GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF 0(-VETULUS, IN ESTUARIES AND ADJACENT NEARSHORE WATERS OFF WASHINGTON() ENGLISH SOLE, PLEURONECTES)

Growth and mortality rates of 0(+) English sole were estimated from fi eld data collected from estuarine and nearshore nursery areas off Wash ington during 1985-88. Growth of 0(+) English sole was approximately l inear over time and was estimated with the length modal progression me thod. Point estimates of growth rates during May through September wer e in the range of 0.33 to 0.49 mm/day. Statistical analysis with a gen eral linear model showed significant year and settlement time effects on growth of 0(+) English sole but failed to detect any density or tem perature effect. Instantaneous mortality rate varied significantly wit h season, declining from 0.0175 per day in July and August to 0.0075 p er day in September. Changes in population density appeared to play a minor role in causing this decline.