L. W. McEachron

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,...

Relative abundance of Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) was monitored before, during, and after a record flood in a Texas estuary. Salinities were reduced to <5 ppt over a large portion of the estuary for 4 months. Eastern oyster mortality was near 100%. Spat set was documented 9 months after flooding ceased and the oyster population had recovered to preflood levels 15 months later, 25 months after flooding ceased. A Ricker recruitment curve was fitted to the spawner-recruit data and explained 20.8% of the variation in number of spat.