbeania crenularis) was the only

myctophid and the only midwater pelagic spawning species whose

larvae were observed in the neuston samples. These larvae were

found at nine night stations. Adults, juveniles, and larvae of

four other myctophids were captured in the oblique bongo net tows

conducted during the cruise (Wing, unpublished data).

The larvae of 13 other species of fish captured by the

neuston net were present in either low numbers or low frequency

of occurrence and did not exhibit distinct spatial distribution

patterns (Table 1). Within this group, the ronquils (Bathvmaster

SPP.), snake pricklebacks (Lumpenus saqitta), giant wrymouth

(Cryptacanthodes sisanteus), dwarf wrymouth (Cryptacanthodes

aleutensis), arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), Pacific

halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis), prowfish (Zaorora silenus),

snailfish (Liparis spp.), and poachers (Agonidae) were present

more frequently in the oblique bongo net tows than in neuston

tows (Wing, unpublished data).
9

Juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus qorbuscha) and threespine

stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) were taken at night. The

occurrence of the juvenile pink salmon at Station 22 (<l km

offshore) is consistent with their nearshore and intertidal

distribution at this time of year (Heard 1991). The presence of

juvenile threespine stickleback at Station 32 (160 km offshore)

is not unusual, although this is primarily a freshwater and

estuarine species (LeBrasseur 1964).

Fish eggs were collected at 56 stations. Eggs of ragfish

(Icosteus aenismaticus), Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus), and

rex sole (Errex zachirus) were abundant and widespread (Table 3,

Figs. 6-8). Ragfish eggs were most numerous offshore in the

southern half of the study area. Dover sole eggs were most

numerous over the continental shelf and slope in the northern

half of the study area and off Cape Ommaney. Rex sole eggs were

most numerous at two offshore stations west of Sitka. Single

eggs of the slender sole (Eopsetta exilis), curlfin sole

(Pleuronichthvs decurrens), and a bathylagid were collected at

Stations 6, 94, and 82, respectively.

Comparative tests for day-night differences in the abundance

of eggs in the neuston tows at Station 44 exhibited no

significant difference (2 < 0.75) for ragfish, Dover sole, or rex

sole, and the distribution of high and low catches does not

correspond to the distribution of day and night tows. No

correlations of egg abundance or distribution were evident among

the species (R2s < 0.02)
10

Oceanographic Conditions

Surface temperatures were above 8.0°C only in the southern

half of the survey area (Fig. 9a)., Surface salinities less than

32.00% were found over the continental shelf, whereas salinities

greater than 32.50% were evident only at the western edge of the

survey area (Fig. 9b). Surface density contours reflected

salinity distributions with highest densities offshore except in

a possible localized upwelling area near Cape Edgecumbe (Fig.

9c).

Contours of temperature, salinity, and density at 100 m and

200 m are believed generally to represent water mass movements

above and below the permanent 120-150 m pycnocline in this area.

The 100-m contours of salinity and sigma-L (Figs. 10 a-c)

indicate weak northward transport along a broad front from lat.

54°30'N to lat. 56°00'N. Between 56°00'N and 57°30'N, small

eddies of coastal water appear to have been entrained and carried

west off the continental shelf, then northward near long.

139°00'W. Below the pycnocline, gradients of temperature,

salinity, and density (Figs. 11 a-c) were weak, reflecting the

northwesterly trend of the Alaska Gyre.

These oceanographic data suggest that neither the Haida

Current nor the Sitka Eddy was present during the survey period.

The Haida Current, when present in the winter and spring, is

characterized at the surface by a narrow tongue of warm,

low-salinity water over the continental slope extending from the

Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, to the southeastern
11

Alaska Panhandle (Thomson and Emery 1986). Surface water

temperature, salinity, and density contours for May 1990 did not

show a distinct surface current. Instead, the observed complex

distribution of temperatures and salinities may reflect seasonal

spring warming progressing northward and offshore transport of

spring runoff.

The Sitka Eddy, when present in the spring and summer, is

characterized by a warm, low-salinity core evidenced in vertical

sections by depressed isotherms, isohalines, and isopycnals at

the center of the eddy (Tabata 1982), or as concentric contours

when plotted at constant depth. These features were not obvious

in the vertical sections at the latitude of Sitka (Figs. 12 a-c)

or in contours at constant depths, although examination of the

dynamic heights (0-500 db) show a weak clockwise circulation

(D. Musgrave, Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775-1080, pers.

commun., 25 November 1991).

