Since 19hl Kany nev grounds have been found and total produc- 

 tion of the offshore fisheries in Uev South Wales surpasses the produc- 

 tion frora estuarine -waters to a considerable extent, ShriiTip are taken 

 along the >;hole coastline of Nevj South V/ales. The abundance of large 

 penaeid prawns in Queensland waters soon led to the expansion of the off- 

 shore prawn fisheries there. Nevj and well-stocked grounds were discovered 

 off Sandy Cape near Bimdaberg, where large tropical species were found in 

 abiindance. Investigation of the area inside the Great Barrier Reef indi- 

 cated tlie presence of suitable grounds. Latest word is that travjling 

 will soon expand to these vraters. Shrimp-trawling operations in offshore 

 waters of western and South Australia is still in the experimental stage, 

 although penaeid prawns are captured in estuarine waters of these States 

 as well as occasionally in Victoria. 



Shrimp species 



The following breakdown of the 1955 catch indicates predominant 

 commercial species, size, and catching area (as reported by the Australian 

 JDepartment of Fisheries): 



Common 

 naiie of 

 shrimp 



Principal 

 species 



New 

 Size Queens- co^th Other Total 

 range land .-^^^^ 



School 



King 



Greasy- 

 back 



Tiger 



Banana 

 Unclassified 



Total 



Metapenaeus 

 made ay i 



Penaeus 

 plebe jus 



M. mastersi 

 ~K . incisipes 



P. esculentus 

 ~P. carinatus 



P. merguiensis 



Number of 



headless 



per pound 



( In thousands of pounds ) 



2,000 li, 603 U5 6,6U8 



68 



