628 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
The fact that strong opposition has arisen in Texas against the modern type 
of fishing gear stands out clearly, however. As is usually the case this oppo- 
sition comes from two main sources—from the commercial fishermen, who use 
less costly and less effective gear (in this case hooks and lines), and from the 
sportsmen, through legislation enacted for the alleged purpose of conservation. 
During the summer of 1925, Mr. Higgins and Mr. Lord, of the United States 
Bureau of Fisheries, attempted to secure data relative to existing conditions, 
and this information is embodied in a preliminary report on the marine fisheries. 
of Texas, a publication just off the Government press. In this repert the 
authors stressed the need for more exact knowledge of the biology of the 
important food fishes of Texas before rational conservation needs could be 
realized. 
It has been my privilege to conduct studies on the life histories of the 
leading food fish since last April. Our plans originally called for a study of 
the fishery itself, with careful emphasis laid on the size and age composition of 
the catch. This was found to be impracticable, as nearly all net fishing in the 
vicinity of Corpus Christi had been stopped by legal restrictions that closed 
various waters to net fishermen. 
The Texas game, fish, and oyster commission is cooperating admirably with us 
and has furnished, for the field work, a boat and fishing crew to operate our 
collecting gear, which includes various types of seines, trawls, and townets. 
All work up to the present date has been confined to the vicinity of Corpus 
Christi, a region always considered one of the best commercial fishing areas 
along the Gulf coast. 
Most progress has been made in understanding the life history of the redfish, 
Scienops ocellatus. Spawning has been discovered as taking place in the Gulf 
of Mexico in the late fall. The young have been secured in incredible numbers 
in the Guif Passes, on their way to inside waters. The young redfish, on 
reaching inside waters, grow at a remarkable rate and when a year old have 
attained an average total length of 35 centimeters and a weight of more than 
1% pounds. They enter the commercial catch when they reach this size and 
probably are most valuable to the trade, although it is believed that the fish 
does not commence to spawn until its fourth or fifth year. 
The second fish of commercial importance in Texas, and also an important 
fish of the Atlantic coast, is the spotted trout, Cynoscion nebulosus. This 
species has a spawning season that extends from March to September, with 
the heaviest spawning probably taking place in April and May. Ripe fish have 
been secured throughout the inside bays, and the taking of larval and young 
trout from 9 millimeters in length up seems to indicate that the trout spawn 
in the inside waters, although heavy spawning may take place in the vicinity 
of the passes that lead to the open Gulf. Larval trout never have been secured 
in Gulf waters. 
The third fish to receive special attention is the black drum, Pogonias cromis. 
This is the most abundant food fish in Texas. Collections of young from 7 
millimeters up together with the occurrence of spawning fish in the inside 
shallow bays, indicate that spawning takes place here. The spawning season 
seems to be from February to May, although fish have been found in a ripe 
condition in August. Spawning occurs as early as the second year. 
The preceding bits of information will give you an idea of what the bureau 
is striving for in Texas waters. Our plans have been extended recently to 
include a systematic study of all fishes along the coast of Texas, with Mr. 
Ginsburg in charge of this work. 
A plain-spoken Texas philosopher once said to me: “There aint no fish 
here, they’re all conserved.” What did he actually mean? Did he mean that 
the fisheries of Texas actually are disappearing because of man’s unselfish 
desire to conserve, or rather, preserve the unborn fish for his unborn great- 
grandchildren? No; the man was honest, and he really suggested the evil 
fact that all conservation might not be in good faith. That conservation was 
merely a cloak for personal desires to be satisfied. With the alarming decrease 
in Texas marine fisheries in spite of virtual prohibition of all forms of modern 
fishing gear, does not the suggestion of that old philosopher bring to your minds 
a new idea? Might it not be true that conservation of natural resources is 
exceedingly profitable for the present generation? Certainly the tourists to 
Yellowstone Park bring more to the State of Wyoming than the sale of lumber 
from the park ever would. Does it not pay to conserve these trees? Do not 
the tourists to Niagara Falls bring more wealth to that section than the com- 
