Type K-7, having an accuracy of i 0.03 g. 

 {Chin, 1960). Prior to weighing, a specimen 

 was shaken three tinnes to eliminate excess 

 water; its sex was determined; its carapace 

 and total lengths were taken; and the aninnal 

 was placed in a preweighed paper cup on the 

 balance. After the weighing, each specimen 

 was preserved for subsequent species identi- 

 fication. 



STATISTICS OF THE BAIT SHRIMP FISHERY 



The catch of bait shrimp from October 4, 

 1961, through April 8, 1962, was estimated 



to be nnore than 6.2 million individuals. Of this 

 number, 5.88 million were caught in lower 

 Tampa Bay {table 1) and 32 3,700 in Old Tampa 

 Bay (table 2). The total catch of live bait 

 shrimp exceeded 70,000 pounds (31,700 kg.) 

 The wholesale value, based on a price of 

 $8.00 per thousand shrimp, was about $50,000; 

 the retail value, based on an average selling 

 price of $0.30 per dozen, was over $155,000. 

 The period of highest production was October 

 through February. A decline in the take began 

 in March and continued into early April 

 {tables 3 and 4). 



The fishing pressure in both areas of 

 Tampa Bay was considered low. It averaged 



Table 1. — Weekly wholesale and retail value and poundage of bait shrimp 

 caught in lower Tampa Bay, October <+, 1961, through April 8, 1962 



Week 



of 



sample 



1961 



Oct. 4-8 



Oct. 9-15 



Oct. 16-22 



Oct. 23-29 



Oct. 30-Nov. 5. 



Nov. 6-12 



Nov. 13-19 



Nov. 20-26 



Nov. 27-Dee. 3. 



Dec. 4-10 



Dec. 11-17 



Dec. 18-24 



Dec. 25-31 



1962 



Jan. 1-7 



Jan. 8-14 



Jan. 15-21...... 



Jan. 22-28 



Jan. 29-Feb. 4. 



Feb. 5-11 



Feb. 12-18 



Feb. 19-25 



Feb. 26-Mar. 4. 



Mar. 5-11 



Mar. 12-18 



Mar. 19-25 



Mar. 27-Apr. 1. 

 Apr. 2-8 



Total 



Average . . . . 



Catch 



Shrimp 

 caught 



Number 



155,270 

 200,710 

 188,780 

 237,190 

 210,900 

 253,730 

 276,070 

 238,250 

 253,680 

 207,170 

 169,880 

 126,080 

 185,760 



261,770 

 122,660 

 360,720 

 308,500 

 279,900 

 233,380 

 315,600 

 316,800 

 232,500 

 169,800 

 196,350 

 173,390 

 114,780 

 91,400 



5,881,020 

 217,820 



Wholesale value 

 @$8.00 per 

 thousand 



Dollars 



3,880 

 5,020 

 4,620 

 5,930 

 5,270 

 6,340 

 6,900 

 5,960 

 6,340 

 5,180 

 4,250 

 3,150 

 4,640 



6,540 

 3,070 

 9,020 

 7,710 

 7,000 

 5,830 

 7,890 

 7,920 

 5,810 

 4,250 

 4,910 

 4,340 

 2,870 

 2,290 



146,930 

 5,440 



Retail value 

 @$0.30 per 

 dozen 



Dollars 



1,240 

 1,610 

 1,510 

 1,900 

 1,690 

 1,930 

 2,200 

 1,900 

 1,930 

 1,660 

 1,370 

 1,010 

 1,490 



2,100 



980 



2,890 



2,470 



2,250 



1,860 



2,530 



2,540 



1,860 



1,360 



1,570 



1,380 



910 



730 



46,870 

 1,740 



Total weight 

 (heads on) 



Pounds 



1,770 

 2,280 

 2,150 

 2,880 

 2,830 

 3,350 

 3,020 

 2,950 

 2,960 

 2,040 

 1,920 

 1,390 

 1,700 



2,980 

 1,360 

 4,370 

 3,840 

 3,440 

 2,570 

 3,540 

 3,500 

 2,890 

 1,900 

 2,000 

 1,750 

 1,260 

 980 



67,620 

 2,500 



■"• Estimated total weight calculated from the mean total weight in grams for all 

 shrimp sangjled in lower Tampa Bay survey. 



