BUREAU OF FISHERIES XXI 
ceiving attention with a view to distinguishing the many races and 
specifically determining which are most satisfactory for continued 
artificial propagation. 
INVESTIGATIONS OF FISHERIES OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTS 
Fisheries investigations in the South Atlantic region are being cen- 
tered at the Beaufort (N. C.) biological station. The fisheries receiv- 
ing particular attention at present are those for mullet, other shore 
fisheries, the scallop, oyster, and terrapin. Tagging mullet to deter- 
mine the limits of its migration was extended somewhat, about 1,000 
fish being tagged and liberated in the vicinity of Beaufort, with 
results that corroborated last year’s findings. Studies on the cape 
mullet to determine their origin and importance in maintaining the 
stock of local fish are also receiving attention. 
During the past year systematic tow-net collections were made, 
both inside the sound, in the vicinity of Beaufort, and offshore 
toward the Gulf Stream, to aid in studying the spawning periods and 
localities and the early deveiopment of the more important commer- 
cial fishes of that region. Previously unknown larve of the spot, 
croaker, gray trout or squeteague, menhaden, pigfish, and many other 
species were taken. 
The scallop investigations begun in 1925 were continued. The 
scallop fishery is of considerable importance, the only producing 
grounds in the South being in the vicinity of Beaufort, N. C. The 
yield is subject to considerable fluctuation, however, and the investi- 
gations aim to determine the intensity of fishing that can be practiced 
without completely depleting the beds. The rate of growth and the 
abundance of the new generations and the mortality of the adults 
have been determined accurately, and a basis for regulation has been 
established. New beds were discovered recently, and conditions fav- 
oring growth in other localities have been examined. 
Experiments in terrapin culture at Beaufort, initiated more than 
25 years ago, have resulted in developing a practical method of culti- 
vation, which now is followed extensively. The State of North 
Carolina is cooperating with the bureau by furnishing breeding 
adult terrapin and by hatching thousands of young terrapin for 
distribution in the marshes. A closed season of five years was estab- 
lished in 1925 for the protection of the terrapin, and it is believed 
that the extended program of restocking waters will restore the North 
Carolina terrapin fishery to a productive condition within a few 
years. Many of the adult terrapin provided by the State in 1925 to 
form the brood stock of the station began laying in the summer of 
1927. 
Investigation of the shore fisheries of Texas has been continued 
vigorously in both field and laboratory. Fisheries on the coast of 
Texas are in a very backward state, due, according to different views, 
to depletion or to lack of development. State authorities have 
attempted to protect the fish on the spawning grounds. During the 
past year investigations have been designed to discover the exact 
spawning areas and also the outstanding facts of the life history 
of the important commercial sea fish—spotted trout, drum, and red- 
fish—and a report on the subject is being prepared. In addition, a 
study of the fish fauna of the entire Texas coast is being made. 