The absence of both the Haida Current and the Sitka Eddy

during our May 1990 survey implicates upwelling and coastal

dilution as possible mechanisms for transporting fish larvae and

fish eggs offshore in the eastern Gulf of Alaska. In May 1990,

upwelling indices for the Eastern Gulf of Alaska were weakly

positive suggesting that some wind-driven upwelling and

associated offshore transport was present. Ingraham (1979)

describes offshore dilution at the surface extending from coastal

Southeast Alaska westward beyond long. 140°W and between lat.
12

56°N and lat. -58% during the summer months. Whether this same

type of transport occurs during late spring is not known.

The eastern Gulf of Alaska, especially the Southeast Alaska

continental shelf, is regarded as a downwelling regime (Ingraham

et al. 1976). Accordingly, in late winter and early spring our

study area should be characterized by onshore transport with

intensified counterclockwise flow near the coast. Mid-spring

(May) is theoretically characterized by a weakening and spreading

of the counterclockwise flow offshore. Although Ingraham (1979)

described the offshore transport of low-salinity waters as an

anomalous summer phenomenon, our data show that offshore

transport may occur as early as May and it may be more frequently

occurring than previously suspected. We believe that the

distribution of sablefish larvae, Dover sole eggs, and rex sole

eggs was the result of the offshore transport by upwelling and

coastal dilution followed by northwesterly transport by the

Alaska Gyre. In this case, the offshore transport needs only

extend to, or slightly beyond, the shelf break to carry eggs and

larvae into the Alaska Gyre. The impact, positive or negative,

of such offshore transport on survival of larvae of continental

shelf and slope fishes in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska is unknown.

SUMMARY

Sablefish larvae were the most abundant and second most

frequently captured fish larvae (present, at 55 of 67 stations)
13

taken by neuston tows -in the eastern Gulf of Alaska in May 1990.

Peak catches of sablefish were encountered at night, 30-160 km

offshore, west of the continental slope spawning areas.

Replicated day and night tows at one station showed night. catches

of sablefish to be three times greater than day catches.

Except for the blue lanternfish taken at a few night

stations, all larval fish taken during the study were continental

shelf or slope spawning species. Pacific sand lance were the

second most abundant species collected and ranked fourth in

frequency of occurrence. Greenlings (Hexagramos spp.) were the

third most abundant and most frequently collected larvae.

lords (Hemileoidotus spp.) ranked fourth in frequency of

occurrence and third in abundance. The remaining species

Irish

were

not abundant, occurring at less than 14 stations each. The

oceanic distribution of these larval fish appears to be the

result of the offshore movement of coastal waters and entrainment

in the counterclockwise Alaska gyre.

Planktonic eggs of three species (Dover sole, rex sole, and

ragfish) were common throughout the study area. Offshore

concentrations of Dover sole and rex sole eggs are most easily

explained by slope or shelf spawning with subsequent transport

offshore by wind-driven upwelling and freshwater-driven surface

circulation. The higher abundance of ragfish eggs in the

southern offshore portions of the survey area suggests earlier

pelagic spawning in the southern area than in the northern area.
14

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the crew of the NOAA ship Townsend Cromwell for

their hospitality and assistance during the cruise. Blaine

Ebberts and Chris Derrah assisted in the collections of samples.

Chris Derrah edited and prepared graphics of the CTD data.
15

CITATIONS

Heard, W. R. 1991. Life history of pink salmon. In: C. Groot

and L. Margolis (editors), Pacific Salmon Life Histories. UBC

Press, Univ. British Columbia, Vancouver.

Ingraham, W. J., Jr. 1979. The anomalous surface salinity minima

area across the northern Gulf of Alaska and its relation to

fisheries. Mar. Fish. Rev. 41 (5-6): 8-19.

Ingraham, W. J., Jr., A. Bakun, and F. Favorite. 1976. Physical

oceanography of the Gulf of Alaska. NWAFC Processed Report.

Northwest Fish. Cent. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, 2725

Montlake Blvd. E., Seattle, WA 98112, 132 p.

