212 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



20 inches, it is believed that they would be willing to go to this trouble to secure 

 market catches of the more valuable sizes. Gill nets, or forms of prpar that generally 

 cause the quick death of the fish, should be forbidden in both Oso and Nueces Bays 

 and similar waters. Likewise, the opening of Laguna Madre south to and including 

 Baffin and Alazan Bays is recommended. The excessive salinity that occurs at times 

 within the closed section of this lagoon destroys great quantities of fish with no 

 benefit whatsoever to the State of Texas, and better utilization of those fish within 

 the lagoon (mainly black drum) undoubtedly could result from more intensive 

 fishing than is permitted at the present time. 



The closing of many inland bays to net fishing has afforded considerable protec- 

 tion to the spotted trout throughout the year. The greater part of the closed terri- 

 tory is considered spawning ground for the trout, although it is known that the 

 closing of such territory throughout the year prevents the taking not only of non- 

 spawning trout but of all other species of fish that come into the closed areas. The 

 assertion has been made (usually by commercial line fishermen, who are allowed to 

 operate in all closed waters) that the bays were closed to net fishing primarily on 

 account of the destructiveness of the drag seines. This view, as stated on page 193, 

 seems to have little foundation, for from extensive tests with commercial seines and 

 from examination of commercial catches the writer found no evidence of serious waste 

 of fish from the use of the drag seines. 



The closing of marine waters to the most efficient types of gear brings up the 

 question of whether such a method is the most valuable for properly conserving the 

 spotted trout or whether some better means can be devised, whereby the closed bays 

 may be opened for part of the year. At present large numbers of ripening and ripe 

 trout are captured in open territory by seines and about the passes and in closed 

 waters by hook-and-line fishermen. A closed season during the summer was in 

 eft'ect at one time in Texas, but such a method has the serious disadvantage in a 

 mixed fishery of not only stopping the capture of trout but of all other species of fish 

 as well. The virtual abolition of the entire bay and lagoon fishery during the period 

 of the closed season renders this method decidedly impractical. It is probable that 

 the continued closure of the present closed areas (with the exception of Oso and Nueces 

 Bays, Laguna Madre, and Padre Island Beach) is a better means of conserving the 

 trout, with least harm to the industry as a whole, than any other. 



In addition to the continued closure of certain bays, it is urged that the immediate 

 vicinity of all the natural passes, particularly Corpus Christi, be closed to all methods 

 of fishing. It has been pointed out in previous chapters that it is necessary for the 

 redfish, black drum, and spotted trout to use the passes during spawning or seasonal 

 migrations. The passes are the key to the inland waters, and disturbances caused by 

 fishermen and tourists about the smaller, shallower natural passes produce conditions 

 unfavorable to the movement of these fish into or out of the bays and lagoons. 



The complete closure of Padre Island beach is believed to be unwarranted, and 

 the opening of this 180-mile stretch of nearly virgin fishing territory to all forms of 

 gear is strongly recommended. Large quantities of food fish of species seldom found 

 elsewhere along the Texas coast occur along this shore line. Robalo or Gulf "pike," 

 pompano, Spanish mackerel, redfish, and spotted trout are found here in considerable 

 numbers.' Pound for pound, the most valuable Texas fish, the pompano, occurs in 

 commcjrcial Quantities only along the Gulf beaches. Large schools of these fish often 



