Among Bullls' general observatlonG regarding the distribution 

 of the species vere the following: 



"Royal Red shrimp have shoim no apparent seasonal 

 variation in average size. In areas of maximum fish- 

 ing concentrations, the heads-off count consistently 

 averaged 26-30, in both the Tortugas and Delta areas. 

 A larger average size is noted in greater dejjths, but 

 the concentrations are much smaller. No uniform size 

 dominates the catch, which contains individuals rang- 

 ing from 12 to 50 count heads-off shrimp. 



"There is some color variation in Royal Red shrimp. 

 Nighttime catches are typically bright red, while 

 catches landed during daylight hours are a light pink." 



In 1951 > however, the best catches of Royal Red shrimp v/ere all 

 made off the east coast of Florida between Cape Canaveral and Saint Augustine , 



FACTORS DETERMINING THE AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLY 



Production planning and budget preparation are a lot more 

 difficult for the fishermen than for the averajre enterpreneur. Success 

 in fishing operations depends largely on fisherman's luck and the skill 

 of captain and crew. Yet, the fisherman cannot afford to ignore bio- 

 logical considorations relating to the nature of the fish supply nor 

 conditions attendant to the marketing of his product. His study of 

 these factors is complicated by the fact that changes in fishing grounds 

 from year to year are not uncommon. Not only does the volume of catch 

 change but also the types of species talcen, Nevertheless, some gener- 

 alizations about supply can safely be made. 



The variety and size, as well as the quantity of shrimp land- 

 ed during a given period, will depend basically upon the availability 

 of the species and fishing intensity or effort. The availability of 

 shrimp in turn, is governed by (1) the inherent life cycle of shrimp and 

 (2) the influence of environmental factors on reproduction, growth, and 

 migration vihile the fishing effort is dependent principally upon (1) prices 

 and market conditions, (2) weather conditions, (3) conservation lavrs aid 

 the extent of their enforcement, and (i;) the economic status of the fish- 

 ermen. The composition of shrimp landings during any given time is the 

 result of the inter relationship of all of these factors uith certain 

 factors predominating at different times. 



The life cycle of shriji.p is primarily responsible for the 

 seasonal chaj^acter of the fishery. It accounts for the presence or 

 absence of the stu-imp in certain vraters at a given time and has an 

 influence on the conservation laijs of the various states. Inclement 

 weather will hranper fishing operations regionally at certain times and 

 thus further reinforce the seasonal characteristics of the fishery. 



As an example of the life cycle of shrimp, and the seasonality 

 of the fishery, the biological development of white shriifip Penaeus 

 setiferus talcen in the shalloi/ waters of the south Atlantic and Gulf is 

 described below, 



38 



