Leptocheirus pinguis, 10%, and Gammaridae, 5%), Decapoda (24%, and
mostly Crangon septemspinosa, 12%, and Dichelopandalus leptocerus, 5%),
and Polychaeta (6%). The food of fish 16-28 cm was primarily amphipods
(62%, e.g., Gammaridae, 33%, and Anonyx sarsi, 24%) but also included
some decapods (11%, and mostly Crangon septemspinosa, 2%) and mysids
(4%, and exclusively Neomysis americana) .

Juvenile red hake were caught in all sampling areas during both
spring and autumn (Fig. 4). The largest catches during both seasons
were in Southern New England and on Georges Bank.

Spotted hake, Urophycis regia

A total of 244 spotted hake was sampled in the Middle Atlantic for
stomach content examination (Table 8). Various types of crustaceans
accounted for more than 75% of the food for all length categories
sampled. The stomachs of the two fish 1-5 cm TL contained only the
amphipod, Byblis serrata (77%), umidentified copepods (14%), and
unidentified crustacean remains (9%). Juveniles 6-18 cm TL consumed
large quantities of amphipods (58%, e.g., Parathemisto sp., 36%, and
Byblis serrata, 18%), euphausiids (13%), and unidentified fish (21%).
Dominant prey of the 11-15 cm long fishes was amphipods (35%, and mostly
Parathemisto sp., 16%, and Byblis serrata, 12%), decapods (23%, and
primarily Crangon septemspinosa, 16%, and  Dichelopandalus leptocerus,
3%), and euphausiids (19%), especially Meganyctiphanes norvegica (12%).
Fish (7%), mainly Myctophidae (5%), was also a notable food. Spotted
hake 16-20 cm in length fed for the most part on euphausiids
(Meganyctiphanes norvegica, 37%) and decapods (e.g., Crangon
septemspinosa, 18%, Dichelopandalus leptocerus, 12%, and Munida iris,
(3%). An assortment of amphipods made up 6% of their diet.

Spotted hake were principally caught in the Middle Atlantic during.
both spring and autumn cruises (Fig. 5). Of interest is that in spring
catches were largest close to shore, while in autumn they occurred more
to the north (e.g., into Southern New England) and were greatest along
the 188 m depth contour.

White hake, Urophycis tenuis

White hake were sampled in the Gulf of Maine, but only 23 fish up
to 28 cm TL were obtained for examination (Table 9). No prey was
identified for 6-18 cm long fish. The diet of 11-15 cm TL white hake
included, in part, Polychaeta (22%), Amphipoda (13%) such as Unciola
irrorata (6%), and Leptocheirus pinguis (4%), and unidentified “animal
remains (66%). Crustacea (85%) accounted for the majority of the diet
of 16-28 cm TL fish. Principal contributors were Neomysis americana
(34%), Crangon septemspinosa (8%), and Amphipoda (4%).

Juvenile white hake catches were sparse in all areas during both
spring and fall (Fig. 5). The few fish caught were located for the
most. part in the Gulf of Maine.

~8-



Table 7. (continued)

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

STOMACH CONTENTS eorcoccecccccccccccccceccecccos
1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20

Pandalidae c c 3.0 c
Unidentified crabs c <@.1 c td
Unidentified shrimps - 9.9 2.8 4.3
Other Decapoda - - G.2 c
Isopoda (-) (<@.1) (-) (-)
Chiridotea sp. - <9.1 - -
Cumacea (-) (8.5) (1.5) (1.2)
Petalosarsia sp. - - @.9 1.9
Other Cumacea - @.5 0.6 9.2
Euphausiacea (-) (8.6) (26.5) (=)
Meganyctiphanes norvegica - <O.1 - -
Other Euphausiacea - 8.6 26.5 -
Mysidacea (11.4) (3.1) (1.0) (4.1)
Neomysis americana 11.4 3.0 9.5 4.1
Other Mysidacea <O.1 @.1 @.5 -
Copepoda (<®.1) (<@.1) (-) (-)
Other Crustacea (17.5) (7.5) (6.9) (6.1)
CHAETOGNATHA (48.7) [6.3] (2.7] [-]
ANIMAL REMAINS {1.1] (1.1) (7.7) (15.5)
ROCK {1.5] {-] [9.2] ([-]
-Number of fish examined 76 73 44 15
Number of empty stomachs 18 12 4 2
Mean stomach content weight (g) @. 006 0.031 0.0689 8.176
Mean fish TL (cm) 4 7 12 17
Mean fish weight (g) 6.3 1.9 16.1 390.3
% BW of stomach contents 1.89 1.68 G.88 6.58

Preceding page blank |

-29.


Table 5. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile silver hake,
Merluccius bilinearis, expressed as a percentage of the

total stomach contents weight versus fish length for samples
collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-1976.

CESTODA {-] {<0.1] {[-] (<0.1)
TREMATODA [-] [<@.1] [<@.1] (<6.1]
ACANTHOCEPHALA (-] [<d.1] [-] (-]
NEMATODA [-] {<6.1] [<@.1] (<9.1]
POLYCHAETA (-] (<@.1] {@.5] {-]
CRUSTACEA {89.6] [80.6] [81.6] {77.3]
Amphipoda (58.9) (18.9) (6.9) (1.2)
Caprellidae - <O.1 - -
Ampelisca agassizi 0.2 1.4 - O.5
Ampe isca vadorum 1.9 - - -
Byblis serrata 4.2 1.5 8.1 -
Byblis sp. 1.08 9.8 - -
Ampeliscidae 3.8 1.2 @.1 <G.1
Aoridae - 9.1 - -
Ericthonius sp. : 0.3 - - -
Unciola irrorata - - <O.1 <8.1
Corophiidae - <O.1 - -
Eusirus sp. - <O.1 - -
Eusiridae - <O.1 - -
Gammar idae 2.2 3.5 1.2 0.2
Lysianassidae - 0.4 @.1 -
Parathemisto sp. 38.3 4.0 - 0.2
Hyperiidae 3.8 2.2 0.3 0.2
Monoculodes edwardsi 2.9 G.9 @.5 -
Monoculodes intermedius - <O.1 - -
Monoculodes sp. - 1.8 - -
Oedicerotidae 1.1 1.5 3.6 @.1
Leptocheirus pinguis G.1 - <O.1 -
Phoxocephalus holbolli - G.1 <O.1
Phoxocephalidae - <O.1 - -
Syrrhoe crenulata - <O.1 G.1 -
Tiron acanthurus - G.2 - -
Other Amphipoda - @.1 - -
Decapoda (11.8) (24.8) (31.1) (7.0)
Crangon septemspinosa 3.7 14.6 18.3 2.9
Sclerocrangon boreas - - - 0.7
Crangonidae 4.0 1.4 0.4 O.1
Dichelopandalus leptocerus - 1.7 5.3 2.1
Decapoda larvae @.1 O21 - -

-25-


Table 11. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile scup,
Stenotomus chrysops, expressed as a percentage of the
total stomach contents weight versus fish length for samples
collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-1976.

LENGTH CATEGORY (am)
STOMACH CONTENTS eee eceennrereceracecere
6-10 11-15

NEMERTEA (6.5) [9.1]
NEMATODA [-] {G.3]

POLYCHAETA (31.1) [32.6]
Spiophanes bombyx @.7 °
Spionidae G.4 -
Cirratulidae -
Flabelligeridae -
Maldanidae 1
Ammotrypane sp. )
Travisia sp. 1
Opheliidae
Oweniidae g
Ampharetidae 1
Terebellidae
Sabellidae 4
Glyceridae 1
Lumbr ineridae 1
Nephtyidae 5S.
Onuphidae -
Phyllodocidae 8.9
Polynoidae 6.3
Sigalionidae g.5

G.4
9.5

Qne2
rPAaADND

<6.1
2 -
+2 2.3
- <O.1

’

rary

PWOAUPNIE

Polychaeta tubes
Other Polychaeta

Be Aa
VWEDQRQLVOAROE

SIPUNCULIDA [9.5] [-]

CRUSTACEA [44.4] {11.7)
Amphipoda (15.6) (6.4)

Ampelisca agassizi . - G.2
Byblis serrata
Ampeliscidae
Caprellidae
Ericthonius rubricornis
Ericthonius sp.
Unciola irrorata
Gammarus sp.
Gammar idae

Hyperiidae

keptocheirus pinguis
Other Amphipoda
Decapoda

Cancer irroratus
Crangon septemspinosa

aw
BHORWIWWNWEBKHAD

rere Sar ser er eer ey

WDORPERNANANNNAH
1

3h-




Table 18. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile yellowtail
flounder, Limanda ferruginea, expressed as a percentage of
the total stomach contents weight versus fish length for
samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years

1973~1976.

STOMACH CONTENTS

-lh-

1-5 6-10 11-15 16-290
NEMERTEA {+] (-] [+] {9.5]
NEMATODA [-] [-] {<@.1] [=]
POLYCHAETA [+] [22.6] (11.9) (13.6)
Spiophanes bombyx ~ 11.74 - -
Flabelligeridae - - ~ 6.2
Goniadidae - - 9.2
Lumbr iner idae - - ~ <G.1
Other Polychaeta ~ 10.8 11.9 7.3
CRUSTACEA [199.9] {68.9] {61.8] [56.8]
Amphipoda (<8.1) (32.7) (13.6) (31.5)
Byblis serrata - 1.7 ~ 2.0
Ampelisca sp. ~ 9.1 @.4 -
Anpeliscidae - 14.7 0.4 1.8
Aoridae 5.9 ~ ~
Calliopius laeviusculus a.7 - -
Caprellidae - ~ - <G.1
Ericthonius rubricornis - 1.9 1.2 G.9
Ericthonius sp. - 2.1 2.1 -
Unciola irrorata <8.1 2.2 3.6 15.3
Unciola sp. - <O.1 - -
Gammar idae <G.1 3.8 5.0 1.5
Monoculodes edwardsi - - - 9.3
Leptocheirus pinguis <O.1 - - 8.5
Phoxocephalidae - <O.1 7 ~
Pleustes panoplus - - - 9.3
Dulichia porrecta - G.9 -
Amphipoda tubes - + 0.9
Other Amphipoda - @.5 > -
Decapoda (41.4) (9.1) (47.5) (14.7)
Cancer irroratus - - + @.5
Crangon septemspinosa 41.4 9.1 12.0 7
Crangonidae + * 9.3 -
Pagurus sp. - - - 8.6
Dichelopandalus leptocerus - 7 31.8 -
Pasiphaea multidentata - - = 13.2
Unidentified crabs + ~ - @.4
Other Decapoda ~ - 3.4 -
Isopoda (=) (-) (-) (8.2)
Cumacea (=) (9.9) (8.4) (0.4)


Table 16. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile witch
flounder, Glyptocephalus cynoglossus, expressed as a
percentage of the total stomach contents weight versus fish
length for samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for
the years 1973-1976.

ee

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

STOMACH CONTENTS Mtns
15 6-10
te
COELENTERATA (+] (<d.1]
Anthozoa < <O.1
NEMATODA [+] (1.7)
POLYCHAETA [<@.1] [38.2]
Maldanidae - <B.1
Ampharetidae “ 17.8
Sabellidae - 17.8
Lumbrineridae - <G.1
Polychaeta tubes <G.1 -
Other Polychaeta - 2.6
CRUSTACEA [108.6] [42.4]
Amphipoda (87.3) (5.9)
Gammar idae 87.3 5.9
Other Amphipoda <8.1 -
Decapoda (+) (34.8)
Crangon septemspinosa - 34.8
Cumacea (+) (<@.1)
Mysidacea (12.7) (1.7)
Neomysis americana 12.7 -
Other Mysidacea - 1.7
Copepoda (4) (<G.1)
ANIMAL REMAINS (-] {17.7]
te eee ik. he ee ne a ae an a ana
Number of fish examined 4 1l
Number of empty stomachs 1 3
Mean stomach content weight (g) @.016 @.011
Mean fish TL (am) 5 7
Mean fish weight (g) G.2 6.8
% BW of stomach contents 6.78 1.39

A ee

-l2-


Figure 1. Geographic areas of the northwest Atlantic surveyed
by the Northeast Fisheries Center during the years
1973-1976.

