462 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Woods Hole (Mass.) station. While the larvse were not carried 

 through the entire critical period, the work was successful in pro- 

 longing life somewhat beyond the normal period experienced by 

 larvse under the artificial conditions necessary in the laboratory, and 

 there were revealed encouraging leads for future experimentation. 



CHESAPEAKE BAY INVESTIGATIONS 



After completing certain phases of investigations in the Chesa- 

 peake Bay region, a long-needed study of the life history of the 

 striped bass, Roccus Uneahis, in Maryland and Virginia waters was 

 undertaken by John C. Pearson. 



A study of the seasonal distribution and abundance of pelagic 

 marine fish eggs and young fishes at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay 

 was completed and a report submitted for publication. Besides 

 showing the seasonal occurrence of at least 40 species of pelagic 

 young marine fish and the location of the spawning grounds of the 

 squeteague or gray sea trout in the Chesapeake Bay region, the in- 

 vestigation added to our knowledge of the life histories of many 

 valuable food fishes, such as the gray sea trout, butterfish, harvest 

 fish, and bluefish. 



An investigation of the winter-trawl fishery off the Virginia and 

 North Carolina coast during the winter of 1930-31 disclosed the 

 rise of an important fishery in the South. The total yield of this 

 fishery for the season approximated 5,600,000 pounds, valued at more 

 than $600,000 to the fishermen. Nearly 50 trawlers engaged in the 

 fishery, about half of this number coming from New Jersey, Massa- 

 chusetts, and other northern fishing ports. Scup, croakers, summer 

 flounders, sea bass, hake, and gray sea trout composed the bulk of the 

 catch, although nearly all of the principal food fishes of the North, 

 Middle, and South Atlantic States were represented. This fishery 

 has furnished material for a paper entitled " The winter-trawl fishery 

 off the Virginia and North Carolina coasts." 



In the spring of 1931 a study was commenced to ascertain the 

 major features of the life history of the striped bass in Chesapeake 

 Bay. The striped bass supports one of the most valuable of Mary- 

 land's marine and fresh-water fisheries, ranking as the third most 

 valuable food fish in price per pound in the United States. The 

 striped bass is not only one of the leading food fishes, but it has 

 become a leading sport fish both on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. 



The investigation of the species in Chesapeake Bay during the 

 first year has consisted largely of migration studies. Interesting and 

 significant results from tagging experiments are indicated. Spawn- 

 ing areas, rate of growth, and conservation requirements of the 

 species will be studied during the coming year. 



SOUTH ATLANTIC AND GULF FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS 



Tlie investigations of fishery problems in the South Atlantic and 

 Gulf States include studies of the shrimp fisheries from North 

 Carolina to Texas, studies in oyster culture in the States of 

 North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and ichthyo- 

 logical studies of the fish fauna of the Gulf coast. In addition to 



