Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HCR136 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R19293 JH-D
2	2	By: Creighton H.C.R. No. 136
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4	4
5	5	CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
6	6	WHEREAS, The State of Texas has designated a select group of
7	7	official symbols as tangible representations of the state's culture
8	8	and natural history; and
9	9	WHEREAS, The pecan tree, the bluebonnet, the Guadalupe bass,
10	10	and the mockingbird are examples of some of the natural specimens
11	11	that help denote the great beauty and diversity of our vast state;
12	12	and
13	13	WHEREAS, In keeping with this custom, the designation of the
14	14	tarpon as the official State Saltwater Fish of Texas will provide
15	15	suitable recognition of the aquatic life that inhabits the rich
16	16	ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico and the coastal estuaries of our
17	17	state; and
18	18	WHEREAS, Given the scientific name Megalops atlanticus,
19	19	tarpon can live for more than 60 years and vary in size from
20	20	juveniles that are as tiny as baitfish to adults that can grow to
21	21	eight feet in length and exceed 200 pounds; the species is a
22	22	longtime Texas resident, having lived in the region since the
23	23	prehistoric era; and
24	24	WHEREAS, The tarpon, fondly known by anglers as the "silver
25	25	king," is found in the open waters of the Gulf to a distance of more
26	26	than 50 miles offshore, and it also inhabits inland estuaries along
27	27	the coast and will depart its saltwater home to swim up rivers; this
28	28	diverse range makes the tarpon uniquely accessible to a wide range
29	29	of fishing enthusiasts, including those pursuing the species on
30	30	seagoing boats and those casting lines from the shore or fishing
31	31	piers; tarpon are not often eaten in the United States, but the
32	32	spirited fight they put up when hooked makes them a popular quarry
33	33	for anglers, many of whom employ catch-and-release methods to help
34	34	preserve the population; and
35	35	WHEREAS, A rich history surrounds tarpon fishing in the Lone
36	36	Star State; in the first half of the 1900s, the Gulf Coast waters
37	37	were world famous for their abundance of the fish, with dignitaries
38	38	such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt traveling to Texas to try
39	39	their luck at landing a tarpon; and
40	40	WHEREAS, Today, this prized sport fish remains capable of
41	41	drawing large numbers of anglers and generating significant
42	42	recreational revenue to boost the state's economy; moreover, Texas
43	43	is playing a central role in efforts to insure the longevity of the
44	44	species; the work of several state conservation organizations,
45	45	ongoing scientific research by The University of Texas Marine
46	46	Science Institute, and funding from the Texas Parks and Wildlife
47	47	Department are providing marine biologists with a better
48	48	understanding of the ecology of the tarpon population in the Gulf of
49	49	Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean; and
50	50	WHEREAS, A majestic fish that has played a prominent role in
51	51	the development of the Gulf Coast sport fishing industry, the
52	52	tarpon continues to remind us of the grandeur of our undersea world,
53	53	and it is indeed a fitting addition to the notable roster of
54	54	official state symbols; now, therefore, be it
55	55	RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
56	56	hereby designate the tarpon as the official State Saltwater Fish of
57	57	Texas.