~48-


45

NO/TOW
© 0-10 |

@ 10-<100

@ 100°«S00 [JUVENILE
@ 500--1000 | SPOTTED HAKE
@ 10000 > | serine

© 0-10
@ 10-<100

@ 100-«500 [JUVENILE
@ 500-<1000 | SPOTTED HAKE

@ 1000 or > | autumn

35°
es"

NO/TOW NQ/TOW
© O10 y * 0-10
© 10-100 ‘ @ 10-100
100-*500 [JUVENILE
@ 100-«500 [JUVENILE \ bd
500-<1000 | WHITE HAKE @ 500-<1000 | WHITE HAKE
@ 1000 o% > | spring @ 1000 > | autumn
Kos ae
Sse

Figure 5. Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile spotted hake (<21 om) and white hake (<21 am)
during the spring and autumn for the years 1973-1976.

“52+


Table 14. (continued)

ee ee ee eee eee ene

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

STOMACH CONTENTS Shalala ta tatehalatatahahetatatahebabahetatatatatakebatetatel
1-5 6-10
Dichelopandalus leptocerus - 7.3
Pandalidae 10.3 3.9
Pasiphaea multidentata - 2.0
Unidentified crabs 1.2 G.1
Unidentified shrimps 7.5 1.9
Other Decapoda - @.6
Isopoda (4.8) (2.5)
Chiridotea sp. 4.8 2.5
Other Isopoda - <G.1
Cumacea (<8.1) (8.4)
Mysidacea (-) (1.5)
Neomysis americana - 1.5
Cirripedia (-) (<@.1)
Other Crustacea . (3.4) (4.9)
PISCES [-] (1.6)
ANIMAL REMAINS {14.8] [8.5]
SAND AND ROCK [-] (8.1)
Number of fish examined 36 163
Number of empty stomachs 8 34
Mean stomach content weight (g) 6.809 @.G58
Mean fish TL (cm) 4 7
Mean fish weight (g) Q.7 3.9
% BW of stomach contents . 1.27 1.36

-40-






TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES. cc cece cece cece renee cere nec ee rer essseessseseee Vii
LIST OF FIGURES ce cece esc ee esc re rec er scene scree scssseceseescerekl
INTRODUCTION. cee ece cece eee eee eee e renee rere ersereeeesecececel

Boece e cece cece nsec cence cence cesses eeeesssesseesd

content data.

METHODS. eee
Stomac

Raja erinacea.. .
Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua........

Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus.....s.eeeee
Silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis
Pollock, PollachiuS VirenS....cceceeecreeecee
Red hake, Urophycis chuss....
Spotted hake, Urophycis regia..
White hake, Urophycis tenuis..........
Ocean pout, MacrozoarceS AMELICANUS cee ee weer eee ere need
Scup, Stenotomus CHL YSODS .e ee eeeeeeee
Butterfish, Peprilus triacanthus......-e..eee.
Acadian redfish, Sebastes fasciatus ...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ee lO
Longhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus......10
Fourspot flounder, Paralichthys oblongus......ce.eee-- ld
Witch flounder, Glyptocephalus cynoglossus..... eel
American plaice, Hippoglossoides platessoides.. eeeell
Yellowtail flounder, Limanda ferruginea......++-+------ll

eer)

wee 6

rs!

SYNOPSIS AND DISCUSSION. ccecceeeccccereneverenscccesesesneseeeel3
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS occ cee eee e cece cece rece c ec renneecreesseevesees ee ld
LITERATURE CITED. coe cece cece ccc ccc cece ccc cece ccc cee c es ccccceseeld®
TABLES. eee e cece ccc en cece neces ns ccraccesaserescsseesscesesevevell

FIGURES cece cece cece cence cece ere rece c cess escecsesessessevcsens 48

Preceding page blank |.


| Preceding page blank


Ocean pout, Macrozoarces americanus

A total of eight ocean pout 11-15 cm TL was obtained from Southern
New England and Georges Bank waters for gut content analysis (Table 19).
Their primary food was amphipods (i.e., Unciola irrorata, 49%,
Gammaridae, 31%, and Melita -dentata, 11%). The only other item
identified in their stomachs (other than sand, 16%) was Ophiuroidea
(2%).

Most juvenile ocean pout were caught in the Gulf of Maine and
Western Nova Scotia during spring and autumn (Fig. 6). Catches in
Southern New England and on Georges Bank were sparse for the entire
sampling period.

Scup, Stenotomus chrysops ‘

The stomachs of 367 scup 6-15 cm FL from the Middle Atlantic /and
Southern New England were examined (Table 11). Both 6-193 and 11-15 cm
fish fed on substantial quantities of polychaetes (31% and 32%,
respectively). The 6-19 cm scup also ate an assortment of amphipods (in
total, 16%) and decapods (10%, and mostly Cancer irroratus, 7%) along
with lesser amounts of mysids (9%, of which 8% were identified as
Neomysis americana) and copepods (4%). Larger scup (11-15 cm FL) /fed on
mollusks (18%) such as squid (12%) and to a lesser degree on amphipods
(6%) and decapods (2%). /

The greatest numbers of juvenile scup were caught relatively close
to shore during autumn in the Middle Atlantic and Southern New England
(Fig. 6). In spring, catches occurred both close to shore and along
the 168 m depth contour in the Middle Atlantic, but almost totally
inshore in Southern New England.

Butterfish, Peprilus triacanthus

Gut contents from 734 butterfish up to 15 oan FL from Middle
Atlantic and Southern New England waters were analyzed (Table 12). Well
digested animal remains accounted for 160%, 78%, and 48% of the contents
of the 1-5, 6-18, and 11-15 cm FL categories respectively. The stomachs
of the 6-16 cm fish also contained, in part, 8% Larvacea, 4% Thaliacea,
2% Amphipoda, and 2% Gastropoda. Butterfish 11-15 cm/FL consumed mainly
Larvacea (13%), Polychaeta (11%), Thaliacea (9%), Amphipoda (5%),
Copepoda (5%), and Ctenophora (3%). :

Catches of juvenile butterfish were greatest in autumn in all areas
(Fig. 7). The largest numbers were caught along the 193 m depth
contour and close to shore in the Middle Atlantic and Southern New
England. During springtime large catches were obtained along the coast
and 166 m depth contour of the Middle Atlantic, but in Southern New
England and on southern Georges Bank the majority of fish were obtained
only in the vicinity of the 108 m contour.


LITERATURE CITED

Arntz, W.E.
1974. A contribution to the feeding ecology of juvenile cod
(Gadus morhua L.) in the Western Baltic. Rapp. P.-v. Reun.
Cons. int. Explor. Mer. 166:13-19.

Barans, C.A.
1972. Spotted hake, Urophycis regius, of the York River
and Lower Chesapeake Bay. Chesapeake Sci. 13(1):59-68.

Bigelow, H.B., and W.C. Schroeder.
1953. Fishes of the Gulf of Maine. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv.,

Fish. Bull. 53. 577 p.

Bowman, R.E.
1988. Food of northwest Atlantic juvenile haddock. MA. thesis.
(Biology) Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA. 95 p.

198la. Food of 18 species of northwest Atlantic juvenile
groundfish. Fish. Bull. 79(1):206-206.

1981b. Food and feeding of Q-group haddock in the northwest
Atlantic. Rapp. P.-v. Reun. Cons. int. Explor. Mer.

178: 322-323.

1984. Food of silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis. Fish.
Bull. 82(1):21-35.

Bowman, R.E., and W.L. Michaels.
1984. Food of seventeen species of northwest Atlantic fish.
NOAA Tech. Mem. NMFS-F/NEC-28. 183 p.

Edwards, R.L., and R.E. Bowman.
1979. Food consumed by continental shelf fishes. p. 387-406.
IN H. Clepper (editor), Predator-prey systems in
fish communities and their role in fisheries management.
Sport Fish Inst., Publ., Wash., D.C.

Graham, M. (editor)
1956. Sea fisheries, their investigation in the United Kingdom.

Edward Arnold, Lond. 487 p.

Grosslein, M.D., and T.R. Azarovitz.
1982. Fish distribution. MESA New York Bight atlas monograph
15. New York Sea Grant Inst., Albany, N.Y. 182 p.

Luczkovich, J.J., and B.L. Olla.
1983. Feeding behavior, prey consumption, and growth of juvenile
red hake. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 112:629-637.

-15-


American plaice, Hippoglossoides platessoides

A total of 138 American plaice 6-18 cm TL were obtained from the
Gulf of Maine and Western Nova Scotia for food habits studies (Table
17). Polychaeta (68%) was by far the dominant prey group. Some of the
more important families identified as prey were Ampharetidae (9%),
Nephtyidae (8%), and Sabellidae (3%). Crustacea (25%) identified in the
diet included, in part, Amphipoda (12%) such as Ericthonius rubricornis
(3%), Unciola sp. (3%), Gammaridae (3%), and Corophiidae (3%) along
with some Mysidacea (6%).

Catches of juvenile American plaice were greatest in Gulf of Maine
and Western Nova Scotia waters during springtime (Fig. 9). Most
catches occurred at the western section of the Gulf of Maine. Some
plaice were also obtained on Georges Bank during both spring and autumn.

Yellowtail flounder, Limanda ferruginea

One hundred and sixty yellowtail flounder (up to 26 om TL) were
sampled in Southern New England and on Georges Bank for stomach content
analysis (Table 18). More than one-half of the diet of all length
categories was Crustacea. Fish 1-5 cm long preyed intensively on
Crangon septemspinosa (41%, and the only major prey identified).
Yellowtail 6-18 cm ate substantial quantities of anphipods (33%, and
mainly Ampeliscidae, 15%, Aoridae, 5%, and Gammaridae, 4%). Mysids made
up 15% of the food and all were identified as Neomysis americana. The
decapod, Crangon septemspinosa, accounted for 9% of their diet.
Polychaetes (23%) were also an important prey and were mostly identified
as Spiophanes bombyx (12%). Predators 11-15 cm TL fed mainly on
decapods (48%) such as Dichelopandalus leptocerus (32%) and Crangon
septemspinosa (12%), along with some fish (18%), amphipods (14%), and
polychaetes (12%). The ,food of 16-29 cm fish was primarily amphipods
(32%, and mainly Unciola itrorata, 15%, and Leptocheirus pinguis, 9%),
decapods (15%, and mostly Pasiphaea multidentata, 13%), polychaetes
(14%), fish (5%), and mysids (exclusively Neomysis americana, 4%).

