OCEANOGRAPHY 19G1 — PHASE 3 315 



the young fish begin to occupy habitats characteristic of the adult. During this 

 juvenile stage of development survival evidently depends on finding nursery 

 conditions that satisfy specific physiological requirements, food supply and 

 safety from enemies. 



Fishes occupy a variety of nursery habitats. Many coastal fishes, including 

 some of the most important migratory game species, find their nursery grounds 

 in the protected and nourishing waters of estuaries, bays, and rivers. 



With increasing knowledge of the natural history of nurseries, we should 

 eventually have a scientific basis for environmental protection and improvement. 



Estuaries are particulai-ly amenable to such modifications ; unfortunately, 

 they are also particularly subject to gradual destruction as a habitat for aquatic 

 life, thanks to human activities. Consequently, we hope to give special attention 

 to the estuariue environment. In our first year, Robert Croker is carrying out 

 a pilot study consisting of a systematic sampling of plankton at the mouth of the 

 Shrewsbury estuary. This will determine the species of young fishes, their 

 sizes, relative abundance, and the times of their arrival and departure. The 

 material collected is exchanged with the Menhaden Investigations of the Bureau 

 of Commercial Fisheries, which is conducting a similar program at the entrance 

 to the Indian River in Delaware. We hope to extend such studies to other 

 estuaries by collaboration with State and private marine laboratories. Mean- 

 while, as the installation of the sea water system, aquaria, and ponds at Sandy 

 Hook Laboratory becomes completed, we shall begin experimental studies to 

 determine the factors affecting survival and well-being of juvenile game fishes. 



Graduate training 



An important part of the marine game fish research activity will be prraduate 

 studies sponsored and financed by the Bureau. This program has two purposes : 

 one, to stimulate the recruitment of marine biologists to the field of fishery 

 research, and two, to fill in the gaps on marine game fish problems. Students 

 will be encouraged to undertake problems which may be integrated with larger 

 investigational programs of the Bureau. Selection of students v/ill be by the 

 university rather than by the Bureau. At present this program is underway 

 on a modest scale with two student assistants. One in engaged in a study of 

 the life history of channel bass at the University of Miami : the other is engaged 

 in an analysis of temperature, salinity, and other features of the physical environ- 

 ment of the Caribbean Sea. He is working under the direction of Dr. Wiist of 

 Columbia University. This study promises to result in an important contribution 

 to understanding the Gulf Stream. 



Finally, I would like to take a moment to outline a most important cooperative 

 endeavor which Dr. Walford and his staff are attempting to foster. This is the 

 Atlantic Shelf environmental campaign. 



Marine biologists are constantly troubled by the overwhelming problem of how 

 to cover the entire ranges of species which they study. 



To understand the variations in the occurrence, distribution, and abimdance 

 of fishes, it is essential to have synoptic and systematic pictures of the physical 

 and biological features of their environments throughout their ranges. This 

 is possible only by cooperation among all marine laboratories in making necessary- 

 observations. Dr. Walford has presented to biologists in three regional meetings 

 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Research Committee, a 

 proposal to conduct periodic multiple-ship surveys in a program to be called 

 the Atlantic Shelf environmental campaign. This would take place in 1963 

 or 1964. The proposal has been unanimously recommended for formal presenta- 

 tion to the forthcoming annual meeting of the whole Commission. If the Com- 

 mission approves, detailed plans will be developed by representatives of the 

 agencies, institutions, and laboratories who will participate in this cooperative 

 endeavor. 



To sum up, it is clear that the oceans are both our new frontier and our last 

 frontier from the standpoint of recreational fishing. The pace of development 

 in this country is rapid. By the year 2000 there may well be 330 million people, 

 an increased concentration in metropolitan areas, more money to spend, more 

 leisure and better travel facilities. All of this points to a tremendous increase 

 in the demands upon our natural resources including marine fishes and the 

 waters in which they live. Often these demands are of a conflicting or competing- 

 nature. There can be no doubt, however, that outdoor recreation, including 

 fishing, has become one of the large industries of the country and will continue 

 to outstrip our population growth. 



