Project Name: Analysis of Populations of Sports and Commercial Fin-Fish and

Abstract: Each bay area along the Texas Coast is an entity with its own particular hydrographic problems, The Galveston, Matagorda and San Antonio Bay Systems have an average annual rainfall in excess of 25 inches, plus large river drainage systems which tend to maintain relatively low salinities. From Aransas Bay to the Laguna Madre, rainfall decreases to less than 20 inches and hypersalinity becomes a problem. Fisheries landings indicate that hydrographic conditions affect the productivity and abundance of shrimp, crab and some species of fish. During drouth periods salinities become high and catches decline, while during periods of normal rainfall salinities become comparable to those of true estuarine systems and catches increase. Objectives: To compile and prepare for dissemination hydrographic and meteor ological data obtained from the coastal bays of Texas, Procedure: In each bay area (Figure 1) water samples were taken at fixed stations on a monthly or semi-monthly basis. From these samples, salinities and water temperatures were determined. Salinities were determined with hydrometers and Knudsens Hydrographic Tables and recorded as parts per thousand total salts. In some cases the Mohr Titration method was used to determine salinity. Temperatures were measured in degrees centigrade and meteorologica