Ot 
FISHERIES OF PAMLICO AND CORE SOUNDS vo 
EFFECT OF GROWTH ON MARKETABILITY 
Figure 8 shows the composition of the catch of gray trout in pound 
nets in all localities for the various months. The heavy vertical line 
at 23 centimeters marks the legal minimum size hmit. It may be 
seen that in June two well-marked size groups are present in the range 
of sizes, one with a mode at about 21 centimeters and another with 
a mode at about 26 centimeters. The group above 23 centimeters 
is, of course, composed of marketable fish, while the smaller group lies 
entirely below the legal limit and these fish are wasted. In July the 
group of the smaller fish has erown to a modal or average length of 
2 centimeters, when the larger members of this group are now bey ond 
the minimum limit. In August the modal size of the same group has 
reached 24 centimeters, and in September more than 25 centimeters, 
with increasing percentages above the minimum size limit. Thus the 
decreasing destruction of the eray trout from June to September is 
explained by the growth of the most numerous year class, which 
passes from an unmarketable to a marketable size in the period of 
rapid growth during thesummer. In October the percentage destruc- 
tion rises somewhat because of the fact that the next younger age 
eroup has reached a size of 14 to 23 centimeters in length, which is 
large enough to be taken by the pound nets. They apparently are 
not very numerous, however, for they amount to but 18 per cent of 
the total number of fish taken. | 
The size composition of starfish taken in the pound nets during the 
season is shown in Figure 9. Here it may be seen that in June the 
market limit of 5 inches falls almost in the middle of an abundant 
year class with a mode at about 13.5 centimeters, hence the destruc- 
tion of unmarketable fish is relatively great. This group has grown, 
however, by July so that but few remain below the limit. For some 
reason the smaller fish are not taken during the month of July, but in 
August a smaller size group becomes relatively abundant and the 
larger group diminishes in importance. Since this smaller group con- 
sists of fish from 5 to 12 centimeters in length, they are worthless in 
the market and hence are discarded from the catch. In September 
and October the catch consists almost entirely of this smaller year 
class, which apparently does not grow sufficiently to pass the mini- 
mum market limit. Hence, the destruction of this species reaches 
95 and 97 per cent, respectively, in the latter months of the season. 
THE PROBLEM OF CONSERVATION 
It is now plainly evident that grossly wasteful and uneconomic 
practices exist in the pound-net fishery in North Carolina. From 
our records and from the statistics published by the State authori- 
ties it is not possible to estimate with any accuracy the total number 
of pounds of fish wasted, nor can any valuation be placed upon them, 
since they are all unmarketable. Despite this fact, the destruction 
of immature and unmarketable fish is a real economic loss to the 
fishery, and means should be devised to safeguard the supply against 
unnecessary strain, particularly when it is remembered that the 
supply is insufficient to meet the demand. Of the 8,225,000 pounds 
landed in Pamlico and Core Sounds in 1923, the landings of the two 
pee of sea trout amounted to 27 per cent, butterfish 2.1 per cent, 
