Effects of Some Aspects of Environment on the Distribution of Juvenile Herring in Barkley Sound

Abstract

During the early juvenile stage, the herring in Barkley Sound move from the spawning grounds, mainly on the northwest side of the sound, to rearing grounds mainly on the southeast side. From a study of the distribution abundance and environment of the juveniles, it would appear that the herring were neither carried across the sound by prevailing currents nor were they simply following their food supply. The fish appear to have dispersed and gradually collected in the sheltered bays, inlets and channels, which are more numerous on the southeast side. Juvenile habitats generally had shallow thermoclines, medium salinities and below average zooplankton concentrations but these factors did not appear to affect the distribution of the juveniles directly.