10 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



cape mullet, all of the O group, were exceedingly abundant, and an 

 unusually large catch was made during the season. This seems to indi- 

 cate that great fluctuations in yield may result from natural causes, 

 and that the phenomenon of dominance of year classes, so clearly 

 recognized in other fisheries, may be of equal significance and practi- 

 cal importance in the case of the mullet. 



While there are many indications that the mullet fishery of North 

 Carolina has reached an advanced stage of depletion, the problem 

 of adequate protection is extremely complicated. Because of the 

 uncertainty as to the origin and identity of the individual stocks in 

 these waters and their relative need of protection, no definite recom- 

 mendations for regulation of the fishery have been offered. It is 

 hoped, however, that a practical plan can be devised during the com- 

 ing year. 



Investigation of the summer fisheries of Pamlico and Core Sounds, 

 N. C. — At the request of the State fisheries commisssioner, an inves- 

 tigation of the summer fisheries of Pamlico and Core Sounds, N. C, 

 was undertaken to determine the action upon the fish stock of the 

 two chief types of gear in use in these fisheries — namely, pound nets 

 and long-haul seines. Five fishing stations were chosen at which to 

 conduct the investigation, where unsorted samples of the catches 

 made were analyzed once each week from June 8 to November 3, 

 1925. John C. Pearson, temporary assistant, performed all of the 

 field work and studied many of the data under the supervision of 

 Elmer Higgins. 



It was discovered that of the two species that formed the greater 

 part of the catch in pound nets (gray trout and harvest fish), about 

 half were below the legal or marketable size limit. The greatest 

 waste of gray trout occurred during June and July, when 54 and 30 

 per cent, respectively, were below the legal limit of 9 inches. The 

 greatest waste of harvest fish, however, took place in August, Sep- 

 tember, and October, 65, 95, and 97 per cent, respectively, being below 

 market size then. Of the two chief species caught by long-haul seines 

 (spotted trout and croakers), practically no destruction of unmarket- 

 able fish occurred until October, when 14 and 13 per cent, respectively, 

 were destroyed. 



The total yield of the sea trouts in 1923 amounted to 28.3 per cent 

 of all marine food fish in North Carolina, perhaps 90 per cent of these 

 being gray trout caught by pound nets, The catch of harvest fish, 

 however, amounted to only 3.7 per cent. No single system of pro- 

 tection for both of these species has been discovered so far, hence it was 

 decided to recommend the establishment of a closed season until 

 August 1 on all pound nets fished in the sounds, for the protection 

 of the more important species. As the gray trout has practically 

 completed its spawning by this time, the closed season prohibiting 

 the destruction of unmarketable fish would afford almost complete 

 protection. 



A preliminary report dealing with these data was prepared and 

 presented at the meeting of the State Fisheries Commission on Decem- 

 ber 8. Acting on the information contained therein, the commission 

 passed a rule establishing the closed season as recommended. The 

 promptness of this action on the part of the State is most encourag- 

 ing, and it is believed that much good will result. 



