Bottom salinity has varied between less than 0. l%o and ll,4%o while 

 surface salinity ranged from less than 0, l%o to 11.7%o. As expected, the sal- 

 inity at stations in the lower Bay (Houston Point to Smith Point) tended to be 

 higher due probably to tidal influences. 



Water temperature has been normal during the period with a mini- 

 mum of 45. 5'^ F. and a maximum of 82. 8" F. Generally, the temperature 

 in the peripheral portion of the bay was higher than that at the center, 



Secchi disc readings ranged from a minimum of 8 centimeters to 

 a maximum of 65 centimeters. The more turbid waters occurred from the 

 mouth of Trinity River to the vicinity of Smith Point along the east shore, 

 while the west shore characteristically was slightly less turbid. 



Trawl-caught samples were typical of low salinity estuaries in this 

 area for this season. The fish fauna has been dominated by three species of 

 estuarine fishes, including Atlantic croaker, Micropogon undulatus; anchovy, 

 Anchoa mitchilli; and the hogchoker, Trinectes maculatus. The catfishes, 

 Ictalurus punctatus and Ictalurus furcatus, were the most abundant fresh- 

 water fishes during the months of February, March, and April. 



Until May, the invertebrate fauna, excluding mollusks, has been 

 dominated by the fresh- water river shrimp, Macrobrachium ohione, and the 

 blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. Brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus, began to 

 show in the samples in May, replacing the river shrimp as the most dominant 

 invertebrate species. 



42 