Kendall, A. W., Jr., and A. C. Matarese. 1987. Biology of eggs,

larvae, and epipelagic juveniles of sablefish, Anoplopoma

fimbria, in relation to their potential use in management.

Mar. Fish. Rev. 49 (1): l-13.

LeBrasseur, R. J. 1964. Data Record. Collections of fish taken

in Isaacs-Kidd midwater trawl from northeastern Pacific Ocean

1958-59. Fish. Res. Board Can. Manuscr. Rep. Ser. (Oceanog.

and Limnol.) 175: 25 p.
16

Mason, J. C., R. J. Beamish, and G. A. McFarlane. 1983. Sexual

maturity, fecundity, spawning, and early life history of

sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) off the Pacific coast of

Canada. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 40: 2126-2134.

Matarese, A. C., A. W. Kendall, Jr., D. M. Blood, and B. M.

Vinter. 1989. Laboratory guide to early life history stages

of northeast Pacific fishes. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech.

Rep. NMFS 80. 652 p.

McFarlane, G. A., and R. J. Beamish. 1986. Production of strong

year-classes of sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) off the west

coast of Canada. In Symposium on biological interaction in

the North Pacific region and on factors affecting recruitment,

distribution, and abundance of non-anadromous species. Int.

North Pac. Fish. Comm. Bull. 47: 191-202.

McFarlane, G. A., and R. J. Beamish. 1992. Climatic influence

linking copepod production with strong year'-classes in

sablefish, Anoolopoma fimbria. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 49:

743-753.

Ostle, B. 1963. Statistics in research: Basic concepts and

techniques for research workers, 2nd ed. Iowa State Univ.

Press, Ames, 585 p.
17

Sameoto, D. D., and L. 0. Jaroszynski. 1969. Otter surface

sampler: A new neuston net. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 25:

2240-2244.

Saunders, M. W., G. A. McFarlane, and W. S. Shaw. 1987.

Sablefish. In A. V. Tyler and M. W. Saunders (editors)

Groundfish stock assessments for the west coast of Canada in

1986 and recommended yield options for 1987, p. 72-87. Can.

Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1930.

Sigler, M. F., and J. T. Fujioka. 1988. Evaluation of

variability in sablefish, Anoploma fimbria, abundance indices

in the Gulf of Alaska using the bootstrap method. Fish. Bull.

86:445-452.

Tabata, S. 1982. The anticyclonic, baroclinic eddy off Sitka,

Alaska in the northeast Pacific Ocean. J. Phys. Oceanog. 12:

1260-1282.

Thomson, R. E., and W. J. Emery. 1986. The Haida current.

J. Geophys. Res. 91(Cl): 845-861.
Table 1. -- Rank of abundance and frequency of occurrence of fish larvae collected by

neuston tows at 67 stations in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska, May 1990. g =

number of positive stations. X = mean number of organisms per positive tow.
Table l.-- (Continued)
20

Table 2. -- Mean number (X) and standard deviation (s) of the

numbers of fish larvae and fish eggs collected in

7 day and 7 night tows at Station 44, 22-23 May

1990. Abundance is expressed as the number of

organisms per 15 minute tow.
21

Table 3. -- Rank of abundance and frequency of occurrence of

fish eggs collected by neuston tows at 67 stations

in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, May 1990.

Species Abundance Occurrence

Rank F %

Microstomus pacificus 1.0 5 3 79.1

Errex zachirus 2 . 0 2 7 460. 3

Icosteus aenismaticus 3 . 0 4 7 70. 1

Bathylagidae 4 . 0 3 4 . 5

Eopsetta exilis 5 . 5 1 1.5

Pleuronichthvs decurrens 5 . 5 1 1 . 5
22

Figure 3. -- Distribution of Pacific

determined from neuston

as number of larvae per

night.

sand lance larvae in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, as

sampling from 10 to 22 May 1990. Abundance expressed

15-minute tow. Underlined stations were occupied at

Figure 5. -- Distribution of Irish lord larvae (Hemilepidotus spp.) in the eastern Gulf of

Alaska, as determined from neuston sampling from 10 to 22 May 1990.

