64 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
to the 1st of August. In this way the abundant supply of 2-year-old 
trout would be permitted to grow to marketable size. Our records 
also show that spawning is at its height during this same period, and 
the 3-year-old fish, as well as those still older, would be protected 
until after the year’s crop of eggs had been laid. Such a regulation 
should apply to the whole sound area, for while relatively few of the 
smaller fish are destroyed near the inlets, the protection to the spawn- 
ing fish is equally desirable, and while few spawning fish are taken 
on the northwest side of. the sound, the reckless destruction of the 
immature should be prevented." 
Not only would this closed season tend to build up the fishery by 
increasing the stock of spawning fish and by insuring the depositing 
of spawn unmolested, but the increase in weight of the marketable 
fish thus protected would largely offset the economic loss resulting 
from inactivity of the fishermen during the closed season. We have 
no means of calculating accurately the gross amount of undersized 
trout caught and wasted in Pamlico Sound during the months of 
June and July. Wedo know, however, that it is a very great amount. 
Based on figures of the yield of fishermen at Gull Rock, given in 
Table 1, the weight of fish destroyed may be estimated at approxi- — 
mately 200,000 pounds. There is no evidence that these young 
fish leave the sounds during the season, so that if they were permitted 
to escape capture and to grow until August, September, and October, 
and if we assume that one-third of these young fish were caught in 
each of these months, they would weigh, when caught, approxi- 
mately 331,000 pounds. Based upon this crude estimate, these 
fish, if permitted to remain in the water until the latter part of the 
season, would add to the income of the fishermen in this district more 
than $10,000. 
This restriction would afford the same protection to the small 
fish of other species that are wasted during this period, such as butter- 
fish, croaker, and spot, and would permit the spawning of starfish 
and butterfish, which spawn at the same time of year as the gray 
trout. The regulation would be easy to enforce, is favored by the 
fishermen themselves in preference to the alternate remedy of an 
increased mesh, and is opposed only by those who are opposed to 
any regulations whatever. 
The ar guments opposed to this plan of regulation are based upon 
selfish motives of personal gain. It may be ‘argued that the imposi- 
tion of the closed season during June and July would result in the 
loss of markets by the wholesale dealers of this region. The pound- 
net fisheries of Virginia produce virtually the same class of fish as 
those taken in Pamlico Sound. It is said that if pound-net fish 
are not available during June and July Virginia dealers will supply 
the trade and thus capture the regular customers. While such 
contentions must be given careful consideration, the argument loses 
force when we remember that great quantities of trout, Spot, butter- 
fish, and starfish are produced in the lower Chesapeake Bay during 


16 Following the presentation of this report on Dec. 8, 1925, the North Carolina Fishery Commission 
Board adopted arule establishing the closed season from May to Aug. 1, in accordance with the plan herein 
recommended. Because of the dissatisfaction of certain interests, the board rescinded the rule at the April 
meeting, and provision was made for a public hearing on the question of pound-net regulation at the next 
regular meeting. On Aug. 16, 1926, before about 100 fishermen and dealers, the outstanding results of the 
investigation were again presented and the board passed a rule establishing a closed season ending June 1. 
Since the pound-net fishing for summer fish seldom starts before May 20, the gray trout thus receive only 
.10 days’ protection! 
