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Report on the fishes and fishing of the Persian Gulf, with notes on those at Jidda on the Red Sea. 

Donald S. Erdman, 
U.S. Nationa Museum. 

1. [[underlined]]Fishing grounds[[/underlined]]

A preliminary fishery survey of the waters close to the area of Ras Tanura, Saudi-Arabia, was conducted in the spring and summer of 1948 by the Arabian-American Oil Company with myself as representative of the Smithsonian Institution. 

The area surveyed by boat included the shallow coastal waters of Tarut Bay, Ras Tanura, Ras Kaliya (about 20 miles north of Ras Tanura), Chaschuse Island about 10 miles south of Ras Tanura and 2 miles west of Dammam, and Najwa shoal 8 miles southeast of Ras Tanura, or 35 miles of coast line to about 5 miles off shore. 

A three week trip was made by me to Jidda where I observed market fishes, and collected shore fishes. Local names were obtained. A week's visit was made to Bahrain Island. The market at Manama was visited, and collections were obtained from Manama harbor. 

2. [[underlined]]Species of fishes[[/underlined]].

[[underlined]]Explanation of names used in following tabulation of species[[/underlined]]: The fishes are not listed in the order of quantity caught since I do not have the necessary information. 

The plant at Ras Tanura in general accepts fish of 5 lbs. or over in weight. The weight limitation, of course, eliminates all species that do not attain 5 lbs. 

Group A constitutes first class food fishes which should be acceptable at the Ras Tanura fish plant. Group B consist of common food fishes not bought by the fish plant.