Abundance expressed as number of larvae per 15-minute tow. Underlined

stations were occupied at night.
Figure 6. -- Distribution of ragfish eggs in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, as determined

from neuston sampling from 10 to 22 May 1990. Abundance expressed as number

of eggs per 15-minute tow. Underlined stations were occupied at night.
Figure 7. -- Distribution of Dover sole eggs in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, as determined

from neuston sampling from 10 to 22 May 1990. Abundance expressed as number

of eggs per 15-minute tow. Underlined stations were occupied at night.




Figure 10a. -- Oceanographic properties at 100 m in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, May 1990:

temperature (°C).

Figure 10c. -- Oceanographic properties at 100 m in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, May 1990:

density (sigma-t).


Figure llc. -- Oceanographic properties at 200 m in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, May 1990:

density (sigma-L,).
39

Figure 12. -- Vertical sections of oceanographic properties along

lat. 57°N in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, May 1990:

(A) temperature °C, (B) salinity %, and (C)

density (sigma-L).
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
41

APPENDICES
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
43

Appendix Table l.-- Station data for RV Townsend Cromwell

Cruise No. 90-03, 7-23 May 1990. Time and

positions are for start of oceanographic

profiles conductivity-temperature-depth--

(CTD). Bongo net tows and Sameoto neuston

net tows either start or end at the CTD

position.

Date Time Station Lat. N Long. W CTD Bongo Neuston
Appendix Table l.--Continued.
Appendix Table l.--Continued.
46

Appendix-Table l.--Continued.
47

Appendix Table l.--Continued,
48

Appendix Table 2.-- Date, time, duration of tow (minutes) and

standard haul factors for converting actual

catches to standardized units. Standard Haul

Factor A (SHFA) converts to catch per 10 m2.

Standard Haul Factor V (SHFV) converts to

catch per 1,000 m3 of water strained.

Date Station Sample Time. Duration SHFA SHFV
Appendix Table

12 May 14

12 May 15

12 May 16

12 May 18

12 May 20

12 May 22

13 May 23

13 May' 25

13 May 27

13 May 29

13 May 30

13 May 31

14 May 32

14 May 33

14 May 34

14 May 35

14 May 36

14 May 37

14 May 38

15 May 39

15 May 40

15 May 41

15 May 43

15 May 45

15 May 47

49

2. --Continued.

14N 0123

15N 0642

16N 0814

18N 1539

20N 1931

22N 2131

23N 0205

25N 0646

27N 1109

29N 1544

30N 1905

31N 2238

32N 0108

33N 0622

34N 0755

35N 1425

36N 1616

37N

38N

39N

40N

41N

43N

45N

47N

2102 15.02

2248 15.08

0403 15.00

0548 15.02

1007 15.12

1625 15.17

2040 15.00

2348 14.97

15.37

15.00

15.00

15.17

15.50

15.67

15.10

15.13

15.00

15.08

15.08

15.67

15.08

15.02

15.02

14.50

15.17

1.64 6.95

1.07 7.12

1.07 7.12

1.06 7.04

1.03 6.89

1.02 6.82

1.06 7.08

1.06 7.06

1.07 7.12

1.06 7.09

1.06 7.09

1.02 6.82

1.06 7.09

1.07 7.11

1.07 7.11

1.10 7.37

1.06 7.04

1.07 7.11

1.06 7.09

1.07 7.12

1.07 7.11

1.06 7.07

1.06 .7.04

1.07 7.12

1.07 7.14
50

Appendix Table 2.--Continued.

16 May

16 May

16 May

16 May

16 May

17 May

17 May

17 May

18 May

18 May

19 May

19 May

19 May

19 May

19 May

19 May

20 May

20 May

20 May

20 May

20 May

20 May

21 May

21 May

21 May

50 50N

52 52N

54 54N

56 56N

58 58N

59 59N

0630 15.05 1.06 7.10

0920 15.00 1.07 7.12

1342

1624

2218

0009

60

61

62

63

64

66

67

68

70

60N

61N

62N

63N

64N

66N

0618

0736

2151

2340

0511

0755

72

74

67N

68N

70N

72N

74N

76

78

80

82

83

84

85

76N

78N

80N

82N

83N

84N

85N

1307

1417

1747

2035

0122

0427

0657

1243

1539

2100

0153

0344

87 187N 1108

15.17 1.06 7.04

15.17 1.06 7.04

15.00 1.07 7.12

15.13 1.06 7.06

15.00 1.07 7.12

16.18 0.99 6.60

15.17 1.06 7.04

15.17 1.06 7.04

15.20 1.05 7.03

15.05 1.06

15.25 1.05

15.08 1.06

15.33 1.05

15.25 1.05

15.05 1.06

15.17 1.06

15.00 1.07

15.08 1.06

15.25 1.05

15.25 1.05

15.38 1.04

15.07 1.06

15.00 1.07

7.10

7.01

7.09

6.97

7.01

7.10

7.04

7.12

7.09

7.01

7.01

6.95

7.09 I

7.12
51
Appendix Table 3-- Numbers of fish larvae and fish eggs collected by neuston tows in the

