The abundance and distribution of eggs and larvae of some teleost fishes off Plymouth in 1969 and 1970 I. Methods and hydrography

Abstract

An area in the English Channel of 20 × 40 nautical miles, centred on the Plymouth routine stations L, L and E, was sampled at almost monthly intervals from August 1969 to November 1970, using an improved version of the 1 m net towed at 4 knots on an oblique path. The area includes an inshore region where depths are about 20 fm (37 m) and salinities 35·0‰ or less, and an offshore region with depths over 40 fm (74 m), where salinities can exceed 35·3·. During the first year the offshore region was characterized by water of south-western origin, and temperatures were higher than in the following year when north-western plankton was more in evidence.