Table 3.2. Distribution of Personal Income During 1981 According to Coastal County, and 
Percent Accounted for by the Four-County Galveston Bay Complex. 
Income 
County 
(in thou.) 
Percent 
Jefferson 
2,709.2 
6.4 
Chambers 
201.7 
0.5 
Harris 
32,414.4 
76.0 
Galveston 
1,450.9 
3.4 
Brazoria 
1,390.4 
3.3 
Matagorda 
267.6 
0.6 
Jackson 
59.4 
0.1 
Calhoun 
220.0 
0.5 
Refugio 
58.6 
0.1 
Aransas 
67.0 
0.2 
San Patricio 
314.6 
0.7 
Nueces 
2,306.3 
5.4 
Kleburg 
196.8 
0.5 
Kenedy 
5.0 
<0.1 
Willacy 
50.8 
0.1 
Cameron 
945.4 
22 
Total 
42,658.1 
100.1 
Source: 17. 
Table 3.3. Estimated Commercial Harvest of Finfish and Shellfish from Galveston Bay Dur- 
ing 1986. 
Pounds 
% of all bays 
Ex-vessel 
% of all bays 
Harvested 
total weight 
value 
ex-vessel value 
Finfish 
424,495 
28 
206,491 
21 
Shellfish 
Shrimp 
6,152,860 
30 
6,839,741 
27 
Oyster 
3,538,808 
63 
6,951,738 
67 
Blue crab 
3,018,315 
32 
1,028,097 
33 
Source: 25. 
$63.6 million, or 31 percent (Table 3.4). This activity generated approximately $18 million in personal 
income. Gross personal income in Texas attributed to commercial fishing in Galveston Bay and 
supporting sectors resulted in state tax revenues of $2.8 million and taxes paid to local governments 
statewide of $4.4 million. 
The Texas Department of Water Resources (7) reported a much higher value for the Galveston Bay 
commercial fishery in 1976. In their report, Galveston Bay accounted for $115 million (43 percent) (in 
1986 dollars) of the total commercial landings coastwide (Table 3.5). 
Sport Fishing 
Recreational boat fishermen landed 3.2 million pounds of finfish from Texas bays during 1986. Of 
the total, more than 1.1 million pounds (35 percent) were landed in Galveston Bay (Table 3.6). This 
proportion has remained steady for the previous three years. Landings by shore-based fishermen are 
not available. 
Sport fishing expenditures associated with the Galveston Bay estuary account for approximately 
55 