Juvenile yellowtail flounder catches were highest in Southern New
England and on Georges Bank during springtime and autumn (Fig. 10).
Small catches were also obtained in the Middle Atlantic, Gulf of Maine,
and Western Nova Scotia (in spring and autumn).

-11-


Table 4. (continued)

STOMACH CONTENTS

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

6-10 11-15
Mysidacea (-) (-) (6.1)
Other Mysidacea - - @.1
Copepoda (-) (<d.1) (<9.1)
Calanoid Copepoda - <@.1 <O.1
Other Copepoda - <O.1 <G.1
Ostracoda (-) (<@.1) (<@.1)
Tanaidacea (-) (<6.1) (-)
Other Crustacea (7.9) (4.0) (2.6)
MOLLUSCA ‘ [-] (0. 2] [8.3]
Polyplacophora - - G.3
Bivalvia - O.1 -
Gastropoda - 8.1 -
CHAETOGNATHA [-] [9.9] [-]
ECHINODERMATA [-] [2.7] (8.8]
Ophiuroidea (-) (2.7) (8.8)
Ophiura sarsi - 1.4 5.5
Ophiura sp. - 6.3 <8.1
Other Ophiuroidea - 1.9 2.5
PISCES [-] [2.8] (1.8)
Pleuronectiformes - - 6.7
Pisces bones - 2.6 -
Other Pisces - 0.8 1.1
UNIDENTIFIED EGGS {-] [-] {9.7]
ANIMAL REMAINS (12.1) {15.3] [19.6]
ROCK AND SAND (1.7) (1.1) (2.7)
Number of fish examined 17 268 162
Number of empty stomachs 4 13 3
Mean stomach content weight (g) 6.031 @.078 2132
Mean fish FL (cm). 9 13 16
Mean fish weight (g) 13.9 36.5 65.3
% BW of stomach contents 9.24 9.21 9.20

| Pages 22 &@ 23 Blank | ~2h-



Other crustaceans such as euphausiids (13%) and amphipods (10%) were
also identified in their diet. Sand and rock accounted for 5% of their
stomach contents.

The greatest numbers of juvenile cod were obtained in autumn at the
vicinity of Stellwagon Bank, the Great South Channel, and on or near
various banks off Nova Scotia (e.g., Browns Bank) (Fig. 2). Small
catches also occurred just west of the Northeast Peak of Georges Bank.
In spring catches were largest off southeastern Nova Scotia. Sparse
numbers were caught along the 188 m contour of the Gulf of Maine and
Georges Bank (near the Northeast Peak).

Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Three hundred and twenty-seven haddock up to 26 cm FL were sampled
from Georges Bank, the Gulf of Maine, and Western Nova Scotia (Table 4).
The stomachs of haddock 6-10 cm long contained large quantities of
euphausiids (62%) along with some polychaetes (9%) and amphipods (7%).
The prey listing for haddock 11-15 cm FL was extensive. Various
species, genera, and families of amphipods and polychaetes accounted for
about one-half of the number of identified prey of all length
categories, Euphausiids (26%, with 9% identified as Meganyctiphanes
norvegica) were the single most important prey by weight. Among the
amphipods (16%), Unciola irrorata (5%) and Leptocheirus pinguis (2%)
were the largest contributors. Decapods (16%) such as Pagurus pubescens
(2%) and pandalid shrimps (3%) were also taken as food. Polychaetes
accounted for 19% of the diet with Nephtyidae (3%) and Sabellidae (2%)
being most - notable. The food of haddock 16-28 cm FL was a mixture of
amphipods (22%, and mostly Unciola irrorata, 9%, Gammaridae, 4%, and
Leptocheirus pinguis, 2%), decapods (21%, with 5% identified as
Dichelopandalus leptocerus, 4% hermit crabs, and 8% unidentified
shrimps), and polychaetes (12%, and most unidentified). Echinoderms
(8%, and mainly Ophiura sarsi, 6%) were also of some importance as a
food.

During spring large numbers of juvenile haddock were caught in
waters off southern Nova Scotia (Fig. 3). Smaller quantities were
obtained along the 184 m depth contour of the Gulf of Maine. In autumn
they were caught almost along the entire perimeter of Georges Bank (just
inside the 109 m contour), in the western portion of the Gulf of Maine,
and on most of the Scotian Shelf.

Silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis

A total of 1293 silver hake up to 28 cm FL was sampled in the
Middle Atlantic, Southern New England, and on Georges Bank for gut
content examination (Table 5). Various types of crustaceans accounted
for more than 75% of the food of all juvenile silver hake. The smallest
fish (1-5 cm) preyed intensively on amphipods (59%) such as Parathemisto
sp. (38%), Byblis serrata (4%), Ampeliscidae (4%), and Hyperiidae (4%).
Other crustaceans included in their diet were decapods (12%, and mostly
crangonid shrimps, 8%, and other unidentified shrimps, 3%) and mysids
(4%, with 2% identified as Neomysis americana). Silver hake 6-1@ cm in

4-



NO/TOW } NO/TOW

© 0-10 © O10
© 10-100 @ 10-<100
- @ 100-<500 [jyVveNiLe : @ 100-*500 [JUVENILE
@ 500~1000 | HADDOCK @ 500-<1000 | HADDOCK
@ 1000 o > | spring @ 1000 0> | autumn
35° 38°
63° 63°

Figure 3.

NO/TOW
+ O10 + O«10
@ 10-100 . @ 10-100 -
@ 100-<500 [JUVENILE ; @ 100-<500 [JUVENILE
500~1000 | SILVER HAKE N 500-1000 | SILVER HAKE
@ 10000 > | sprine @ 1000 0 > | autumn
35° 3s
63° ea"

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile haddock (<21 cm) and silver hake (<21 cm) during
the spring and autumn for the years 1973-1976.

~50-




Table 3. (continued)

STOMACH CONTENTS

Lebbeus groenlandicus
Spirontocaris sp.
Paguridae
Dichelopandalus leptocerus
Pandalidae
Unidentified shrimps
Other Decapoda
Isopoda
Cirolana sp.
Other Isopoda
Euphausiacea
Meganyctiphanes norvegica
Thysanoessa sp.
Other Euphausiacea
Mysidacea
Mysis mixta
Neomysis americana
Other Mysidacea
Copepoda
Calanoid Copepoda
Other Copepoda
Other Crustacea

CHAETOGNATHA

PISCES
Osteichthyes eggs
Other Pisces

ANIMAL REMAINS

SAND AND ROCK

Number of fish examined

Number of empty stomachs

Mean stomach content weight (g)
Mean fish FL (an)

Mean fish weight (g)

% BW of stomach contents

~21-

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

1-5 6-10 11-15 16-26
- - g.4 -
- 1.2 -
- - - 2.8
- * 46.1 3.7 8.9
- - - 4.4
- 9.5 2.5 9.9
- G.6 G.1 G.4
(-) (-) (<@.1) (1.4)
- - - 1.4
- - <O.1 -
(-) (2.6) (19.4) (13.3)
- 1.8 17.1 oe)
- - - 0.2
- 0.2 2.3 6.2
(-) (17.4) (1.9) (-)
- 11.9 - -
- 1.9 -
- 6.4 - -
(5.8) (9.5) (12.1) (@.8)
- - - 0.8
5.8 0.5 12.1 -
(-) (8.8) (16.3) (13.1)

[-]} [6.3] [5.6] (1.8]
- 4.1 3.4 1.8
- 2.2 2.2 -

13 35 83 51

1 8 14 16
106 6.035 0.081 @.142
5 8 12 18
1.1 4.7 16.7 58.5
9.85 0.74 0.49 @.24


.
e

@ 100--500 (syyeniLe 100-«500 [ JUVENILE

@ _500-<1000 | YELLOwTAIL @ 500-1000 } YELLOWTAIL

@ 10000 FLOUNDER @ 10000 > FLOUNDER]

SPRING AUTUMN

35° 35

es 63°

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile yellowtail flounder (<21 cm) during the spring and

Figure 16.
autumn for the years 1973#1976.

‘$Y U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1987--701-959--60,038

57-


| Preceding page blank |


aa




LIST OF TABLES

Total number, approximate length at age-one, areas

sampled, and principal distribution of catches of

juvenile fishes collected for stomach content analyses

in the northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-1976. Areas
surveyed were Middle Atlantic (MA), Southern New England

(SNE), Georges Bank (GB), Gulf of Maine (GOM), and

Western Nova Scotia (WNS) .eresececccecccceccreccccerceceeesecels

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile little
skate, Raja erinacea, expressed as a percentage of the
total stomach contents weight versus fish length for
samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years

ee |

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile Atlantic

cod, Gadus morhua, expressed as a percentage of the

total stomach contents weight versus fish length for samples
collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-1976..28

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile haddock,
Melanogrammus aeglefinus, expressed as a percentage of

the total stomach contents weight versus fish length for
samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years
L9I73-1LOT Ge cece cece een e reece earn renner ee cence ere esnceescceeceelad

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile silver

hake, Merluccius bilinearis, expressed as a percentage

of the total stomach contents weight versus fish length

for samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the

YEALS 1973-196. ccc cecccccc cece s eee eseeneeeseeseceeeee ee ld

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile pollock,
Pollachius virens, expressed as a percentage of the

total stomach contents weight versus fish length for
samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years

LITB-1LOT Go cece we c ee cere rece n ner en rs cecaccenecccesscceessessee al

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile red hake,
Urophycis chuss, expressed as a percentage of the

total stomach contents weight versus fish length for

samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the

VEALS 1973-1976. cece ccc rencccccncnnencncseesesesecsencseee ne ld

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile spotted

hake, Urophycis regia, expressed as a percentage of the
total stomach contents weight versus fish length for
samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years

LIT3B-197TG ew eeceereecccnencrenccecercceescceascresescesescee ee 3D

‘Preceding page blank | yas





length fed principally on decapod shrimps (24%, and mostly Crangon
septemspinosa, 15%, and Dichelopandalus leptocerus, 2%), mysids (22%,
and almost exclusively Neomysis americana), and a wide assortment of
amphipods (19%). Also notable in their diet was fish (14%) which was
identified, in part, as the American sand lance, Ammodytes americanus,
(6%), and silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis, (2%). Decapods (31%) were
the single most important prey group for fish 11-15 cm FL. Crangon
septemspinosa (18%) and Dichelopandalus leptocerus (5%) were the only
species of decapods identified. Euphausiids (24%, of which 22% was
identified as Meganyctiphanes norvegica) and mysids (13%, with Neomysis
americana accounting for 10%) were also important food. Amphipods only
made up 6% of their diet and most were classified as unidentified
Oedicerotidae (4%). Fish prey (14%) was identified as Merluccius
bilinearis,(4%), and Ammodytes americanus, (2%). Silver hake 16-28 cm
FL consumed substantial quantities of Euphausiacea (64%, and all
identified were Meganyctiphanes norvegica, 63%). Fish (28%) was also an
important prey of these silver hake, but all of it was to well digested
to be identified. The only other notable prey was decapods (7%, and
mainly Crangon septemspinosa, 3%, and Dichelopandalus leptocerus, 2%),
and mysids (4%, and primarily Neomysis americana).

