V-268 



In the main channel of the Bay, control deoth 1s now 35 

 feet, but further cuts to 45 feet are now proposed. 



"Biotic Yield 



"Extraction of organic material from the Bay has increased 

 from the inconsequential harvests by Indians and colonists 

 to present efficient removal of fish and shellfish. Oyster 

 production has been decimated by excessive exploitation, 

 and other species have been reduced by tributary dams and 

 pollution; but changes in gear have vastly increased the 

 catch of menhaden, soft shell clams, and crabs. Landings 

 for 1965 included 501,600,000 pounds of fish and shellfish 

 for commercial use, with a value of at least $65,000,000 

 (2 X dockside value). Menhaden dominated the fish catch, 

 with 319,000,000 pounds landed, but 108,200,000 pounds of 

 shellfish provided 74 percent of the value .... 



"The yield to sport fishing is much more difficult to measure 

 and evaluate. [Researchers] . . . have made valuable surveys 

 of parts of the burgeoning recreational fishery, but no sat- 

 isfactory estimates of Bay-wide effort, catch or value are 

 available. 



"In addition to these aquatic crops, the Bay area supports 

 large populations of many species of birds and mammals. 

 They cannot be fully reviewed here, but are of high use to the 

 human population and affected by the changes which are 

 occurring. 



