16 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
diminished catch by the 1936 winter fishery of these smaller sizes of 
scup represents an actual decrease in relative abundance, or lesser 
availability than in previous winters. 
Gear experiments to determine whether or not it is possible to re- 
lease these small sizes of fish in good condition appear to be necessary 
despite the relative decrease in this practice during the past winter, 
since it is known that the smaller sizes of other species, in addition to 
scup, are being discarded or marketed, probably to the disadvantage 
of the industry both from the standpoint of conservation and of 
marketing. i 
WINTER FLOUNDER 
The winter flounder, Pseudoplewronectes americanus, plays an 1m- 
portant role in salt-water angling in New York and along the southern 
New England coast. From autumn to late spring when other salt- 
water game fishes are not present it frequents shallow bays and may 
be caught from rowboats as well as from more pretentious vessels. 
It is thus available to many fishermen who cannot afford more expen- 
sive transportation. 
In response to general complaint of depletion, the Bureau is be- 
ginning investigations of the life history and conservation needs of 
this species. Because of limited funds, the investigation cannot be 
undertaken on a scale large enough to permit studies over the whole 
range, and for the present, work must be confined to New York, Con- 
necticut, and Rhode Island. 
R. A. Nesbit visited fishing localities in New York to arrange for a 
tagging experiment in the spring of 1937 and arrangements were 
made for cooperation with the Rhode Island Division of Fish and 
Game in tagging experiments in Narragansett Bay. 
FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC AND GULF 
COASTS 
Mitton J. LINDNER, in charge 
SHRIMP 
The shrimp investigations have continued under the direction of 
Milton J. Lindner, and in cooperation with the Louisiana Department 
of Conservation, the Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission, and 
the Georgia Tidewater Department. Laboratory and _ office space 
have been furnished by the Louisiana Department of Conservation, 
the Georgia Tidewater Department, and the San Patricio Canning 
Co. of Aransas Pass, Tex. The Pelican, a 78-foot wooden-hulled 
Diesel-powered ship, was transferred during the year from the 
Division of Fish Culture to the Division of Scientific Inquiry for 
offshore shrimp work in the South Atlantic and Gulf area. Exten- 
sive remodeling was necessary to equip the Pelican for trawling and 
hydrographic purposes. 
cooperative program has been arranged with Dr. A. E. Parr of 
the Bingham Oceanographic Institute and Dr, H. B. Bigelow of the 
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute for conducting investigations 
in the Gulf of Mexico in which the Pelican and the research vessel 
Atlantis of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Instittite will be operated. 
