464 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



created bureau of research and statistics to cooperate in this inves- 

 tigation. Through the courtesy of the department of conservation, 

 offices for the joint staff were obtained in New Orleans, and a boat 

 furnished by the bureau was refitted by the State and placed at the 

 disposal of the investigators. Later Texas, through William J, 

 Tucker, executive secretary of the game, fish, and oyster commission, 

 expressed a desire to cooperate in the investigation. An investigator 

 was employed and stationed at Aransas Pass, Tex., to conduct 

 observations on the commercial catch. 



International cooperation has been effected by the action of Dr. R. 

 von Ihering of the Instituto Biologico of Sao Paulo, Brazil. In this 

 country the shrimp fishery is of considerable importance, and Dr. 

 von Ihering has kindly furnished statistics of the catch and valuable 

 specimens from various localities, thus extending the scope of the 

 inquiry far to the south and covering practically the entire range of 

 the species. 



The combined staffs, in consultation with the bureau's officials, 

 carefully considered the problems presented by the shrimp industry, 

 with the objectives of (1) maintaining the optimum productivity of 

 the fishery and (2) furnishing biological information useful to 

 fishermen, packers, and legislators. The program so formulated 

 comprises the following fields of investigation : 



(a) Life histories of the principal commercial species, including 

 problems concerning breeding, spawning, embryology and larval 

 history, j^ostlarval growth, and longevity. 



(b) A statistical analysis of abundance which would require a 

 compilation of the existing data and plans for the gathering of 

 future statistics. 



(c) Habits and reactions of the young and adult shrimp in rela- 

 tion to food and food getting, migrations, molting, spawning, tem- 

 perature, and salinity. 



(d) A systemic examination of all shrimp occurring in the com- 

 mercial catch in the various fishing localities and biometrical studies 

 of the principal species throughout their range for the determina- 

 tion of possible racial differences which would have a bearing on 

 problems of migration or local depletion. 



(e) The effects of fishing in relation to gear, localities, and time 

 on the composition of the shrimp catch and on the other species of 

 economic importance. 



(/) The anatomy of the principal species of shrimp in relation 

 to spawning and feeding. 



(g) Diseases and parasites affecting the shrimp. 



It was decided that the bureau's investigators should devote their 

 efforts mainly to classes (a), (&), [d], and (e), and the scientists of 

 the Louisiana Department of Conservation to direct their activities 

 toward the solution of (c), (/), and (g), with general consultation 

 and cooperation in all phases of the problem. 



Of the species appearing in the commercial catch Penceus seti- 

 feims is by far the most important and deserves the most intensive 

 study; only two others, Penmus hrasiliensis and Xiphopenceus 

 kroyeri, are abundant enough to require consideration. 



Progress tow^ard the various objectives outlined above is being 

 made ; but because of the complexity of the problem, it seems advis- 



