literature cited. The first section by Dr. Paul S, Galtsoff gives 

 an historical account of explorations in the Gulf of Mexico and is 

 an appropriate introduction to the specialized exploratory fishing 

 now being undertaken. 



Our present report summarizes a part of the data obtained 

 during cruises of the Oregon from 1950 thrcugh the end of 1955. 

 Each scheduled fishing operation was made the subject of a record 

 under a station niamber. Entries noting time, position, water depth, 

 weather conditions, type of fishing gear used, and total weight of 

 the catch were made for alL stations. In addition to these entries, 

 a list of species, the number of each species present in the catch, 

 and other details were recorded for most stations. In many instances 

 the specimens obtained, or selected specimens, were preserved and 

 forwarded to cooperating specialists for determination. Since time 

 was ordirarily unavailable fo]!^ complete analysis of all catches, the 

 specimais selected for preservation were labeled solely with the 

 station number and were forwarded to cooperators with a station list 

 giving locality data. If the cooperators reported their determina- 

 tions by station number these were entered as a part of the data for 

 the station. 



The records of results of each fishing operation are avail- 

 able for inspection at Pascagoula by research workers, a reference 

 collection consisting primarily of specimens of deep-water species 

 ■that have been identified by specialists was assembled and maintained 

 in the Pascagoula office to aid staff members in making more trouble- 

 some determinations. 



It should be recognized that the species represented in this 

 list were obtained with certain types of specialized fishing gear, so 

 their incidences in the Oregon catches cire not necessarily indications 

 of their relative abundance in the total gulf fauna. The principle 

 types of fishing gear used have been shrimp trawls, tuna longline 

 gear, handlines, trap lift nets, and dip nets. 



It could probably be safely assumed that shrimp trawls are 

 effective collectors of the smaller relatively inactive bottom- 

 dwelling species of fish that characteristically are found over clear 

 bottom. They have proved to be almost completely ineffective in 

 sampling schools of midwater species that have been observed on depth 

 recorders. Shrimp-trawl catches have been remarkably devoid of large 

 fishes that are known to be present in the fishing areas. Also, 

 although some nets have been designed to work closely on the bottom, 

 the general tendency in the recent development of the shrimp trawl 

 has been to so rig the ground line of the trawl that most bottom 

 material is missed. This appears to affect seriously both the type 

 and quality of catches of reollusks, worms, and less active or bur- 

 rowing crustaceans. 



