272 



u. 



BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



and the total catch of each species is shown as in the fresh condition 

 in the tables below. Varying practices in salting fish make it diffi- 

 cult to determine the actual shrinkage that occurs when fresh fish 

 are salted. The losses in salting the various species are thought to 

 be approximately as follows: Menhaden and mullet, 33^ per cent; 

 bluefish, crevalles, Spanish mackerel, pompano, and squeteague, 50 

 cent; red and black drum, 65 per cent, and these figures were used 

 as the basis for converting the salt fish to a fresh-fish basis through- 

 out the comparisons. Dried shrimp weigh one-eighth as much as 

 fresh shrimp. The statistics on oysters, clams, and scallops are 

 given in pounds and represent the meats or edible portion only. 



Certain species of importance that occur in all of the Gulf States 

 have been assembled in the first of the following tables. Of the nine 

 varieties of fishes given in this table, the yield of seven shows a 

 general upward trend. Only one of these (the red drum) has in- 

 creased in yield with each successive canvass. Two of them (black 

 drum and "groupers) increased remarkably from 1890 to 1918, but 

 the 1923 statistics record a distinct decline. The other four (mullet, 

 red snapper, squeteague, and Spanish mackerel) have not registered 

 continued increases since 1902, although the yield has not declined 

 greatly. In fact, the mullet production in 1918 and 1923 was slightly 

 greater than the record catch of 1902, and the Spanish mackerel was 

 considerably more productive in 1923 than in any previous year re- 

 corded. Of the two remaining species sheepshead seem to have 

 suffered an irregular decline and croakers registered the lowest yield 

 in 1923 of any previously recorded. 



Of the three varieties' of shellfish, shrimp only have increased re- 

 markably in recent years. The oyster production in 1918 and 1923 

 was only about half as large as in 1908, and the crab yield in 1918 

 and 1923 was onlv slightly more than half as large as in 1897 and 

 1902. 



Comparison of the recorded yield of certain species taken in the fisheries of 

 the Gulf States, in pounds, 1S90 to 1923 



ALL STATES 



1 Figures not available. 



2 Probably includes some black drum, for which no separate figures are available. 