Silver hake were ubiquitous in both spring and fall (Fig. 3).
However, catches during spring were greater in the Gulf of Maine and
Middle Atlantic areas than during autumn. Also, in autumn more were
caught on central Georges Bank than in spring.

Pollock, Pollachius virens

Only 16 juvenile pollock were sampled from the Gulf of Maine and
Western Nova Scotia (Table 6). The stomach of the one fish obtained in
the 11-15 cm FL category contained solely the euphausiid Meganyctiphanes
norvegica (180%). Meganyctiphanes norvegica (84%) was also the only
major prey taken by fish in the 16-20 cm length category.

Pollock were principally caught'in the Western Nova Scotia area
during spring (Fig. 4). Catches were sparse or non-existent in all
“other areas during both spring and autumn.

Red hake, Urophycis chuss

Two hundred and eight red hake up to 29 cm TL were obtained in
Southern New England waters for stomach content analyses (Table 7). The
smallest red hake (1-5 cm) ate significant amounts of chaetognaths
(49%). Anphipods (17%) such as Hyperiidae (7%), Gammaridae (7%), and
Unciola irrorata (3%) were also of dietary importance, along with the
mysid, Neomysis americana (11%). Fish 6-18 om TL ingested large
quantities of two decapod species, namely Dichelopandalus leptocerus
(22%) and Crangon septemspinosa (5%). Also of consequence as a food
were amphipods (29%, and mainly Gammaridae, 8%, Leptocheirus pinguis,
6%, Lysianassidae, 6%, Unciola irrorata, 5%, and Monoculodes edwardsi,
4%), polychaetes (15%), and chaetognaths (6%). The euphausiid,
Meganyctiphanes norvegica (27%) was the single most important prey of
red hake 11-15 cm TL. Other notable food was Amphipoda (24%, and mainly



17.

18.

19.

LIST OF TABLES (continued)

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile american
plaice, Hippoglossoides platessoides, expressed as a

percentage of the total stomach contents weight versus

fish length for samples collected in the northwest

Atlantic for the yearS 1973-1976... cece c cece c nce n en eece nec eee 43

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile yellowtail
flounder, Limanda ferruginea, expressed as a percentage
of the total stomach contents weight versus fish length
for samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the
YEALS 1LO7TB-1LITG cece cece ences eseneessens

reer rs.

Stomach content groups making up the majority of prey

taken by northwest Atlantic juvenile fishes. Prey

categories are Copepoda (COP), Amphipoda (AMP), Mysidacea
(MYS), Euphausiacea (EUP), Decapoda shrimps (SHR), -Decapoda
crabs (CRA), Polychaeta (POL), Chaetognatha (CHA), Pisces

and Cephalopoda (F+S), and all other groups (0). Prey data

are given as the percentage of the total stomach contents

made up by a particular prey group (a "+" within the table
indicates present in the diet but <1%).... cc eee e ee wee ewe n ne 46

-ix-


SYNOPSIS AND DISCUSSION

A summary of the prey groups identified for northwest Atlantic
juvenile fishes examined herein is given in Table 19. Overall,
relatively few prey groups (or species) made up a large portion of the
food of all fish sampled. Similar results have been described for at
least some of these juvenile fishes caught in the same geographic areas
during earlier years (i.e., 1969-1972; Bowman 198la). The results
presented here confirm as well as expand on what we know of the foods of
juvenile fishes in the northwest Atlantic. Smaller size prey such as
copepods (principally calanoids), amphipods (e.g., Parathemisto sp.,
Byblis serrata, Pontogeneiidae, Unciola irrorata, and Ampelisca sp.),

mysids (Neomy is americana), euphausiids (Meganyctiphanes norvegica),
decapod shrim (Crangon septemspinosa), and chaetognaths were the most
important food of fishes 1-5 cm in length (i.e., silver hake, red hake,
spotted hake, longhorn sculpin, fourspot flounder, witch flounder, and
yellowtail flounder). Juveniles 6-19 cm long (little skate, Atlantic
cod, haddock, silver hake, red hake, spotted hake, scup, longhorn
sculpin, witch flounder, American plaice, and yellowtail flounder) fed
chiefly on amphipods (Monoculodes sp., Eusirus sp., Parathemisto sp.,
Leptocheirus pinguis, Unciola irrorata, Byblis serrata, Ericthonius
rubricornis, and Ampeliscidae), mysids (Neomysis americana), euphausiids

(Meganyctiphanes norvegica), decapod shrimps (Crangon septemspinosa and
Dichelopandalus  leptocerus), and polychaetes (Eunice sp., Nephtyidae,
Sabellidae, and Ampharetidae). The stomach contents of 11-15 cm fish
(little skate, Atlantic cod, haddock, silver hake, pollock, red hake,
spotted hake, white hake, ocean pout, scup, butterfish, Acadian redfish,
and yellowtail founder) provided evidence they fed (depending on the
particular species) intensively on copepods, polychaetes, amphipods
(e.g., Unciola irrorata, Oedicerotidae, Leptocheirus pinguis,
Rhachotropis aculeata, Byblis serrata, . and Parathemisto sp.), mysids
(almost totally Neomysis americana), euphausiids (mainly Meganyctiphanes
norvegica), decapod shrimps (Crangon septemspinosa and Dichelopandalus
leptocerus), and some fish or squid (taken by silver hake, scup, and
yellowtail flounder). The largest fishes (i.e., those ranging 16-208. cm
in length and including little skate, Atlantic cod, haddock, silver
hake, pollock, red hake, spotted hake, white hake, and yellowtail
flounder) ate substantial amounts of amphipods (especially Ampeliscidae,
Unciola irrorata, Monoculodes sp., Anonyx sarsi, and Leptocheirus
pinguis), the mysid, Neomysis americana, the euphausiid, Meganyctiphanes
norvegica, decapod shrimps (Crangon septemspinosa and Dichelopandalus
leptocerus), polychaetes, echinoderms (fed on only by haddock), and
fish.

Also noteworthy is that in most instances the average %BW of the
stomach contents decreased as fish length increased. The exceptions
were little skate, white hake, and longhorn sculpin. Two possible
reasons the smaller fish have proportionally more food, on average, in
their stomachs may be that they tend to eat larger quantities of food
relative to their body weight (in the case of haddock and silver hake
their stomachs are also proportionally larger, therefore they are
capable of holding more food; Bowman 198@, 1984), or they may eat more
than one meal per day, whereas many larger size fish eat only one meal

‘Preceding page blank | -1>-


NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-45

This TM series is used for documentation and timely communication of
preliminary results, interim reports, or special purpose information, and
has not received complete formal review, editorial control, or detailed
editing.

Food and Distribution of Juveniles
of Seventeen Northwest Atlantic Fish Species,
1973-1976

Ray E. Bowman’, Thomas R. Azarovitz', Esther S. Howard?, and Brian P. Hayden’

1 Woods Hole Lab., National Marine Fisheries Serv., Woods Hole, MA 02543
2Antioch College, Yellow Springs, OH 45383

QL a )
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Malcolm Baldrige, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Anthony J. Calio, Administrator

National Marine Fisheries Service
William E. Evans, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

Northeast Fisheries Center
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
May 1987


Table 12. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile butterfish,
Peprilus triacanthus, expressed as a percentage of the
total stomach contents weight versus fish length for samples
collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-1976.

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

STOMACH CONTENTS [oleae aie tata ela Reiaia tea Rateketake tate tatatetateteiotetal
1-5 6-108 11-15
COELENTERATA {-] [1.5] {1.5]
CTENOPHORA (-] (-] [3.2]
TREMATODA [-] (<@.1] [0.2]
NEMATODA [+] [-] [<@.1]
POLYCHAETA [+] [0.3] [11.1]
Spionidae - - <@.1
Glyceridae 1.1
Goniadidae 4.8
Lumbrineridae - - G.2
Nephtyidae - - 0.9
Tomopteris helgolandica - - 2.2
Tomopteridae : - 1.9
Other Polychaeta - @.3 0.9
CRUSTACEA (<@.1) [4.7] {13.1]
Amphipoda (<@.1) (2.6) (5.3)
Ampeliscidae - - <@O.1
Caprellidae - - <O.1
Gammar idae - - <O.1
Haustoriidae - - <G.1
Parathemisto sp. - 1.5 5.2
Hyperiidae <G.1 8.5 6.1
Decapoda (+) (<@.1) (1.4)
Axiidae - - 1.4
Crangon septemspinosa - - <O.1
Lucifer faxoni - <O.1 -
Decapoda larvae - - <G.1
Unidentified crabs - - <O.1
Unidentified shrimps - <O.1 <G.1
Euphausiacea (+) (+) (9.1)
Meganyctiphanes norvegica - - 0.1
Other Euphausiacea - - <O.1
Mysidacea (+) (1.4) (<@.1)
Neomysis americana - 1.4 -
Other Mysidacea - <O.1 <O.1
Copepoda (+) (0.1) (5.3)
Temora sp. - <O.1 -
Pseudocalanus sp. - <9.1 -

36+




18.

LIST OF FIGURES

Geographic areas of the northwest Atlantic surveyed
by the Northeast Fisheries Center during the years
LOT3$1L9TC ccc cece crc c ccc c ccc ccc cececccereccecccccccccesecee es 48

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile little skate (<21 cm) and Atlantic cod (<21 cm)
during the spring and autumn for the years 1973-1976........49

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile haddock (<21 cm) and silver hake (<21 cm) during
the spring and autumn for the years 1973-1976.......ee eee eee SD

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile pollock (<21 cm) and red hake (<21 cm) during
the spring and autumn for the years 1973-1976.....-ceeeeee ee Sl

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile spotted hake (<21 cm) and white hake (<21 cm)
during the spring and autumn for the years 1973-1976....+.+.52

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile ocean pout (<16 cm) and scup (<16 cm) during the
spring and autumn for the yearS 1973-1976... cececereeeeee eee e D3

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile butterfish (<16 cm) and Acadian redfish (<1ll cm)
during the spring and autumn for the years 1973-1976......+.54

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile longhorn sculpin (<1l cm) and fourspot flounder
(<11 cm) during the spring and autumn for the years

LOT3=“19 766 ccc cence nnn cece ccc c cece cece ccc s cece ese eeseeeese eee”

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile witch flounder (<ll cm) and American plaice

(<1l cm) during the spring and autumn for the years

LOT3=A1976 2 ccc cece cece cece cece cere cece cece cence tect eee e eee tO

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile yellow flounder (<21 cm) during the spring and
autumn for the yearS 1973-1976. cc cece cece eee cere cere reves cee DT

(Preceding page blank | oxi-


qs°

4s)

NO/TOW
0-<10
10-<100
100-<500
500-<1000
1000 or >

JUVENILE
LITTLE SKATE

SPRING

NO/TOW
* 0-10

@ 10-<100

@ 100-<500
500-<1000

JUVENILE
LITTLE SKATE

AUTUMN

. NO /TOW

0-<10
10-100
100- «500
500-<1000
1000 oF >

JUVENILE
coD

SPRING

NO/TOW
0-410
10-<100
100 -<500
500-<1000
1000 oF >

JUVENILE
oD

AUTUMN

35°

Figure 2.

ose

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile little skate (<21 cm) and Atlantic cod (<21 cm)

during the spring and autumn for the years 1973~1976.

