EXAMINATION OF THE SUMMER FISHERIES OF PAMLICO AND CORE 
SOUNDS, N. C., WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE DESTRUCTION OF 
UNDERSIZED FISH AND THE PROTECTION OF THE GRAY TROUT 
CYNOSCION REGALIS (BLOCH AND SCHNEIDER)’ 
By Eumer Hiaatns, In charge, Division of Scientific Inquiry, and Joun C, 
PEARSON, temporary assistant, United States Bureau of Fisheries 
CONTENTS 
Page 
Introduction _____ Ses SAAS belts gg Bl hae eh Ae Gell RSS EB, iw ik, el ae ee 29 
Weclinevorsthe fisheries st JUL L Eris t chp tte Pee eet Sadly Sp Re toe 29 
aie ROaeti = Saree 8s 7 piesa itt ete Ret ee sete f. 31 
SVUIMET NN See he ea ee eee SR ate San a EN ok ee 31 
Sears Te tay arene ee ae Oe eS We eee ees 2 32 
Neth OCsrOlishings t= see heel ees ae ee eo ee 2 ay See 33 
Roupariet iii sae ek tee A See i ee Se Ee 33 
Peper cly Mencia ee Stee 8 eed he ee ES oe 35 
MICHIOUSEOL INVES eatlonsts ke Sete et te Set ee Se ai/ 
aR ACTA Ge ee UCL tt ek ttIeE TE) PEE eR EOS INS Ses 41 
Sai Nar en a ne es eee eR BET: eB IE ak PAOLA EL HD ade 41 
SIZES RO leis aqme neat ernie eee ke! pT WEEDS ES) UT sae 2 aE eee 2 a8 43 
SclechimeERTCULONeOriishinay pear me meals ia fee hal oe Tee? Cs 47 
WesimacnonmolmlmnGersizeO pis 30 te a fe are a ON re EY 50 
Effect of growth on marketability_________-_---- weed fo Ak al? A IN Ba We Sh 55 
iieranemieniron Conserv atton 7s Seyes! Nees 2s ire Pade) ie eee 55 
lniteshistonyaolsbuespray trout 4 =e.) Se ee ee eS ee 57 
STOVE AOU DYER SRS ea 2 fe SU ee ae WS ee eee ars oe One eye ST 
PIRGNTE EDU 2 oy aR Sed 02 SN ag ee ga i eee igen pe walaniaee ie) aye 58 
Age at maturity_——--_---_-- eee Sg tc U REL ASE 1 ped Ree, oh Lae 59 
Miorations! tee) Sui ieee) i es AGF 2078 Sond Meee oth: 3 7 Shale 61 
Effect of present fishery; repulations <= 42+ 542-21 s 4a. eS Se 61 
IRemedtalGmensutes ss 8.20.25 oo 5 Ns Be ee 62 
EPS CAEE TTA TVG 1 (OM Sareea eee se ee terse ac ek Ne See ey Be es 7 ae 65 
INTRODUCTION ? 
DECLINE OF THE FISHERY 
Many persons interested in the fishing industry of North Carolina 
are convinced that the supply of food fish in the waters of that State 
is insufficient to meet the demand. Despite the increase in catching 
power, brought about by the introduction of power vessels, the 
use of modernized gear, and the improvement of methods of refriger- 
ation and distribution, the total yield of the fisheries of the State 
has not shown a corresponding increase during the past 45 years. 
The occasional statistics collected by the United States Bureau of 
Fisheries indicate that the average annual yield since 1880 of all 
aquatic food products, including fresh and salt water fish, mollusks, 
crustaceans, turtles, etc., but omitting nonfood fish, such as men- 
haden, has been 37,600,000 pounds. The total yield in 1880 amounted 


1 Appendix IT to the Report of the United States Commissioner of Fisheries for 1927. B.F. Doc. No. 1019. 
2 The original report on this investigation was read by permission of the United States Commissioner 
of Fisheries, before the North Carolina Fisheries Commission Board at their regular Meeting, Dec. 8, 1925, 
at Morehead City, N.C. The present paper contains all of the subject matter of the first report, together 
with some supplementary material resulting from further analysis of the original data. 
29 
