PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1938 23 
MIDDLE AND SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS 
R. A. Nesprr, én charge 
In Progress in Biological Inquiries for 1937 it was pointed out that 
the fisheries of the Middle and South Atlantic States offer an oppor- 
tunity to benefit from scientifically controlled management. Increases 
in the amount of gear operated have diminished profits by increasing 
the cost of fishing and decreasing the yield. The problem of correct- 
ing excessive fishing and waste of small fish cannot be solved by 
individual fishermen. The responsibility rests on conservation offi- 
cials, State and Federal, to advise fishermen what corrective measures 
they must support in their own interest. 
The reduced abundance which has resulted from overfishing has also 
caused widespread dissatisfaction among anglers. Many of them, 
made impatient by the long delay in devising and adopting sound 
conservation measures, are advocating drastic curtailment and even 
elimination of commercial fishing for certain species. Legislation to 
this effect has been introduced in several State legislatures. Other 
anglers recognize that most marine species are capable, under sound 
management, of supporting a prosperous commercial fishery without 
detriment to angling interests, and are supporting the Bureau and 
State conservation organizations in their efforts to serve the common 
interests of commercial producers, anglers, and the consuming publi. 
The problem is twofold ; to determine what measures are needed and 
practicable, and to provide for a unified or coordinated means of 
putting them into effect. The Council of State Governments is spon- 
soring a proposal to provide for the necessary cooperation in research 
and administration through an interstate advisory body created under 
the provisions of an interstate compact. Preliminary meetings were 
held during the year and a committee is preparing a draft of a 
compact for consideration by the several States and by Congress. 
As in 1937, the courtesy of the University of Maryland in furnish- 
ing laboratory facilities at College Park, and of the Charleston 
Museum for similar accommodations in Charleston, S. C., is gratefully 
acknowledged. 
SHORE FISHES 
During 1938 the study of the shore fishes of the Middle Atlantic 
States was continued by William C. Neville. These investigations 
consisted principally of observations on the winter trawl fishery off 
the Virginia Capes, and cooperation with New York State im a 
biological survey of the marine fishes of Long Island. 
Long Island Survey—The Bureau participated in the Long Tsland 
Survey at the request of the New York State Conservation Depart- 
ment, acting principally in an advisory capacity. Mr. Neville, who 
was assigned as the Bureau’s representative, spent most of the period 
from January to December on Long Island assisting the New York 
State biologists in the supervision and conduct of this work. Mr. 
Nesbit also served in an cpininy capacity and Milton J. Lobell gave 
active support in certain phases of the study of the winter flounder. 
Mr. Neville assisted in the preparation and editing of a report on re- 
sults of the survey, Mr. Nesbit preparing the section on squeteague 