-9-


Table 9. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile white hake,
Urophycis tenuis, expressed as a percentage of the total
stomach contents weight versus fish length for samples
collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-1976.

LENGTH CATEGORY (am)

STOMACH CONTENTS Soh ahah ahehahahabenahahahahahebehebahehababebehehenel
6-18 11-15 16-208
TREMATODA [-] {8.3] {<6.1]
NEMATODA (-] [+] (1.0)
POLYCHAETA [-] {21.5] [3.2]
CRUSTACEA [-] [12.5] [85.1]
Amphipoda (-) (12.5) (3.8)
Anpeliscidae - - 1.2
Caprellidae - 2.3 -
Unciola irrorata - 5.8 @.9
Gammar idae - - G.3
Leptocheirus pinguis - 4.4 1.4
Decapoda (-) (-) (7.6)
Crangon septemspinosa - - 7.6
Euphausiacea (-) (-) (33.5)
Meganyctiphanes norvegica - - 33.5
Mysidacea (-) (-) (40.2)
Neomysis americana - - 48.2
ANIMAL REMAINS (189.9) (65.7] (10.7)
Number of fish examined 1 13 9
Number of empty stomachs a 7 3
Mean stomach content weight (g) @.012 0.026 @.197
Mean fish TL (an) 9 13 19
Mean fish weight (g) 4.0 13.3 45.4
% BW of stomach contents 9.30 9.20 @.43

; :
'Pages 30 & 31 Blank -32-



Table 3. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile Atlantic cod,
Gadus morhua, expressed as a percentage of the total
stomach contents weight versus fish length for samples
collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-1976.

LENGTH CATEGORY (cn)

STOMACH CONTENTS eee ene eo eee -- = weeewe
16-28
COELENTERATA [-] (8.7) [=] [-]
Hydrozoa - g.7 - -
CESTODA (-] {-] (9.1) (-]
TREMATODA [-] [<8.1] [<8.1] [6.1]
NEMERTEA [-] {-] (8.2) (8.1)
NEMATODA [-] [-] {0.1) {<@.1]
POLYCHAETA [-] [-] [-] [0.6]
CRUSTACEA [5.8] {89.6] [78.9] [81.9]
aAmphipoda (-) (8.4) (24.9) (9.5)
Ampelisca sp. - 1.8 - -
Ampeliscidae - - 8.9 -
Aoridae - - - G.1
Aeginella spinosa - 1.2 -
Aeginella longicornis - - - 6.6
Caprellidae - 2.7 2.6 6.1
Ericthonius rubricornis - - @.5 G.1
Ericthonius sp. . - - 0.2 -
Unciola irrorata - - 16.1 2.7
Unciola sp. - - - lel
Corophiidae - - - <8.1
Rhachotropis aculeata - - 5.68 -
Gammar idae - @.5 3.2 3.4
Anonyx liljeborgi - G.2 - -
Hippomedon serratus - - - 0.3
a minuta - @.2 - -

Orchomenella minuta

Tmetonyx nobilis - - - 6.5
Lysianassidae - G.1 - B.1
Monoculodes edwardsi - - - G.1
Leptocheirus pinguis - <G.1 B.4 0.4

Leucothoe spinicarpa - 1.7 1.7 -

Other Amphipoda - - 6.3 -
Decapoda (-) (51.9) (16.3) (42.9)
Cancridae - - - G.1
Crangon septemspinosa - 1.7 0.5 2.8
Crangonidae - - 1.9 13.3
- - - 9.3

Evualus pusiolus

Pages 18 &€ 19 Blank| -20-


Table 12. (continued)

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

STOMACH CONTENTS sat etter n ee enn e meen ene
1+5 6-16 11-15
Calanoid Copepoda - <3.1 2.2
Other Copepoda - <8.1 3.1
Other Crustacea (<@.1) (1.3) (1.0)
MOLLUSCA (-] (2.3] [9.5]
Gastropoda (+) (2.3) (6.5)
Limacina retroversa - 2.3 @.4
Pteropoda - - <6.1
Other Gastropoda - - 6.1
CHAETOGNATHA {-] (1.6) (6.2]
LARVACEA . {-] {7.6] (12.8)
Oikopleura sp. - - <O.1
Other Larvacea - 7.6 12.8
THALIACEA [-] (4.4) (9.1)
Salpidae (-) (+) (3.1)
Salpa sp. - - B.1
Other Salpidae ~ ~ 3.08
Other Thaliacea (-) (4.4) (6.9)
PISCES {-] [-] [6.4]
Pisces larvae ~ - O.1
Other Pisces ~ - 6.3
ANIMAL REMAINS (166.8) (77.6) [47.8]
SAND (-] (-] (c.1]
Number of fish examined 23 169 551
Number of empty stomachs 2 23 156
Mean stomach content weight (g) 6.013 8.042 6.991
Mean fish FL (cm) 4 8 13
Mean fish weight (g) 1.2 16.3 45.4
% BW of stomach contents 19.57 4.09 2.1

37-


‘Preceding page blank


NO/TOW NO/TOW

© O40 © 0-10
© 10-400 © 10-100
@ 100-*500 [JUVENILE @ 100-+500 [ JuvENILE
500-«1000 | WITCH Ae wiTcH
@ 10000> | a yrunn SPR ON
35° ‘35°
76° 63°

No/TOW f NorTOW
© O10 6 * 0-10
@ 10-100 © 10-<100
@ 100-<500 fiovene ; @ 100-*500 [JUVENILE
@ 500-1000 | american . @ 500-1000 | american

1000 or > PLAICI 1000 or PLAICE
@ 0 SPRING @ 12000 - AUTUMN

35° 35°
ese 63°

Figure 9. Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile witch flounder (<1l cm) and American plaice
(<11 cm) during the spring and autumn for the years
1973-1976.

~56-


le.

ll.

12.

13.

14.

1s.

16.

LIST OF TABLES (continued)

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile white

hake, Urophycis tenuis, expressed as a percentage of

the total stomach contents weight versus fish length

for samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the

YEALS 1973-1976. cece wee eee ee reece rece nce c ences eee seseeseeeed2

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile ocean

pout, Macrozoarces americanus, expressed as a

percentage of the total stomach contents weight versus

fish length for samples collected in the northwest

Atlantic for the years 1973-1976. ..ccceeeecesinerecceceeceeee33

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile scup,
Stenotomus chrysops, expressed as a percentage of the
total stomach contents weight versus fish length for
samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for. the
YOALS 1973-19 TC Lecce ccc ccc cece cee cece

tcc cece eee 34

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile

butterfisn, Peprilus triacanthus, expressed as a

percentage of the total stomach contents weight versus

fish length for samples collected in the northwest

Atlantic for the years 1973-1976. .cccececcscecececcccececeees 36

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile Acadian

redfish, Sebastes fasciatus expressed as a percentage

of the total stomach contents weight versus fish length

for samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the

YEALS 1LI73Z-1IP6 cece eee e ccc c crew cree scree cece eee cincccees eee e 38

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile longhorn
sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus, expressed

as a percentage of the total stomach contents weight

versus fish length for samples collected in the

northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-l1976..cceeceececcees ees 39

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile fourspot
flounder, Paralichthys oblongus, expressed as a

percentage of the total stomach contents weight versus

fish length for samples llected in the northwest

Atlantic for the years 1973-1976... .. cc cece ces cece cee ee cece cee 4h

Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile witch

flounder, Glyptocephalus cynoglossus, expressed as a

percentage of the total stomach contents weight versus

fish length for samples collected in the northwest

Atlantic for the yearS 1973-1976... cceec cee c ces escceceee ec c42

-viii-



Acadian redfish, Sebastes fasciatus

Two juvenile Acadian redfish (11-15 cm FL) were obtained from the
Gulf of Maine for stomach content examination (Table 13). Only one of
the fish stomachs contained food (i.e., copepods, 41%, animal remains,
59%).

The largest numbers of redfish, in both spring and autumn, were
caught in Western Nova Scotia (Fig. 7). None or only a few were
obtained in other areas sampled.

Longhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus

The stomach contents of 199 longhorn sculpin up to 18 om TL from
Georges Bank were examined (Table 14). Predators in the 1-5 and 6-16 cm
TL categories preyed on very similar organisms. Amphipods (26% and
30%), decapods (50% and 51%, and mostly Crangonidae and Pandalidae), and
isopods (5% and 3%) made up most of the food of the 1-5 cm and 6-10 am
fish, respectively.

Slightly more juvenile longhorn sculpin were obtained in spring
than in autumn in all areas surveyed (except in the Middle Atlantic
where none were caught) (Fig. 8). Catches were higher, by far, on
Georges Bank than in any other area.

Fourspot flounder, Paralichthys oblongus

Only one juvenile fourspot flounder (5 cm TL) was obtained in the
Middle Atlantic for analysis (Table 15). The only prey identified was
the amphipod, Ampelisca sp. (67%).

Trawl catches of fourspot were greatest during autumn in the Middle
Atlantic, Southern New England, and Georges Bank areas (Fig. 8). In
springtime only a few fourspot in total were caught, and they occurred
in Middle Atlantic and Southern New England waters.

Witch flounder, Glyptocephalus cynoglossus

Fifteen witch flounder (up to 10 cm TL) were sampled in the Gulf of
Maine and Western Nova Scotia to determine dietary preferences (Table
16). The diet of the smallest witch flounder (1-5 am) included
amphipods (87%) and mysids (13%, and all were identified as Neomysis
americana). Fish 6-18 cm TL ate mostly polychaetes (38%), the decapod
shrimp, Crangon septemspinosa (35%), and amphipods (6%).

Overall, few witch flounder were caught in any area (Fig. 9). The

ones caught were mostly located in the Gulf of Maine during spring and
autumn. A few were also identified in the trawl catches for the Middle

Atlantic (along the 199 m contour during spring), and Georges Bank and
Western Nova Scotia (during autumn).

