I 1 REPORTS OP RESEARCH 1931-1946 



I 1 (PORMER NEW ORLEANS LABORATORY! 



^^^^ CONTRACT RESEARCH 



^^^ BIOLOGICAL LABORATORV, GALVESTON 



In the first table and the figure, the pages of published research are 

 sho\vn by 5-year periods. The work begun in 1931 was modestly financed. The 

 very small staff and lack of facilities severly limited the type and amount of 

 work that could be undertaken. Despite these handicaps several very credit- 

 able reports were published. Eventually, it became apparent that without nnuch 

 better statistics, more staff, and adequate laboratory and seagoing facilities, 

 little further progress could result, and work was held in abeyance. 



In 1956, the statistical branch 

 of the Bureau inaugurated the present 

 system for collecting detailed statistics 

 on shrimp landings by species, size, area, 

 depth, and amount of fishing effort in- 

 volved. At the same time, the Bureau 

 prepared to resume research on shrimp 

 at the Biological Laboratory in Galveston. 

 Certain phases of the work were carried 

 out by contract with universities. These 

 include the development of a technique 

 for staining shrimp by the University of 

 Texas, a detailed atlas of the morphol- 

 ogy of the white shrimp (Penaeus setif- 

 erus) by Tulane University, and studies 

 on size distribution of pink shrimp on the 

 Tortugas grounds by the University of 

 Miami. Currently, the University of 

 Miami is studying the distribution of 

 pink shrimp larvae in relation to cur- 

 rent patterns. 



That the research is gathering 

 momentum is indicated by the great in- 

 crease in published reports in the 1957- 

 61, 5-year period. The estimate of re- 

 ports forthcoming in the 5 -year period 

 commencing with 1962 (see the first ta- 

 ble and the figure) is undoubtedly con- 

 servative, as it is based largely on pages 

 of manuscript in press by June 30, 1962. 

 Furthernaore, it has taken some time to 

 tool up. The staining and handling tech- 

 niques for marking shrimp have been 

 considerably improved, and through 

 underwater release of marked shrimp directly onto the bottom, we can now mark 

 shrimp at sea. The sea -water system completed last year is permitting further 

 improvement in marking methods and is also invaluable in holding and rearing 

 larval shrimp for identifying the species in these young stages. The future con- 

 struction of a small but modern research vessel to study the environment on the 



Research reports on shrimp biology 

 in the Gulf of Mexico emanating from 

 the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. 

 Estimates for the 5-year period com- 

 mencing in 1962 are explained in text. 



