The intensity of sampling of Clear Lake during 1960-61 was reduced 

 by diminishing sampling from^ seven to five stations and reducing periodicity 

 of sampling from weekly to biweekly, to permit comparable sampling of nine 

 stations in Offats Bayou. A complete comparison between the two areas awaits 

 weighting the station data by the areas and seasons involved, but since the sam- 

 pling was continuous during the three 12-month periods, a rough preliminary 

 estimate of relative species abundance can be gained from the catch-per- 

 trawl haul: 



White shrimp, Penaeus setiferus 

 Brown shrimp, P. aztecus 

 Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus 

 Croaker, Micropogon undulatus 

 Menhaden, Brevoortia patronus 



Anchovy, Anchoa mitchilli 

 Spot, Leiostomus xanthurus 

 Pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides 

 Sand trout, Cynoscion arenarius 

 Mullet, Mugil cephalus 



9 

 7 



14 

 1 

 14 

 34 

 11 



1/ Number of samples 



Though the same species were present in both areas, there are ob- 

 vious differences in their relative abundance. For the more active surface 

 and midwater species, e. g. , sand trout and mullet, the sampling gear was 

 much less effective, and the numbers taken are therefore relatively lower 

 than for the bottom-dwelling species. 



The most striking difference between areas was the relative impor- 

 tance of pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, in Offats Bayou as opposed to the near 

 absence of this species (a total of 21 in 1958 and 3 in 1960-61) from Clear 

 Lake. Note also that spot and anchovies assumed nnore dominant positions 

 in Offats Bayou than they did in either year in Clear Lake. 



39 



