212 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



particular attention to the larval fauna of each region studied, in 

 order to develop, if possible, methods of ready identij&cation of fish 

 larvae and to gain such facts concerning their development, habits, 

 and distribution as may bear upon the problems of fishery con- 

 servation. 



This work, which heretofore has been done at the Woods Hole 

 laboratory, is now being conducted at the Beaufort laboratory. Each 

 week, the weather permitting, one trip of about 40 miles is made out- 

 side Beaufort Inlet. On this course not less than six stations are 

 covered, at each of which both bottom and surface towings with 

 meter nets are made. Often two nets of different mesh are operated 

 at the surface at each station, and otter trawls also are used. The 

 collections are supplemented by towings taken weekly within the 

 harbor. In addition to young fish and fish eggs, numerous inverte- 

 brate forms are taken, which are preserved for future study; and 

 there is on hand for study, in addition, a collection of young fish 

 taken by the U. S. F. S. Fish Hawk in 1913 and 1914. This work is 

 in charge of Dr. Samuel F. Hildebrand, director of the fisheries 

 laboratory at Beaufort, N. C, who is assisted in the study of the 

 specimens by Louella E. Cable and in the collection of specimens by 

 James S. Gutsell and Charles Hatsel. 



During the summer several pelagic species, including Seriola, Nau- 

 crates, and flying fishes (three species), of which the adults are 

 rather rare locally, were common or numerous in the tows. Flatfish 

 larvae of several species (mostly as yet unidentified) were common in 

 the bottom tows throughout the year. During the spring and early 

 summer the young of the pigfish {Orthopristis chrysopterus) and 

 white perch {Bairdiella chrysura) predominated in the catches. Sea 

 robins, gobies, and blennies were common during the summer and 

 autumn, but in the winter the spot {Leiostotnus xanthurus) and the 

 menhaden {Brevoortia tyrannus) were most numerous in the catches 

 both inside and outside the harbor. It was disappointing that the 

 eggs and young of such common and important commercial species as 

 the weakfishes (Cynoscion) and mullets (Mugil) did not appear in 

 the catches. 



Late in the year various collections of young fish on hand at the 

 Washington office and Woods Hole station were sent to Beaufort for 

 study. Descriptions and drawings of various stages in the develop- 

 ment of several species have been prepared, and it is purposed to 

 publish these from time to time with information on rate of growth, 

 food, habits, etc. 



TEXAS SHORE FISHERIES 



Field studies of the shore fisheries of Texas were concluded in the 

 spring of 1927 by J. C. Pearson, temporary assistant, and a compre- 

 hensive report is ready for printing. Not only was definite informa- 

 tion obtained as to the spawning grounds of the three leading food 

 fish of the Texas coast — the redfish, black drum, and spotted trout — 

 but necessary data on rate of growth, age at first spawning, and other 

 facts requisite to intelligent consideration of fishery regulation were 

 acquired. The much-debated question as to whether the redfish, 



