Disappearance of Young Atlantic Croakers from the York River, Virginia

Abstract

Virginia catches of the Atlantic croaker, which declined from 55 million pounds in 1945 to 3 1/2 million pounds in 1952, apparently began to recover in 1955, reaching a total of 9 1/2 million pounds. Recent information suggests that catches are again declining. Length measurements on croakers from commercial pound-net catches made since 1950 show a general increase in length and therefore average age of fish since 1954. Monthly young fish surveys made in croaker nursery areas of lower Chesapeake Bay and York and Pamunkey rivers indicate differences in the relative abundance of young croakers from one year to the next. The winter season of 1957-1958 was especially unique in that considerable numbers of young were present in fall but disappeared in mid-winter. The disappearance of young croakers occurred during a period when water temperatures dropped below those in preceding years. It is suggested that extreme low temperatures may have affected the abundance of young croakers.