REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES XVII 



The mullet fisheries of the South Atlantic and Gulf States are to 

 these waters what the cod fisheries are to the North Atlantic. The 

 annual catch in 1923 approximated 40,000,000 pounds and was val- 

 ued at over $1,500,000. In certain districts, notably in North Caro- 

 lina, there has been an alarming decrease in productivity of tlie 

 mullet, and an investigation has been started to determine the causes 

 for this apparent depletion and if possible to devise means for 

 remedying the situation. The sizes of the fish taken in the region 

 about Beaufort. N. C, were studied during the fall in order to de- 

 termine the relative abundance; of the various size groups. Scales 

 were also taken as an aid in the analysis, and a study of the catch 

 for age composition has been undertaken. The question of the intei- 

 dependence of diiferent fishing areas is an important one, since, if 

 the areas are independent, measures applied in one locality would 

 have no effect upon another. Considerable attention has been de- 

 voted to this question and several thousand measurements of the 

 physical proportions of mullet from different localities have been 

 made. Although the study has not yet been completed it has be- 

 come quite apparent that there are differences in certain localities 

 which can be explained only by assuming that the races have not 

 mixed. The data indicate the existence of at least two races enter- 

 ing into the fishery in North Carolina and several along the coast of 

 Florida. 



As a result of these investigations definite proof of depletion in 

 certain localities has been obtained. This has been presented to the 

 State fishery officials, together with specific recommendations which 

 it is hoped will prove the means for rehabilitating the fishery. The 

 State officials concerned have cooperated with the bureau in every 

 way, and it is expected that the recommendations will be acted upon 

 and that important results will follow. 



An investigation of the salmon and smelt fisheries of the New 

 England States has been continued, and a report thereon has been 

 completed. More detailed studies of the smelt are underway, and 

 many data bearing on the salmon and trout of New England have 

 been secured and are being compiled for analysis. 



Near the close of the fiscal year an investigation of the mackerel 

 fisheries of the north Atlantic was begun. While the mackerel 

 fishery does not approach that of the cod in total value, it is impor- 

 tant because of the high esteem in which the product is held. Dur- 

 ing 1923 the total landings in New England exceeded 10,000,000 

 pounds, valued at nearly $500,000. This fishery is noted for the 

 great fluctuation in the abundanc? which occurs from year to year, 

 and it is important to laiow what is responsible for this fluctuation, 

 whether it can be controlled, and whether the abundance can be 

 predicted. As an initial step in this study tagging operations have 

 been undertaken in Massachusetts Bay, Cape Cod Bay, and near 

 Woods Hole, and about 1,000 fish had been tagged by the close of 

 the fiscal year. A few recaptures had been reported, but these 

 showed no definite indication of a directed migration. The division 

 of fishery industries is cooperating in this work and steps have been 

 taken to gather vital statistics of the mackerel catch in various 

 localities. 



