196 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



The aim of this report is not to overemphasize the grievances of 

 the fishing interests in particular, but we merely mention in passing 

 that such grievances exist. The reaction against existing regula- 

 tions is almost the same from Galveston to the border. The indus- 

 try is greatly alarmed and fears it will be "lawed" out of business. 

 At a meeting of the Texas fisheries association, held at San Antonio 

 on August 3, 1925, this subject was warmly discussed. Representa- 

 tive dealers, the State commissioner and other officers, as well as the 

 writers of this report were present. The essence of the discussion 

 was that because of the lack of adequate representation in the legis- 

 lature the fishing industry is being smothered by laws put through 

 by those who consciously or unconsciously are working against the 

 best interests of the fisheries of Texas. 



Just what effect the regulations have upon the fish life it is diffi- 

 cult to determine, for, as has been said before, no evidence upon this 

 subject exists. There is no doubt that the closing of certain areas 

 that frequently are rich fishing grounds, the stopping of summer 

 seining, and similar restrictions reduce the total catch appreciably. 

 If overfishing really exists, such measures undoubtedly will tend to 

 remedy the condition, but the application of restrictions so dis- 

 tributed as to do the least harm to the commercial fishery and the 

 most good to the species requiring protection is a different and very 

 important matter. The general principles n underlying this sub- 

 ject, however, are imperfectly understood and are therefore proper 

 objects of biological investigation. 



Such is the condition of the fisheries in Texas at the present day. 

 While it might be said that a few of those engaged in the fishing 

 business are greedy and selfish, we believe that the majority of fish- 

 ermen and fish dealers have the future welfare of the business at 

 heart. They claim to want wise conservation measures and the 

 wise enforcement of them; and this, we believe, is the attitude of the 

 present fish, game, and oyster commission. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



This report has emphasized the importance of knowledge of the 

 fishery and of the need and method of protection as the basis for 

 rational conservation. A successful fishery administration must 

 provide the machinery necessary to obtain this knowledge and to 

 obtain and carry into effect regulatory legislation. 



It is plainly evident from the foregoing sections that these ele- 

 ments are wanting in varying degrees in the Texas fishery adminis- 

 tration. The following recommendations are offered, therefore, 

 in the hope of pointing the way to correcting these deficiencies: 



1. The adoption of a system of collecting adequate fishery sta- 

 tistics, made permanent by enactment into law. 



2. The adoption of a program of biological investigation. 



3. The reorganization of the present fishery administration, modi- 

 fied to permit the development of a permanent policy, and the 

 retention of a permanent technical personnel. 



11 See "The Scientific Investigation of Marine Fisheries," etc., by W. F. Thompson. Fish Bulletin 

 No. 2, California Fish and Game Commission. Sacramento, 1919. 