-10-



Table 19. (continued)

CRUSTACEA MISCELLANEOUS

LENGTH = wee rwee maedetecnsssesssrsss Se etergersdgecss

PREDATOR RANGE NO. COP AMP MYS EUP SHR CRA POL CHA F+S °
we reese re neon en eeseneene Ba eee ee ee ei ge see ers etna dade ened
White hake 6-16 1 - - r - - - - - - 186
11-15 13 - 13 a - 7 - 22 + - 65

16-28 9 7 4 4G 34 8 + 3 - - il

Ocean pout 11-15 8 - 82 + - - - - = 18
Scup 6-18 154 4 16 9 1 1 9 31 - = 29
11-15 213 + 6 + < + 2 32 + 13. (47

Butterfish 1-5 23 ~ + - - - - + - -~ 103
6-18 160 + 2 1 . + = + 2 - 95

11-15 551 5 5 + - + + ll + + 79

Acadianredfish 11-15 2 41 - - - - - ~ ~ = 59
Longhorn sculpin 1-5 36 - 26 - ~ 48 1 1 - ~ 24
6-18 163 - 39 2 ~ 48 2 + = 2 16

Fourspot flounder 1-5 1 7 67 « - - = - - - 33
Witch flounder 1-5 4 - 87 13 ~ - - + - - Q
6-16 ll + 6 2 - 35 - 38 7 - 19

American plaice 6-19 138 1 12 6 - + - 69 . - 21
Yellowtail fldr. 1-5 39 + + - - 41 _ = 4 59
6=18 77 7 33 15 7 9 : 23 - = 26

11-15 21 - 14 - - 44 7 12 - 18 #12

16-20 23 - 32 4 - 13 2 14 = -5 38

ae errr

-47-


NO/TOW NO/TOW

+ O10 + O10
@ 10-100 © 10-100

@ 100-500 [ovenite @ 100-«500
@ 5001000 | guTtERFISH @ 500-1000
@ 10000- | spring @ 1000 o>

JUVENILE
BUTTERFISH

AUTUMN

35°

Is° qe

ese

ast

Atlonng
Cit

No/Tow NovTow
+ 0-410 © 0-10
© 10-<100 @ 10-100
100-<500 | JUVENILE @ =100-<500
500-<1000 | REDFISH @ 500-<1000
@ i0000r > | sPRinG @ 1000 o >
—+-3n°

JUVENILE
REDFISH

AUTUMN

aot

63

Figure 7. Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile butterfish (<16 cm) and Acadian redfish (<11 cm)
during the spring and autumn for the years 1973-1976.

She


Table 7. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile red hake,
Urophycis chuss, expressed as a percentage of the total
stomach contents weight versus fish length for samples
collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-1976.

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)
STOMACH CONTENTS sort werr ena r eres ce res tresses ces

1-5 6-19 11-15 16-26
TREMATODA [<@.1) [<@.1] [<@.1] [<8.1]
NEMERTEA {=] [+] [+] [0.2]
POLYCHAETA (-] (14.9] (5.7] [+]
Nephtyidae - 3.2 - -
Sigalionidae - 9.9 - -
Maldanidae - = 3.1 -
Other Polychaeta - 16.8 2.6 -
CRUSTACEA , (48.7) (77.7] [83.7] [84.3]
Amphipoda (16.8) (29.3) (23.5) (62.4)
Caprellidae - 0.2 - G.3
Ampelisca macrocephala - - @.5 -
Ampelisca sp. - - - @.9
Ampeliscidae - - G.2 <G.1
Aoridae - 9.6 -
- @.7

Argissa sp.

eae

Corophium sp. O.1 -
Ericthonius rubricornis 0.4 -
Unciola irrorata 3.0 4.9 1.7 -
Maera sp. - - - 4.2
Melita dentata > 9.3 - -
Gammar idae 7.0 8.0 5.2 32.9
Haustoriidae - - 3.1 -
Hyperiidae 6.6 = - @.1
Anonyx sarsi - - - 24.8
Lysianassidae - 5.7 - -
Monoculodes edwardsi > 3.7 1.6 -
Oedicerotidae - - 0.2 -
Leptocheirus pinguis - 6.8 9.5 -
Pontogeneia inermis 0.2 <O.1 - -
Phoxocephal idae > - <O.1 -
Dulichia porrecta - - <O.1 -
Other Amphipoda - - @.2 -
Decapoda (3.8) (36.7) (24.3) (10.5)
Cancr idae - 1.6 - -
Crangon septemspinosa 1.3 5.4 12.4 2.2
Crangonidae 1.7 0.5 1.3 4.0
Evalus pusiolus - 4.1 - -
Hippolytidae > 1.9 - -
Dichelopandal':s leptocerus > 22.3 4.6 -

[Poses 26.6 27 blank) ep. Preceding page blank




Table 17. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile American
plaice, Hippoglossoides platessoides, expressed as a
percentage of the total stomach contents weight versus fish
length for samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for
the years 1973~1976.

AA tee eet endear ne nen enane

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

STOMACH CONTENTS res
6-10
ae ke eee ene ee eee nee eee neni mete mene aa een eda aesue
TREMATODA (<9.1]
NEMATODA [5.8]
POLYCHAETA [59.8]
Oweniidae 25
Ampharetidae 9.2
Sabellidae 3.0
Polychaeta tubes 4.8
Nephtyidae 7.6
Polynoidae 8.7
Other Polychaeta 34.0
CRUSTACEA (25.3)
Amphipoda (11.7)
Caprellidae <O.1
Ericthonius rubricornis 2.6
Unciola irrorata 1.6
Unciola serrata 1.3
Corophiidae 2.6
Gammar idae 3.1
Leptocheirus pinguis @.5
Decapoda (<@.1)
Unidentified shrimps <O.1
Mysidacea (5.9)
Erythrops erythrophthalma 8.8
Other Mysidacea 5.1
Copepoda (8.7)
Other Crustacea (7.0)
MOLLUSCA (@.5]
Bivalvia @.5
ANIMAL REMAINS [8.4]
FECAL REMAINS [<@.1]
SAND [0.2]
Number of fish examined 138
Number of empty stomachs 59
Mean stomach content weight (g) @.004
Mean fish TL (cm) 8
Mean fish weight (g) 2.6
% BW of stomach contents 0.16

sears ars acdsscdneceessscsersesniaetidssasaesdaadeargandsadenssegegandaas
-y3=


Macdonald,J.S., M.J.Dadswell, R.G.Appy, G.D.Melvin, and D.A.Methven.
1984, Fishes, fish assemblages, and their seasonal movements in
the lower Bay of Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay, Canada. Fish.
Bull. 82(1):121-139.

Pacheco, A.L. (editor)
1973. Proceedings of a workshop on egg, larval, and juvenile
stages of fish in Atlantic coast estuaries. Tech. Publ. No. 1.
N.M.F.S. Middle Atl. Coast. Fish. Ctr., Highlands, New Jersey.

Pearcy, W.G.

1962. Ecology of an estuarine population of winter flounder,
Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Walbaum). IV. Food habits
of larvae and juveniles. Bull. Bingham Oceanogr. Collect.
Yale Univ. 18(1):65-78.

Robins, R. C., R. M. Bailey, C. E. Bond, J. R. Brooker,
E. A. Lachner, R. N. Lea’, and W. B. Scott.
1986. Names of the Atlantic redfishes, genus Sebastes.
Fisheries. 11(1):28-29.

Sissenwine, M.P.
1984. Why do fish populations vary? Northw. Atl. Fish. Org.,
Sci.Coun.Meeting-June 1984. Ser.No. N846. NAFO SCR Doc.
84/1V/58. .

Sissenwine, M.P., and E.W. Bowman.
1978. An analysis of some factors affecting the catchability of
fish by bottom trawls. ICNAF Res. Bull. 13:81-87.

Steiner, W.W., J.J. Luczkovich, and B.L. Olla.
1982. Activity, shelter usage, growth and recruitment of
juvenile red hake Urophycis chuss. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.
7:125-135.

-16-


Table 19. Stomach content groups making up the majority of prey taken by
northwest Atlantic juvenile fishes. Prey categories are
Copepoda (COP), Anphipoda (AMP), Mysidacea (MYS), Euphausiacea
(EUP), Decapoda ‘shrimps (SHR), Decapoda crabs (CRA), Polychaeta
(POL), Chaetognatha (CHA), Pisces and Cephalopoda (F+S), and
all other groups (0). Prey data are given as the percentage of
the total stomach contents made up by a particular prey group
(a "+" within the table indicates present in the diet but <1%).

CRUSTACEA MISCELLANEOUS

LENGTH we wee eee ee eee greece en cee Berge eee nen nee

PREDATOR RANGE NO. COP AMP MYS EUP SHR CRA POL CHA F+S 0
Little skate 6-19 43 - 29 - ~ 5 - + - - 66
11-15 52 + 38 - - 23 1 1 1 36

16-20 73 + 39 1 - 32 1 5 ~ + 22

Atlantic cod 1-5 13 6 - - ied - - - ~ 94
6-108 35 1 8 17 2 51 - - - 6 15

11-15 83 12 25 2 19 18 - - 2 6 24

16+208 51 1 18 - 13 46 3 1 2 2 28

Haddock 6-198 17 - 7 : 62 7 ~ 9 - - 22
11-15 208 + 17 - 21 ll 4 19 1 24

16-28 162 + 22 + 3 15 6 16 + 2 36

Silver hake 1-5 356 2 59 4 2 ll - 1 5 16
- 6-18 624 + 19 22 6 22 . + 1 14 16

11-15 224 + 6 13 24 29 - 1 + 14° #13

16-29 89 a] 1 4 64 7 - - ~ 28 4

Pollock 11-15 1 ~ - - 108 - - - - = 9
16-20 15 + - 91 - - : - 7 9

Red hake 1-5 76 + 17 11 oy 3 - - 49 - 26
6-18 73 + 29 3 1 35 2 15 6 - 9

11-15 44 ~ 24 1 27 24 - 6 3 = 15

16-29 15 oad 62 4 - ll - - - - 23

Spotted hake 1-5 2 #14 77 ~ ~ - - - - - 9
6-19 53 + 50 1 13 4 - 1 21 #16

11-15 5@ - 35 * 19 23 + + - 7 16

16-28 139 . 6 ~ 37 37 2 1 30414

-6-


ast

NO/TOW J NO/TOW
0-<10 f * 0-410

.
@ 10-00 @ 10-100
@ 100-<500 [ivenice A @ 100-«500 | JUVENILE
@ 500-<1000 | LONGHORN @ 500-<1000 | LONGHORN

SCULPIN 4 SCULPIN
1000 or > 1 or >
SPRING e 000 AUTUMN

35°

4s

63°

Figure 8.

NO./TOW NQ/sTOW
© o-410 © 0-10
© 10-100 © 10-100
@ 100-500 [jyvenLe \ @ 100-500 [JuvENite |
@ 500-1000 FOURSPOT @ 500-<1000 | FourspoT

1 Oor> LOUNDER| FLOUNDER|
e }000 AUTUMN e 1000 or = SPRING

35° 35°
eae 63°

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile longhorn sculpin (<1ll cm) and fourspot flounder
(<1ll cm) during the spring and autumn for the years
1973-1976.

