NATURAL HISTORY OF REDFISH, ETC., OF TEXAS 131 



AIM OF THE INVESTIGATION ' 



The natural histories of the three leading food fishes of coastal Texas — the 

 redfish {Scisenops ocellatus), the black drum {Po(]onias cromis), and the spotted sea 

 trout {Cynoscion nebulosus) — have been little understood in anj' section of the 

 distribution of these species. Along the Texas coast serious debates often arise as 

 to the habits of the redfish, drum, and spotted trout, with special reference to the 

 location of spawning areas and the distribution of young and adult fish. Reliable 

 information concerning the life histories of these most valued shore fishes is of much 

 interest, both from a popular standpoint and the point of view of those individuals 

 that are intrusted with the conservation of the natural resources of Texas. To 

 furnish this sound basis for conservation, the first of a series of scientific fishery 

 investigations was undertaken to ascertain, primarily, the location of the spawning 

 grounds, rate of growth, seasonal distribution, and movements of the redfish, black 

 drum, and spotted sea trout. 



As a result of the support of the Texas game, fish, and oyster commission, which 

 consisted in furnishing a fishing boat and crew, various launches, as well as other 

 equipment and services, the bureau is able to present the following paper, embodying 

 the results and conclusions of 14 months' field observations and collections along the 

 coast of Texas. These observations, conducted continuously from April, 1926, to 

 June, 1927, included studies on the natural history of the croaker {Mieropogon undu- 

 latus) and the spot {Leiostomiis xenthurus) , fishes of secondary commercial importance 

 in Texas but of considerable value along the Atlantic coast. 



DESCRIPTION OF TEXAS COAST 



The entire coast line of Texas, from the mouth of the Sabine River in the north 

 to the mouth of the Rio Grande in the south, extends along the Gulf of Mexico for 

 nearly 400 miles. The greater portion of the coast is bordered by a chain of low, 

 sandy barrier islands, which separate the many coastal bays and lagoons from the 

 Gulf of Mexico and through which run the various passes that connect the inland 

 waters with the Gulf. The coast line following the winding shores of these many 

 bays, lagoons, and coves extends about 2,000 miles along the mainland. 



A central coastal section, extending, roughly, from Copano Bay on the north 

 to Baffin Bay on the south, provides an extremely diverse system of intercoastal and 

 Gulf waters. Many types of marine environment are to be found within this general 

 area, in which the greater part of the field work centered and which, for the purposes 

 of the investigation, appeared to satisfy the demand for an area of observation that 

 would be representative of the entire coast line. 



' Appreciation and thanks are due to the following individuals for assistance and advice, which enabled the investigator to 

 progress in his task more rapidly than would have been possible if their interest and help had been lacking: Turner E. Hubby, 

 former commissioner of the Texas game, fish, and oyster commission; William J. Tucker, present commissioner of the State com- 

 mission; C. W. Gibson, of the Lone Star Fish & Oyster Co., Corpus Christi, Tex.; Robert E. Farley, deputy of the Texas game, 

 fish, and oyster commission; Lawrence Gates of Corpus Christi, Tex. Special thanks are due to the city of Corpus Christi for the 

 extended use of one of the rooms in the city hall as an cilice and laboratory. Many individuals and fish companies in the vicinity 

 of Corpus Christi contributed greatly to the success of the investigation by their willingness to give advice and information. 



