Hofstetter RPTexas Parks and Wildlife Department (USA)Danyulite G2010-02-152010-02-151977http://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/23146-Trends in setting, growth, survival and abundance of oysters (Crassostrea virginica) on public reefs in Galveston Bay, Texas were determined from oyster population samples collected in 1961-72, supplemented by data obtained from limited sampling in 1952-60. The parasite Labyrinthomyxa marina has been widely distributed in Galveston Bay oysters. It is associated with, and primarily responsible for, annual losses of 10% to 50% of the market oysters. The Galveston Bay oyster harvest has fluctuated considerably since the early 1900's. It was largest in the 1960's, ranging around 1 . 4 million kg (3 million pounds) of meats each season. Reduction of the legal size to 76 mm (3-inches) in 1963, an influx of out-of-state fishermen who took well over half the catch each season, and better collection of catch data were factors contributing to the higher yieldsabundanceASW,USA,TexasbibliographiesCrassostreaCrassostrea virginicafishermenGalveston BaygrowthLabyrinthomyxa marinalevelsoverfishingOystersparaspopulation levelsPopulation numberQ1 01441 Population structurereefsSamplingSurvivalTexasUSAYieldReport