eastern Gulf of Alaska, May 1990.
Appendix Table 3.--Continued.

RECENT TECHNICAL MEMORANDUMS

Copies of this and other NOAA Technical Memorandums are available from the

National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22167

(web site: www.ntis.gov). Paper and microfiche copies vary in price. 

AFSC52 HONKALEHTO, T., and N. WILLIAMSON. 1995. Echo integration-trawl survey of walleye pollock

(Theragra chalcogramma) in the southeast Aleutian Basin during February and March, 1994, 39 p. NTIS

No. PB95-219424.

51 CLARY, J. C. (editor). 1995. Poster abstracts and manuscripts from the Third International Conference

on Marine Debris, May 8-13, 1994, Miami, Florida, 108 p. NTIS No. PB95-210837.

50 MUNRO, P. T., and R. Z. HOFF. 1995. Two demersal trawl surveys in the Gulf of Alaska: Implications

of survey design and methods, 139 p. NTIS No. PB95-195061. 

49 STARK, J. W., and D. M. CLAUSEN. 1995. Data Report: 1990 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey, 221

p. NTIS No. PB95-194825.

48 NARITA, R., M. GUTTORMSEN, J. GHARRETT, G. TROMBLE, and J. BERGER. 1994. Summary of

observer sampling of domestic groundfish fisheries in the northeast Pacific Ocean and eastern Bering Sea,

1991, 540 p. NTIS No. PB95-190963

47 DORN, M. W., E. P. NUNNALLEE, C. D. WILSON, and M. E. WILKINS. 1994. Status of the coastal

Pacific whiting resource in 1993, 101 p. NTIS No. PB95-176467.

46 SINCLAIR, E. H. (editor). 1994. Fur seal investigations, 1993, 93 p. NTIS No. PB95-178943.

45 SINCLAIR, E. H. (editor). 1994. Fur seal investigations, 1992, 190 p. NTIS No. PB95-173472.

44 KINOSHITA, R. K., and J. M. TERRY. 1994. Oregon, Washington, and Alaska exports of edible

fishery products, 1993, 52 p. NTIS No. PB95-165924.

43 FERRERO, R. C., and L. W. FRITZ. 1994. Comparisons of walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma,

harvest to Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus, abundance in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, 25 p.

NTIS No. PB95-155602.

42 ZIMMERMANN, M. , M. E. WILKINS, R. R. LAUTH, and K. L. WEINBERG. 1994. The 1992 Pacific

west coast bottom trawl survey of groundfish resources: Estimates of distribution, abundance, and length

composition, 110 p. plus Appendices. NTIS No. PB95-154159.

41 ZIMMERMANN, M., P. GODDARD, T. M. SAMPLE. 1994. Resullts of the 1991 U.S.-U.S.S.R. cooperative

bottom trawl survey of the eastern and western Bering Sea continental shelf, 178 p. NTIS No. PB95-

111589.

40 SIGLER, M. F., and H. H. ZENGER, Jr. 1994. Relative abundance of Gulf of Alaska sablefish and

other groundfish based on the domestic longline survey, 1989, 79 p. NTIS No. PB94-204963.

39 ZENGER, H. H., Jr., M. F. SIGLER, and E. R. VAROSI. 1994. Assessment of Gulf of Alaska sablefish

and other groundfish species based on the 1988 National Marine Fisheries Service longline survey, 79

p. NTIS No. PB94-204872.

 

38 LOWRY, L. F., K. J. FROST, R. DAVIS, R. S. SUYDAM, and D. P. DEMASTER. Movements and

behavior of satellite-tagged spotted seals (Phoca largha) in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 71 p. NTIS No.

PB94-180684.