Larry De La Bretonne, Jr.

Cultural technology is adequate to produce crawfish in ponds with water quality a main consideration. Occurrence of small stunted crawfish has been reduced by increasing trapping frequency. A mechanized harvester and more efficient traps and bait are needed to relieve labor problems. The processing industry must have a mechanical peeler and utilize traditional shrimp freezing technology to extend shelf life and markets. Marketing is a key to sustained pond production. Prices of crawfish will increase as processors and live market sales compete for the raw product. Expansion of the market...

The movements of brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) and white shrimp (P. setiferus) over weirs in a South Louisiana esturary were influenced by tides. Brown shrimp concentrations inside the weir were greatest on incoming tides, water flowing into the weired area. The incoming water stimulated brown shrimp to the weir. White shrimp concentrations inside the weir depended on water head differences between weired and outside waters. The head difference usually occurred with approaching cold fronts and drops in temperature. The shrimp catch was greatest at night.

The effects of soil and water hardness on growth and survival of red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarki, were studied in plastic pools. Pools had no soil or Calhoun soil, with water hardnesses adjusted with calcium chloride to 9, 50, 100 or 150 parts per million, or pools had Sharkey soil with water hardnesses of 50, 100, 150 or 200 ppm. Water hardness was the most significant factor affecting growth and survival of crawfish. As water hardness increased, so did the mean weight gain and per cent survival. At 9 ppm water hardness, the presence of soil resulted in similar weight...