We describe a method to sample the highly contagious distribution of p
elagic fish eggs. CUFES, the continuous, underway fish egg sampler, co
nsists of a submersible pump, concentrator, electronics and sample col
lector. This system operates continuously and under nearly all sea con
ditions, providing a real-time estimate of the volumetric abundance of
pelagic fish eggs at pump depth, usually 3 m. CUFES-derived estimates
of volumetric abundance agree well with those from nets towed at pump
depth and with areal abundance estimated from vertically integrated p
lankton tows. CUFES has been used successfully to sample the eggs of m
enhaden, pinfish, sardine, and anchovy off the coasts of the eastern a
nd western United States and South Africa. Two large patches of eggs o
f the Atlantic menhaden were sampled off North Carolina in winter 1993
-94, had a linear scale of 5-10 km, and were found in waters between t
he Gulf Stream and mid-shelf front. Spawning location may he related t
o bathymetry. CUFES is now being used to estimate spawner biomass by t
he daily egg production method. An optical plankton counter provided a
ccurate estimates of the number of Atlantic menhaden eggs sample by CU
FES.