A description of the Texas commercial shrimp fleet was developed to determine trends in numbers, size, license classes and home port distribution during the period 1979-1985. The number of commercial shrimp boats increased only 1% while the number of boats holding multiple shrimp boat licenses increased 35% between 1979-1985. The number of licensed shrimp boats increased from 6889 in 1979 to 7333 in 1983 then decreased to 6959 in 1985. The largest decrease (768 boats) during 1979-1985 was in part-time commercial bay boats (</= 7.6 m). Out-of-state boats increased from 294 in 1979 to 688 in 1985 with the greatest increase in commercial gulf vessels (>/= 16.8 m). Part-time commercial bay boats were most numerous in the Beaumont-Nederland, Houston-Pasadena-Baytown, Seabrook-Kemah-San Leon-Texas City and Corpus Christi areas. Commercial bay boats (> 7.6 m-16.8 m) were most numerous in the Seabrook-Kemah-San Leon-Texas City, Galveston, Palacios-Port Lavaca-Port O'Connor and Corpus Christi areas. Commercial Gulf vessels were most numerous in the Port Arthur-Sabine Pass, Galveston, Corpus Christi and Brownsville areas.