-55-




Table 11. (continued)

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

STOMACH CONTENTS Salat al at alata alal al atatatatalalatatatatatatal
6-10 11-15
Pagurus acadianus - @.1
Pagurus sp. 1.1 1.4
Paguridae ®.2 6.1
Unidentified crabs 0.6 8.2
Unidentified shrimps 0.3 -
Isopoda (@.1) (9.3)
Cirolana sp. @.1 0.3
Cumacea (<@.1) (-)
Euphausiacea (0.6) (-)
Meganyctiphanes norvegica 0.6 -
Mysidacea (9.4) (8.3)
Neomysis americana 8.8 0.2
Other Mysidacea 1.4 @.1
Copepoda (3.8) (<@.1)
Calanoid Copepoda @.7 -
Other Copepoda 3.1 <O.1
Other Crustacea (5.1) (2.6)
MOLLUSCA (@.1) (17.9)
Bivalvia (@.1) (8.4)
Acoela (+) (2.9)
Cephalopoda (=) (12.4)
Decapoda squid - 8.9
Other Cephalopoda + 11.5
Other Mollusca (+) (2.2)
CHAETOGNATHA [+] [6.1]
ECHINODERMATA [+] [8.9]
Echinoidea (-) (<6.1)
Aceste sp. - <O.1
Other Echinodermata (-) (8.9)
PISCES {-] {6.3]
Osteichthyes (-) (<@.1)
Osteichthyes eggs ca <O.1
Other Pisces (+) (6.3)
ANIMAL REMAINS [23.4] [36.6]
SAND [+] (0.1)
PR RRR RRR RRR OR RRR RAR RR RRO A RR ROR RARER RRR R ARRON Renee ene
Number of fish examined 154 213
Number of empty stomachs 52 84
Mean stomach content weight (g) 0.043 0.131
Mean fish FL (an) 8 12
Mean fish weight (g) 16.2 36.9
% BW of stomach contents 0.42 8.36

~35-


Table 16. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile ocean pout,
Macrozoarces americanus, expressed as a percentage of the
total stomach contents weight versus fish length for samples
collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years 1973-1976.

LENGTH CATEGORY (cn)

STOMACH CONTENTS (oleh et atatetatatshetstetaletstabetstetetetatatetatatel
11-15
CRUSTACEA (82.4]
Anphipoda (82.4)
Unciola irrorata 40.2
Melita dentata 11.3
Gammar idae 30.9
ECHINODERMATA [2.1]
Ophiuroidea 2.1
SAND {15.5}
Number of fish examined 8
Number of empty stomachs 5
Mean stomach content weight (g) ~ - G.012
Mean fish TL (cm) . 14
Mean fish weight (g) 16.08
% BW of stomach contents 6.12

33-


oe

&

< O60

METHEAS THEW!



METHODS

Data on 17 species were gathered during eight Northeast Fisheries
Center (NEFC) bottom trawl surveys conducted in the spring (March-May
and autumn (September-November) of the years 1973-1976. The area
surveyed included continental shelf waters (27-366 m, bottom water
depth) from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Nova Scotia (Fig. 1).
The number of each species collected, approximate length at age-one,
geographic areas sampled, and general distribution (based on the results
presented herein) are given in Table l. The surveys are based on a
stratified random design and the strata sampled constitute different
depth zones within various geographic areas of the northwest Atlantic.
A modified No. 41 Yankee trawl was used during spring surveys, and a
No. 36 Yankee during autumn cruises (both trawls were outfitted with
rollers and the cod end and upper belly .were lined with 13 mm mesh
netting to retain smaller fish). Fishing continued over 24 h and all
tows were 3@ min in duration at a vessel speed of 3.5.kn in the
direction of the next station. A study by Sissenwine and Bowman (1978)
established a No. 41 Yankee generally catches larger quantities of fish
than a No. 36 Yankee trawl. No adjustment has been made to the catch
data to account for the potential difference in catchability of
juveniles between the two types of trawls. Further information on
survey methods may be found in Grosslein and Azarovitz (1982).

Stomach content data

During each cruise technicians were instructed to sample 598
juveniles of a selected subset (Table 1) of the 17 species from each
geographic area (Fig. 1). Generally no more than 18 fish of each
species were taken at any one station, and usually samples of a given
species were not taken at two consecutive stations in order to spread
the spatial distribution of collections. All species present in each
area could not be collected because of limited manpower. The maximum
length of each species to be sampled was based on the approximate length
at age-one reported in Bigelow and Schroeder 1953, NEFC lab data, and
Barans 1972. Fish were preserved whole in 3.7 percent formaldehyde
(vol).

In the laboratory fish stomachs were excised and their contents
emptied onto a 8.25 mm mesh opening screen sieve to permit rinsing with
tap water to remove the formaldehyde. Stomach contents were sorted,
identified, , counted, and weighed (wet weight to nearest 9.991 g) witha
Mettler P163 balance (sensitivity of 1 mg). A stomach was considered
empty when no food items could be identified and the material in the
stomach weighed less than 9.861 g.

Reference to trade names does not imply endorsement by the National
Marine Fisheries Service.

‘Preceding pageblank  -3-


Table 18. (continued)

STOMACH CONTENTS

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20
Mysidacea (~) (15.2) (-) (4.8)
Neomysis americana ~ 15.2 - 4.0
Other Crustacea (58.6) (3.9) (8.3) (-)
MOLLUSCA (=] (0.2] ([-] [-]
Bivalvia - Q.2 - -
PISCES {-] {-] (18.4) {4.9
ANIMAL REMAINS [<@.1] {15.4] (7.3] [28.4]
SAND AND ROCK {-] {8.9] [6.6] (1.8]
wee ee eee eee wes ee ee en se eee ee eee pe ee eee ee ee ene eee eee see eee --
Number of fish examined 39 77 21 23
Number of empty stomachs 22 25 6 9
Mean stomach content weight (g) 0.001 @.@21 6.972 @.163
Mean fish TL (cm) 3 8 12 18
Mean fish weight (g) G.2 4.0 14.2 56.6
% BW of stomach contents 5.88 0.52 @.51 @.20

Be we es ee ee ee eee ee teenies

-U5-


76°

ast

Atlontig,
“Acne

NO/TOW
* 0-10
@ 10-100

@ 100-<500
@ 500-1000
@ 1000 o >

JUVENILE |
POLLOCK
SPRING

NO/TOW
* 0-10
© 10-<100
@ 100-«500
@ 500-<1000
@ 1000 or >

JUVENILE
POLLOCK

AUTUMN

NO/TOW
© 0-40
© 10-100
@ 100-<500
@ 500-1000
@ 1000 or >

JUVENILE |
RED HAKE
SPRING

NO/TCOW
© O10
@ 10-<100

@ 100-«500
@ 500-1000
@ 1000 oF >

JUVENILE
RED HAKE

AUTUMN

35°

Figure 4.

63°

Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile pollock (<21 cm) and red hake (<21 cm) during
the spring and autumn for the years 1973~1976.

—o1-


RESULTS

Little skate, Raja erinacea

A total of 168 little skate up to 28 cm TL were sampled in Southern
New England and on Georges Bank for stomach content examination (Table
2). Crustaceans such as amphipods, cumaceans, and decapods were the
predominant prey of all skate sampled (>66% by weight of the total
stomach contents of fish in each length category). The stomachs of 6-10
cm fish contained mostly amphipods (29%, and principally unidentified
Gammaridae, 16%, and Monoculodes sp., 13%), cumaceans (23%), and
decapods (5%, and almost all Crangon septemspinosa). A large portion of
the stomach contents of these small little skate was unidentified animal
remains (36%). Skates 11-15 cm preyed intensively on amphipods (38%)
and decapods (24%). The most notable amphipods were Unciola irrorata
(19%), Oedicerotidae (8%), Gammaridae (6%), and Leptocheirus pinguis
(4%). Two species of decapods were identified, namely Crangon
septemspinosa (14%) and Dichelopandalus leptocerus (2%). Cumaceans
accounted for 4% of the stomach contents and most were identified as
Lez :ocuma minor (3%). The largest little skate (16-20 cm) also fed
mostly on amphipods (39%) and decapods (33%). Among the amphipods,
Unciola irrorata (14%), Gammaridae (6%), Ampeliscidae (5%), Monoculodes
intermedius and Ericthonius rubricornis (both 3%) were the most notable.
Crangon septemspinosa (38%) was the only decapod (33%) of consequence.
Polychaetes made up 5% of the food of the 16-28 cm skate.

Overall, the largest quantities of juvenile little skate were
caught during spring (Fig. 2). The largest catches were in Southern
New England (primarily off Long Island, N.Y.) with lesser amounts being
obtained in the Middle Atlantic and on Georges Bank. In autumn the
largest concentration was located on southern Georges Bank; only sparse
catches were obtained in all other areas.

Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua

One hundred and eighty-two Atlantic cod up to 28 cm FL were
obtained from Georges Bank, the Gulf of Maine, and Western Nova Scotia
for stomach content analysis (Table 3). Various types of crustaceans
(e.g., copepods, mysids, euphausiids, amphipods, and decapods) dominated
the diet of juvenile cod. Only 13 cod 1-5 cm long were sampled. The
only food identified in their stomachs was unclassified copepods (6%).
Guts of cod 6-14 cm contained decapods (52%, and mainly Dichelopandalus
leptocerus, 46%), mysids (17%, of which 11% was Mysis mixta), amphipods
(8%, and half were caprellids), and 6% fish (mostly fish eggs, 4%).
Fish 11-15 cm ate amphipods (25%) such as Unciola irrorata (10%),
Rhachotropis aculeata (5%), and caprellids (3%). Euphausiids (19%, and
almost totally Meganyctiphanes norvegica, 17%), copepods (12%), and
decapods (16%) such as Dichelopandalus leptocerus (4%) and crangonid
shrimps (2%) were also of dietary importance. Fish accounted for 6% of
their diet and was mostly identifed as fish eggs (3%). Food of the
largest cod (16-208 cm) sampled was primarily decapods (43%, and mostly
Crangon sp., 16%, Dichelopandalus leptocerus, 9%, and hermit crabs, 3%).

5.


ABSTRACT

Juveniles of 17 fish species were caught by bottom trawl in
offshore waters from Cape Hatteras, Worth Carolina, to Nova Scotia
during 1973 through 1976. Relatively few prey species or prey groups
accounted for a large portion of the food of juveniles compared to the
food of adults of the same species. The smallest fishes sampled had fed
mostly on copepods, amphipods, mysids, cuphausiids, chaetognaths, and
decapod shrimps. When approximately one-year old, most fish fed on a
more diverse assortment of organisms of relatively larger size such as
decapods, polychaetes, fishes, and echinoderms. Stomachs of the smaller
fish contained proportionately more food in terms of percentage body
weight than the larger fish.

