400 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



of marketable scup in subsequent years, thereby increasing the costs 

 of catching them. Because of lack of funds, it has not been possible 

 to devise practical savings gear to permit the escape of the unmar- 

 ketable sizes. 



FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC AND GULF 



COASTS 



SHRIMP 



Milton J. Lindner, in charf/e 



As in preceding years, excellent cooperation in the investigation of 

 the natural history and abundance of the shrimp has been furnished 

 by the Louisiana Department of Conservation, the Texas Game, Fish 

 and Oyster Commission, and the Georgia Tidewater Department. 

 Offices and lalioratory facilities have been supplied by the Louisiana 

 Department of Conservation, the Georgia Tidewater Department, 

 and the San Patricio Canning Co. Headquarters have been main- 

 tained in New Orleans and field stations were located at Beaufort, 

 N. C. ; Brunswick, Ga. ; and Aransas Pass, Tex. During the spring 

 of 1935 John C. Pearson was transferred from Xew Orleans, La., 

 to St. Augustine, Fla., to continue his studies on the eggs and larvae 

 of the shrimp. 



The common shrimp, Penaeus setifenis, because of its outstanding 

 dominance of the fishery, has received most of the attention of the 

 investigators. At least 95 percent of the shrimp catch is composed 

 of individuals of this species. 



Shrimp still ranks preeminent among the sea foods of the South, and 

 the shrimp fishery with an annual catch of approximately 100,000,000 

 pounds is one of the major fisheries of this country. Kesults of 

 studies in 1935 have shown that this fishery undergoes sharp fluctu- 

 ations. Shrimp were exceedingly scarce in the spring and early sum- 

 mer of 1935. In spite of this scarcity, which was general tliroughout 

 the ejilire South Atlantic and Gulf, the late summer and fall fishery 

 lu-oved to be relatively successful in most localities. The Georgia 

 and Florida fall fisheries in particular were much improved as com- 

 pared with the previous several years. On tlie other hand, in some 

 localities, particularly Corpus Christi Bay, Tex., the fall catch has 

 been much less than expected. These fluctuations indicate that def- 

 inite changes in the magnitude of the shrimp population do occur, 

 and that for a complete understanding of the fishery a study of 

 tliese changes nuist be made, their nature and causes defermiued, and 

 the efl'ect the fishery has upon them ascertained. 



Such studies are complicated by the fact that the shrimp fishery 

 is not established at a constant level, but is marked by a continual 

 expansion and increase in fishing effort, which has been particularly 

 evident along the South Atlantic coast. More and larger boats draw- 

 ing larger nets, introduction of Diesel power, and the conversion of 

 gasoline engines to the use of cheaper fuel have all contributed toward 

 this increase. Consequently it is of vital importance that the proper 

 type of statistical system be introduced as soon as possible in order 

 that the trend of the abundance of the fishery be followed, the fluctua- 

 tions of supi:)ly determined, and an understanding of their causes 

 secured. Due to the constantly increasing etfort it is impossible, with 



