THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE LOUISIANA SHRIMP 



INDUSTRY 



By E. A. TULIAN, 



Superintendent of Fisheries Division, Department 

 of Conservation of Louisiana, New Orleans, La. 



As mentioned in the opening paragraph of my paper on 

 the production of shrimp in Louisiana read before this 

 Society on October 10th, the United States Census report 

 gave the total shrimp production of the United States for 

 1908, as 14,374,000 pounds, 60 percent of which, or 8,580,- 

 000 being produced by Louisiana. The U. S. Bureau of 

 Fisheries statistics gave the total catch for 1916 as 43,942,- 

 105 pounds for the teri'itory extending from the northern 

 boundary of North Carolina to the western boundary of 

 Texas, and which takes in nearly all of the shrimp territory 

 of the United States. Approximately 53 percent or 23,160,- 

 586 pounds of this total was given as Louisiana's produc- 

 tion. 



At the time that paper was read, our study of shrimp and 

 the shrimp industry, both statistical and scientific, had al- 

 ready progressed to such a point that I freely predicted in 

 the closing sentences of that paper, that the time was com- 

 ing, when the shrimp industry would expand as never 

 before, yet in such a way that there would be no diminution 

 of the supply even if the maximum possible yield was 

 reached. Based on the severance tax actually paid to the 

 Department of Conservation on shrimp produced in Louis- 

 iana during 1921, the total catch during that year had 

 already risen to 34,992,443 pounds, a 50 percent increase 

 over the figures of 1916. The value of this catch for 1921 

 to those engaged in the industry was not less than $3,000,- 

 000. 



There was a small decrease during the year 1922, owing 

 to the excessive pack of the canneries during the previous 

 year, which the market could not absorb. This was not due 

 in any way to a decrease in the supply in our waters and as 

 market conditions have now been relieved, the indications 

 are that the steady growth will continue. The present 

 open season began on August 16th, with more vessels and 

 tackle in operation than ever before. 



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