18 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Although considerable material on the early stages of the commer- 
cial shrimps has been obtained during the past 5 years from many 
areas off the coasts of Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia, it is now evi- 
dent that future studies on the early life histories must be concen- 
trated in more offshore waters than has hitherto been possible through 
limited cruising facilities. With recognition characters of the eggs 
and larvae of at least four species of common littoral penaeid shrimps 
of our South Atlantic and Gulf coasts now available, analysis of 
penaeid plankton from offshore areas should be simplified. The avail- 
ability of offshore plankton seems promised through future activities 
of the research vessel Pelican. 
At Aransas Pass, Tex., Kenneth H. Mosher continued the sampling 
of the commercial catch on a restricted basis. Length measurements 
and sexual maturity determinations were made on 6,310 shrimp. Of 
this number 1,715 were from Galveston and the remainder from 
Aransas Pass. In addition to length measurements, individual 
weights were recorded on 3,400 shrimp. The weight-length relation- 
ship data show that interseasonal differences occur in this relationship. 
In the Aransas Pass-Corpus Christi area there occurs during the 
winter a general disappearance of shrimp from the customary fishing 
grounds. This winter exodus appears to be associated with temper- 
ature. It is highly probable that the movements are offshore rather 
than coastwise, as the Texas fishery does not show any of the indica- 
tions of coastal movement that are obvious in the South Atlantic 
fishery where a coastwise winter migration is known to occur. The 
length frequency distributions indicate the probability of a return 
movement to inshore waters in the spring. Before definite reliance 
can be placed upon the observations, however, a comprehensive tagging 
program must be undertaken. 
During September and early October Mr. Lindner and Mr. Mosher, 
with the assistance of Mr. Albert Collier of the Texas Game, Fish 
and Oyster Commission, released approximately 2,500 tagged shrimp 
in central Texas waters. The Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Com- 
mission furnished their laboratory boat A. 7. for the entire course 
of the tagging operations. Releases were made in Corpus Christi, 
Aransas, Copano, San Antonio, Matagorda, and Lavaca Bays. By 
the end of December the returns on tagged shrimp from Matagorda, 
Lavaca, San Antonio, and Copano Bays were few, but those from 
Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays were considerable. More than 
10 percent of the total number tagged were returned by December 31 
and more than 23 percent of those released in Corpus Christi Bay 
were recaptured. ‘These returns corroborate the conclusions drawn 
from the length frequency data that the shrimp move from the bay 
waters to the waters of the Gulf ‘as the season progresses. A more 
comprehensive tagging program is planned for the coming year to 
gain additional information on migrations, growth rate, and fishing 
intensity. 
The tagging program that was initiated along the South Atlantic 
coast in the fall of 1935 proved to be highly satisfactory and in 
consequence was extended in 1936 to cover the major portion of the 
entire South Atlantic fishery. At Cape Canaveral, Fla., and New 
Smyrna, Fla., 750 tagged shrimp were released during January and 
February. This central Florida area may be considered the southern 