Catches of most species were greatest in either shoal regions or
areas’ close to. shore. However, some species tended to concentrate
around the 196-m depth contour. Also noted were inshore-offshore and
north-south differences in distribution depending on season.

Preceding page blank |

wlli-




in 24 hr (Edwards and Bowman 1979).

Bottom trawl catches of the juvenile fishes studied here provide an
indication that the juveniles of many species tend to be concentrated at
certain locations depending on the species and time of year. For
example, catches of little skate, silver hake, red hake, scup, and
yellowtail flounder were highest during spring off Long Island, New York
(Southern New England). Concentrations of Atlantic cod and haddock were
found along the 109 m depth contour in the Gulf of Maine (most in waters
off Boston, Massachusetts, and on southwestern Georges Bank near the
Great South Channel). Species such as spotted hake, scup and butterfish
were caught most often either close to shore and or at approximately 1090
m bottom water depth in the Middle Atlantic and Southern New England.
Although we have not investigated why catches differed among seasons and
species, availability of prey, preferred habitat, and bottom water
temperature have been identified as major factors which cause fishes to
concentrate in certain areas (Pacheco 1973, Steiner et al. 1982,
Macdonald et al. 1984)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We especially thank the scientists from the Northeast Fisheries
Center, and volunteers from other institutions who participated on the
bottom trawl survey cruises. We also thank William Michaels, James
Myette, and Beth Hiler for assisting in stomach content analyses and
auditing, Loretta O'Brien for retrieving the catch data, and Marvin
Grosslein for his critical review of the manuscript.

-lh-


ShOSG Aw



Table 13. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile Acadian
redfish, Sebastes fasciatus expressed as a percentage
of the total stomach contents weight versus fish length for
samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the years

19731976.
LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)
STOMACH CONTENTS Soheketetalatntahehahehatatatatetabetatetatatatel
11415

CRUSTACEA [41.2]

Copepoda 41.2
ANIMAL REMAINS [58.8]
Number of fish examined 2
Number of empty stomachs 1
Mean stomach content weight (g) 6.017
Mean fish FL (cm) 9
Mean fish weight (g) 12.1
% BW of stomach contents 0.14

ee ee ee ee ee ee ee eee eee eee eee

=38-




| Preceding page blank |



Table 1. Total number, approximate length at age-one, areas sampled,
and principal distribution of catches of juvenile fishes
collected for stomach content analyses in the northwest
Atlantic for the years 1973-1976. Areas surveyed were Middle
Atlantic (MA), Southern New England (SNE), Georges Bank (GB),
Gulf of Maine (GOM), and Western Nova Scotia (WNS).

SPECIES LENGTH (CM) AREAS SAMPLED DISTRIBUTION NO.

Little skate 26 TL SNE-GB SNE~GB 168

Atlantic cod 20 FL GB-GOM-WNS GB-GOM-WNS 182

Haddock 18 FL GB-GOM-WNS GB-GOM-WNS 327

Silver hake 19 FL MA-SNE-GB MA-SNE-GB-GOM-WNS 1293

Pollock 18 FL GOM-WNS GOM-WNS 16

Red hake 20 TL SNE SNE-GB 208

Spotted hake 26 TL MA MA 244

White hake 22 TL GOM GOM-WNS 23

Ocean pout 13 TL SNE-GB GOM-WNS 8

Scup 11 FL MA-SNE MA-SNE 367

Butterfish 13 FL MA-SNE MA-SNE 734

Acadian redfish 6 FL GOM GOM-WNS 2

Longhorn sculpin 6 TL GB GB 199

Fourspot flounder 12 TL MA MA-SNE-GB 1

Witch flounder 12 TL GOM-WNS GOM 15

American plaice 8 TL GOM-WNS GB -GOM-WNS 138

Yellowtail flounder 18 TL SNE-GB- SNE-GB-GOM 168

~17-


INTRODUCTION

‘The first year of a fish's life is a critical period.
Environmental conditions, available food, and predation are believed to
be the principal factors which determine if a fish will survive to
age-one. One current hypothesis is that recruitment variability is
determined in the juvenile life stage and that prerecruit mortality is
likely controlled more by predation than any other factor (Sissenwine
1984). Consequently, knowledgé of where juvenile fish are located and
their principal prey will lead to a better understanding of their
behavior and factors which may affect their survival.

The food and distribution of many northwest Atlantic fish species
is well documented: (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953, Edwards and Bowman 1979,
Grosslein and Azarovitz 1982, Bowman and Michaels 1984). However, most
of this information is for the adult stage. Juvenile fish food as well
as behavior and habitat are known to differ from adults (Arntz 1974,
Bowman 198la, 1981lb, Steiner et al. 1982, Luczkovich and Olla 1983).
Changes in preferred prey. and degree of association with the bottom as
fish grow have. been adéquately—described for species such as haddock
(Melanogrammus aeglefinus), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), and winter
flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) (Graham 1956, Pearcy 1962,
Bownan 198la). However, comprehensive data on specific prey organisms
and areas of juvenile fish concentrations are lacking for most species.
Consequently, thé objective of this study was to describe the prey,
distribution and relative abundance of the juveniles of 17 species of
commercial and or biological importance in the study area 4 (Table 1).
Juveniles were classified as fish approximately one year old or younger
for the purpose of this study.

This work is a component of the Marine Monitoring, Assessment, and
Prediction Program (MARMAP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration.

| Preceding page blank | :

-1-


No/TOW
© o«10
© 10-<100

@ 100°<500 [JUVENILE

@ 3001000] ocean POUT
@ 1000 0 > | auTuMn

NO /TOW
0-<10
10-<100

100-<500 | JuvENILE
500-<1000 | OCEAN POUT
1000 or > } SPRING

Nostow
* O10
@ 10-<100

@ 100-<500 [ JUVENILE
500-<1000 | scuP

@ 100007 | auTuMN
35° 35°

os 63°

No /Tow
+ 0-0
@ 10-<100

@ 100-<500 [JUVENILE
@ 500-1000] scue

@ 10000 > | sPRiNc

Figure 6. Cumulative distribution plots of bottom trawl catches of
juvenile ocean pout (<16 cm) and scup (<16 cm) during the
spring and autumn for the years 1973+1976.

-53-


Table 14. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile longhorn
sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus, expressed as a
percentage of the total stomach contents weight versus fish
length for samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for the
years 1973-1976.

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

STOMACH CONTENTS rere
1-5 6-18

FORAMINIFERA [6.6] [+]
NEMATODA [+] [<@.1]

POLYCHAETA [6.6] [0.2]
Polynoidae + G.1
Other Polychaeta 0.6 @.1

CRUSTACEA [84.08] [89.6]
Amphipoda : (26.3) (29.5)
Ampelisca sp. -
Byblis serrata -

Aor idae -

Calliopius laeviusculus

Aeginina longicornis

Caprellidae -
Ericthonius rubricornis 1
Ericthonius sp. @
Unciola irrorata 7
Unciola sp.

Corophiidae <@
Melita dentata 2
Gammar idae 1

Tmetonyx nobilis

Psammonyx nobilis +

AA
PNESQ2eanag

peewee eeeee

ONPEPRPRPAWWN

Nae

Lysianassidae

Monoculodes edwardsi

Monoculodes sp.

Oedicerotidae -

Leptocheirus pinguis 2.4
Pontogeneia inermis -

Pontogenei idae 8

Tiron sp. 6

Other Amphipoda 1
Decapoda (49

Cancer irroratus

Cancridae

Crangon septemspinosa 26.2

Crangonidae 16.3

Eualus pusiolus -

Pagurus acadianus -

Pagurus sp.

rPrrPRB®VgRwnas

POONUNADRENYN

nN
QAVQQnxa0Heaag

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WWHAREUH@W

=39-


Table 15. Composition of the stomach contents of juvenile fourspot
flounder, Paralichthys oblongus, expressed as a
percentage of the total stomach contents weight versus fish
length for samples collected in the northwest Atlantic for
the years 1973-1976.

wa een ene

LENGTH CATEGORY (cm)

STOMACH CONTENTS tates e en ee ene eee
1+5
Sietehekeiet tet to tt rr
CRUSTACEA (106.6)
Amphipoda (66.7)
Ampelisca sp. 66.7
Other Crustacea (33.3)
et een eee
Number of fish examined 1
Number of empty stomachs i)
Mean stomach content weight (g) 0.012
Mean fish TL (am) 5
Mean fish weight (g) 0.9
% BW of stomach contents 1.32

ere ee Peer eerie re rrr rrr rrr rere rrr rrr rrr rrr rere

Ate


For convenience, in Tables 2-18 all stomach content data were
summarized according to five cm fish length intervals (e.g., 1-5 , 6-16,
11-15 cm, etc.). Generally, the upper limit of the largest length
category seen in a particular table is about the maximum length attained
(plus or minus three gm) by that species at age-one. Exceptions are
scup, Acadian redfish, longhorn sculpin and fourspot flounder. In the
case of scup, length at age-one is about ll cm (11-15 om category is
given in Table 11). Acadian redfish are about six cm at the end of their
first year of life. However, since no redfisn less than 11 om were
sampled, the stomach contents of 11-15 cm fish (two of which were
sampled) are presented (Table 13). Longhorn sculpin grow to about six
cm by age-one, the stomach contents of 6-18 cm fish are given in Table
14. Fourspot flounder are approximately 12 cm long when one year old.
Since no fourspot 6-15 cm long were sampled, only the stomach content
data for the single five cm fish sampled are presented (Table 15).

Importance of prey is based on weight, and the percentage of the
total weight of all stomach contents made up by the particular prey is
given in the tables and text. Percentages in brackets signify totals
for major prey categories (generally phylum or class), and percentages
in parentheses are the next lower taxonomic category subtotals (usually
order) within the major prey categories. At the bottom of the tables
are given the number of fish examined, number of empty stomachs, mean
stomach content weight (g), mean fish length (fork length, FL, or total
length, TL, in cm), mean fish weight (g), and percentage body weight of
stomach contents (%BW). Mean fish weights were calculated from mean
fish lengths using length-weight equations for each species given in
Bowman and Michaels 1984,

Catch data

Cumulative distribution plots (Figs 2-10) of catches were made for
juveniles of each species using lengths corresponding to those selected
for stomach content analysis (Table 1). Catch data (no./tow) were
retrieved from computer files at the NEFC for little skate, Atlantic
cod, haddock, silver hake, pollock, red hake, spotted hake, white hake,
and yellowtail flounder up to and including 28 cm in length (either FL
or TL depending on species). The maximum length retrieved for ocean
pout, scup, and butterfish was 15 cm, Acadian redfish, longhorn sculpin,
fourspot flounder, witch flounder, and American plaice retrieved were <
11 ocm. The data were summarized by separately plotting spring and
autumn catches according to location and number caught per tow (e.g.,
1-16, 16-100, 166-598, 500-1060, and 1998 or greater per tow, each being
represented by a different size solid circle in Figs. 2-18).

Acadian redfish is the approved common name for Sebastes fasciatus
(Robins et al. 1986).

“he