PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE MARINE FISHERIES OF 



TEXAS 1 



By Elmer Higgins, Director, and Russell Lord, Junior Aquatic Biologist, Key 

 West {Fla.) Biological Station 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Introduction 167 



Summary 168 



Description of the Texas fisheries 168 



Nature of the coast 168 



Methods of fishing 169 



Commercial species : 170 



History of the fisheries 171 



Total yield 172 



Variations in yield of the shore fisheries at various fishing centers-. 174 



Influence of legal restrictions on the catch 177 



Yield of the various fisheries 179 



Significance of fluctuations in yield 182 



Current ideas as to the biology of the various species 183 



Habits of the species 185 



Nature of present knowledge and the need for future work 190 



Conservation of the Texas fisheries 191 



True aim of conservation 191 



Past attempts at conservation 191 



Artificial propagation 191 



Fishery regulations 192 



Recommendations 196 



Fishery statistics 197 



Biological investigations 198 



Reorganization of the fishery administration 198 



INTRODUCTION 



The idea that it will not be long before the fish supply of Texas 

 and the Atlantic Coast States will be exhausted is fast gaining recog- 

 nition. The recent scarcity of certain species in the Texas markets- 

 emphasized this possibility and brought about a vigorous demand for 

 specific information as to the causes for the shortage and for relief.. 

 In response to this demand the Bureau of Fisheries undertook an 

 investigation of the Texas fisheries in order to determine, if possible,, 

 the reason for the apparent failure of the supply and whether various 

 species are at present undergoing depletion. The bureau hopes to> 

 obtain sufficient information as to the biojogy of the fish to permit 

 making plans for their protection and for the rehabilitation of the- 

 fishery. 



Accordingly, in July and August, 1925, the authors conducted, a 

 preliminary survey to be used as the basis for future investigations. 

 Various fishing districts, from the Rio Grande to Galveston, were 

 visited, and many fishermen and dealers were interviewed. Dealers' 

 records were consulted and all previous reports on the fisheries were 



1 Appendix IV to the Report of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries for 1926. B F Doc. lOCO^ 



167. 



