OBSERVATIONS ON FISHES AND OTHER BIOTA OF 

 EAST LAGOON, GALVESTON ISLAND 



By 



Edgar L. Arnold, Jr., Ray S. Wheeler, and 

 Kenneth N. Baxter 



ABSTRACT 



From November 1953 to May 1958, collections of biological mate- 

 rial by plankton net, cast net, and dip net were made in the vicinity of 

 the mouth of East Lagoon, Galveston Island, with emphasis being placed 

 on the seasonal occurrence and abundance of fishes. Results of these 

 collections, coupled with visual observations, are presented and dis- 

 cussed. Thirty-five families of fishes were found to occur, dominated 

 by the Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Sparidae, Sciaenidae, and Mugilidae. 

 Concurrent water temperatures and salinities are presented in tabular 

 form. 



INTRODUCTION 



The importance of estuaries, bays, and lagoons to many marine organisms, 

 especially in their developmental stages, is clearly recognized. To add to the 

 limited knowledge of one such area, biological collections over an extended period 

 were made in the vicinity of the mouth of East Lagoon, a narrow, mile -long 

 body of water located in the northeastern end of Galveston Island (fig. 1). This 

 paper presents the seasonal distribution and abundance of its principal fauna as 

 determined by these collections. 



East Lagoon was formed by dredging operations during the construction of 

 Galveston's sea wall in 1917-1919. For a number of years the lagoon's protected 

 waters were used extensively for recreational purposes. However, as the only 

 water exchange between the lagoon and Bolivar Roads was tidal seepage through 

 the rock breakwater (fig. 2) and occasional storm tides, a stagnant condition 

 slowly began to develop, especially at the head of the lagoon. To alleviate this 

 condition, the U.S. Corps of Engineers installed seven concrete culverts in 

 October 1953, connecting the lagoon directly with Bolivar Roads. The resulting 

 tidal currents flowing through the culverts were usually strong enough to stream 

 plankton nets, and periodic collections of biological nnaterial were made at this 

 location (fig. 2). Field work began in November 1953 and continued through May 

 1958, averaging about one collection every 4 days. 



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