G. C. Matlock

In-net mortality of spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), and black drum (Pogonias cromis) caught in gill nets with 7.6,10.2, 12.7, and 15.2 cm stretch mesh was determined in Texas bays during 1985-87. Spotted seatrout had greatest mortality (74%) followed by red drum (55%) and black drum (28%). For each species, in-net mortality was significantly different among meshes, among bays and between seasons. Among these 3 factors, mesh size was the most important in predicting mortality variation. In-net mortality was generally inversely related to mesh size,...

Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) (242-585 mm total length) were captured by hook and line in 7 Texas bay systems and placed in wire cages during June to September 1981 and December 1982 to April 1983 to estimate survival of hook-caught handled fish. No significant difference (P> 0.05) in survival was found between fish which received a wide range of handling stress such as sport fisherman might handle them and fish handled carefully as controls. No significant difference (P> 0.05) was found among summer and winter survival of hook and line caught spotted seatrout. Significant...

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department mailed 2 different survey questionnaires to 5,000 randomly selected households to estimate the number of residents fishing and the ways they fished in Texas from 1 September 1978 through 31 August 1979. The questionnaires in this survey were identical except one sub-group (1000) asked household members questions regarding their possession of a valid fishing license. Differences in responses to these 2 questionnaires were used to assess response biases. Estimates of total license sales (a known statistic) from survey data showed a strong positive bias...