PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES 11 



Investigation of the marine fisheries of Texas. — A growing belief that 

 complete depletion of the Texas marine fisheries is imminent has 

 resulted in demands for an investigation to determine the causes of 

 the present shortage of the fish supply. Accordingly, the work was 

 undertaken, and Elmer Higgins and Russell F. Lord, junior aquatic 

 biologist, visited the Texas coast during July and August for the pur- 

 pose of conducting a preliminary survey of the fisheries as the basis 

 for further plans. A report was prepared and submitted, describing 

 the fisheries, discussing past and present conditions as discovered by 

 a study of all available records, summarizing the present knowledge 

 of the habits of commercial species, outlining the need for biological 

 research, and recommending changes in the method of fishery 

 administration. 



The report especially emphasizes the lack of records competent to 

 show the real state of the fishery, and recommends the adoption of a 

 system of statistics that will be of economic value and also provide 

 the basis for a biological examination of the abundance of fish. Nec- 

 essary changes in the administrative machinery to permit the devel- 

 opment of a rational program of conservation also are outlined. 



Robert O. Smith, temporary assistant, was detailed to the field 

 work on November 18, and headquarters were established at Corpus 

 Christi, Tex., where a biological examination of the commercial 

 fishery was begun with special reference to the question of depletion. 

 In addition, the life histories of the chief commercial species — redfish, 

 spotted sea trout, and black drum — will be studied with the view of 

 discovering adequate and equable methods of protection. 



The cooperation of various States in the investigations of fisheries 

 of the South Atlantic and Gulf States has been most gratifying. 

 North Carolina has contributed to the mullet investigation by sup- 

 plying a 26-foot open launch for the the exclusive use of the investi- 

 gators from May to November. The investigation of the Pamlico 

 Sound region was made possible by the furnishing of a comfortable 

 and seaworthly 40-foot cabin cruiser and crew with all expenses paid 

 for its operation from June to November. Half of the expense of 

 purchasing samples of fish also was borne b}" the State. 



SMELTS AkD SALMONID.E 



Early in the year, Dr. William C. Kendall completed and submit- 

 ted for publication a report upon the natural history of the smelt 

 (Osmerus) and a synopsis of both salt-water and fresh-water smelt 

 fisheries of Atlantic waters, particularly those of North America and 

 more especially of the United States, to which are added discussions 

 of smelt culture and conservation. The section of the report concerning 

 the natural history of the smelt comprises both a compilation of data 

 scattered through many publications and records from the author's 

 personal observations during more than 30 years. In making the 

 compilation it was somewhat surprising to find that there was so little 

 published information concerning the habits and life history of the 

 smelt. The natural history account pertains to both salt and fresh- 

 water smelts and comprises discussions of geographical distribution 

 or "range," habitat, size, food, breeding habits, enemies, etc 



Concerning the smelt fisheries of the eastern United States and 

 Canada, it is shown that the fishery of the United States has pro- 

 gressively declined in quantitative importance from the southern limits 



