Browsing by Author "King, B. D., III"
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Item Hydrographic and Meteorological Study of the Matagorda Bay System - Analysis of Populations of Sports and Commercial Fin-Fish and of Factors Which Affect These Populations in the Coastal Bays of Texas(Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 1965) Munro, George J.; King, B. D., IIISalinities and the Matagorda Bay System increased in 1964 and rainfall was slightly below normal. Water temperatures were similar to those found in 1963. A hard freeze occurred in mid-January.Item Population Studies of the Blue Crabs of the Matagorda Bay - Studies of the Blue Crab Populations of the Texas Coast(Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 1965) King, B. D., IIICatches at tertiary bay stations indicated the presence of three waves of juvenile blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in the Matagorda Bay area in 1964. These waves were found in March, July and November. Bar seine data (1964) indicate a 280 per cent increase in the abundance of juvenile ble crabs over that of 1962 and a 150 per cent increase over that of 1963. Comparison of catch rates of juvenile blue crabs at tertiary and secondary bay locations with water temperature and salinity indicated a lack of correlation between these factors and the abundance of crabs in 1964. Bi gravid female blue crabs were observed nor was there evidence of infection the sacculinid, Loxothylaus texanus.Item Population Studies of the Sports and Commercial Fin-Fish and Forage Species of the Matagorda Bay System - Analysis of Populations of Sports and Commercial Fin-Fish and of Factors Which Affect These Populations in the Coastal Bays of Texas(Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 1964) King, B. D., IIICroaker, Micropogon undulatus; anchovy; Anchoa mitchilli; and brown and white shrimp, Penaeus aztecus and P. setiferus, were the most abundant forage items taken in the 10-foot trawl samples. Total forage sample weight reached peaks in April and July. The most abundant species taken in juvenile samples were spotted sea trout, Cynoscion nebulosus, and southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, with few redfish, Sciaenops ocellata, black drum, Pogonias cromis, and sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus, being taken. All species show a decline in availability as compared with the previous year. Tag return data on black drum indicate a general movement toward the Tres Palacios River. There are indications of some inter-bay movement of this species.Item Study of Oyster Growth and Population Structure of the Public Reefs in Matagorda, Tres Palacios and East Matagorda Bays - Survey of Oyster Populations and Associated Organisms(Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 1964) King, B. D., IIISample data indicate that Middle Ground Reef is in poor condition due to overcrowding and excessive growth of fouling organisms. Gadwall Reef received a very heavy spatfall in 1963. Few commercial size oysters were taken but the survival of the 1962 spat was good. Sand Point Reef suffered extensive mortality from September through December. Dermocystidium marinum samples were negative.Item Study of Oyster Growth and Population Structures of the Public Reefs in Matagorda, East Matagorda, Tres Palacios and Lavaca Bays - Survey of Oyster Populations and Associated Organisms(Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 1965) King, B. D., IIIThere were two distinct peaks of oyster spat (Crassostrea virginica) setting on the three reefs sampled in 1964. The first occurred in late May and early June with the second and smaller peak occurring in October. All three reefs sustained heavy mortalities in 1964, beginning in August on Gadwall and Middle Ground reefs and in December on Sand Point Reef. The cause of the Gadwall and Sand Point mortalities was unknown. Data obtained to determine the incidence of Dermocystidium marinum on each reef indicated this organism was a causative agent of the Middle Ground mortalities. Studies made to determine the growth rates of commercial and Gulf oyster populations in the Matagorda Bay area indicated that the average growth rate of commercial oysters varied between ,08 mm per day and .23 mm per day while that of Gulf oysters ranged from .09 mm per day to .10 mm per day. Oyster production in the Matagorda Bay area in 1963-1964 was very low with only 12 per cent of the oysters handled by local plants coming from waters in this area.