SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION, MATURITY, CONDITION, AND FEEDING OF SMOOTH FLOUNDER (PLEURONECTES-PUTNAMI) IN THE MIRAMICHI ESTUARY, SOUTHERN GULF-OF-ST-LAWRENCE

Smooth flounder, Pleuronectes putnami, were collected by seine, trawl, and sampling of a commercial trap-net fishery in the Miramichi estuar y in 1991-1993. Smooth flounder mainly occurred in the upstream half o f the estuary during spring and summer but also occupied the lower est uary during late autumn and winter. Small (total length <10 cm) fish w ere captured only in nearshore (<1.5 m deep) waters during summer mont hs but moved to deeper water during autumn. Large fish (>15 cm long) w ere found only in the deeper (>2.5 m) offshore waters. The size at whi ch 50% of fish became sexually mature was 9.6 cm for males compared wi th 13.5 cm for females (presumed age 1 or older for both sexes). Most smooth flounder spawned during December. Body condition peaked during July, and lowest values were found during February; however, it probab ly declined Further during March (when observations were not possible) because smooth flounder did not feed during winter months. Feeding ac tivity was highest during June and July and declined during October an d November, and all stomachs were empty during January and February. T he principal prey of smooth flounder >5 cm long was small bivalves. Ve ry small amounts (never more than 5% of diet by mass) of sand shrimp ( Crangon septemspinosa). crabs (Rhithropanopcus harrisi), and polychaet es were also eaten.