Plankton samples were collected monthly in North Carolina coastal waters from October 1972 to April 1974. Stations were located in offshore and inshore ocean zones in Onslow Bay and in the Newport River estuary. A wide variety of fish larvae were represented. Identified larvae included 50 families, 19 genera, and 12 species. Of the three areas sampled the offshore ocean area, with greatest water depth, was the most productive in both larval abundance and diversity. Of 65 identified taxa, 62 were found offshore, 51 inshore, and 34 in the estuary.

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