IJULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 139 



NOTE* ON THE SIIRIiUI» AND PBAWM FIK1IKRIKM OF TflttE liVBTED 



STATES. 



By BICHABD KATIIIIU1V. 



1. THE EDIBLE SPECIES OF SHRIMP AND PRAWNS. 



At least six species of shrimp and prawns are used as food on the 

 eoasts of the United States. They are as follows: Crangon vulgaris, 

 Grangon franciscorum, Penaus setiferus, Pena'us brasiliemis, Pandalus 

 Dana, and Pandalus, sp. Crangon vulgaris is common to the sea 

 coasts of both sides of our continent; but the two species of Pencem 

 are confined to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the Southern States, 

 and Crangon franciscorum and both species of Pandalus to the Pacific 

 coast. Three other species of prawns — Pandalus leptoceros, P. Mont- 

 agui, and P. borealis — occur in great abundance in the deeper waters, 

 off the coasts of Middle and Northern New England, and the British 

 Provinces, and, although not now fished for, are available as food. In 

 addition to the above, there are two species of fresh-water or river 

 shrimp, common to the Mississippi River and its tributaries, which oc- 

 casionally find their way into some of the interior markets. They are 

 Palcemon Ohionis Smith, and PaUvmonetes cxilipcs Stimpson. The com- 

 mon little shore prawn of the eastern coast of the United States, Pahc- 

 monetes vulgaris, although extremely abundant, is too small to answer 

 as an article of food for man. All of our shrimps and prawns are 

 eagerly sought after as food by many of our coast fishes. 



The Common Shrimp. Crangon vulgaris, Fabr. 



Crangon vulgaris is one of the most widely distributed of all of the 

 shrimps, occurring on both sides of the North Atlantic and on the 

 Pacific coast of North America. Its bathymetrical range is also great, 

 extending from low water to a depth of GO or 70 fathoms. Ou the 

 Atlantic coast of North America, it has been recorded from North Caro- 

 lina to Labrador, and on the Pacific coast, from Point Conception to 

 Alaska (Mutiny Bay). It is eaten in Europe as well as in this country. 



"It is found in greatest abundance in shallow, and on sandy or weedy 

 bottoms, but occurs also on muddy, shelly, and rocky bottoms." It 

 varies much in coloration, imitating to a great extent the color of the 

 bottom on which it lives. "It needs all its powers of concealment, for 

 it is eagerly hunted and captured by nearly all the larger fishes which 

 frequent the same waters. Fortunately it is a very prolific species, and 

 is abundant along the entire coast, from North Carolina to Labrador, 

 wherever sandy shores occur." [Verrill.] 



The youug swim free at the surface, for a considerable period after 

 hatching. On the Southern New England coast, the eggs hatch during 



