The three species of commercial shrimps (brown, white, and pink) 

 made up 50 percent of the total catch. Their abundance, distribution, and size 

 have been compared with several oceanographic characteristics. The center 

 of abundance for these three commercial shrimps is in the western transects 

 southeast of the Freeport-Pass Cavallo area. 



The greatest number of brown shrimp (63%) is taken in the 15- to 

 25-fathom range. Almost all of the white shrimp (99%) are taken at the Ij- 

 fathom stations. Pink shrimp, although taken in small numbers, occur only 

 at the Vj- and 15-fathom stations. 



Large numbers of juvenile brown and white shrimp in the offshore 

 fishery at the Tg-fathom stations in the western transects suggest the impor- 

 tance of the Galveston -Matagorda Bay complex as nursery grounds. 



100- 



150- 



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25 FATHOMS 



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Size range of brown shrimp in 1961 

 according to depth and month. 



Brown shrimp increase in average size with increase in station 

 depth. The time of offshore movement for juvenile brow^n shrimp is indicated 

 by a sharp increase in catches of small immature brown shrimp at the Ij- 

 fathom stations in June. This movement apparently continues until Decennber. 

 The catches of brown shrimp at the 7^-fathom stations are snaall from January 

 through May, but the individuals are consistently larger. 



16 



