methods of culturing crab using locally produced fish and 

 crustacean wastes as the major food support, and (2) to 

 investigate the possibility of holding wild-captured adult crabs 

 in pens over long periods of time at an acceptable level of 

 mortality loss in order to allow a more predictable supply of 

 crabs to market, steady the price structure throughout the 

 season, and provide a supply during periods of wild crab 

 scarcity. In the 3-year study, local fish and crustacean wastes 

 were chosen as food base for crab culture oecause they were 

 available at minimum purchase costs ranging from 2 cents per 

 pound for fish to free for crustaceans. Crab prices are lower in 

 the early part of the season (Dec. to Jan.) because the catches 

 are large. After January the catcnes drop steeply ana the price 

 rises with the shortage. Crafi culture would accelerate the 

 pcstmolt recovery period and extend the labor season of crab 

 workers. Amcng other topics discussed are previous and current 

 research on Cancer magister, stocking procedures, problems, 

 results as to rates of meat recovery (cultured vs. wild crabs) , 

 weekly percentages of crab losses due to cannibalisrr, disease, 

 etc., chemical composition of waste, and some suggestions about 

 technigues of culture. 

 Subject descriptors: 

 Crabs; waste use; biological feasibility; state of the art. 



142 



Williams, Robert James. 



1973. 



Economic feasibility of commercial shrimp farming in Texas. 



M. S. thesis, Texas A&M Univ., 57 pp. 



The purpose of the research was to develop a model which would 



aid a prospective investor in evaluating the economic feasibility 



of shrimp farming. Cost and revenue data based upon assessments 



of individuals associated with Texas A&M University's 



experimental shrimp farms are used for illustration. The 



investment criteria return on equity and net present value are 



errployed, along with sensitivity analysis to show the effects of 



changes in key variables. Key variables include land, feed, 



seed-stock and heading costs; number of crops per year; stocking 



densities; and wholesale prices. For the variates assumed, 



returns appeared attractive. 



Subject descriptors: 



Shrimp; investment model; economic feasibility. 



143 



Winget, Rodner R.; Maurer, Don; Anderson, Leon. 



1973. 



The feasibility of closed system mariculture: preliminary 



experiments with crab molting. 



Proceedings, Natl. Shellfish Ass. 63 (June), reprint, Univ. Del., 



Coll. Mar. Studies, Sea Grant Publ. DEL-SG-3-74, pp. 88-92. 



A recirculation system for inducing shedding in the blue crab. 



65 



