Selection of profitable cotton cultivars that have desirable length characteristics is a complex problem. The spinning performance, end-use potential and monetary value of cotton are affected by fiber length distribution. Varietal influences on the length distribution after conventional ginning were investigated in a two-year study of 20 cultivars grown near Stoneville, MS in 1985 and 1986. Specific emphasis was placed on the fibers less than 0.5 in. long (short fiber content or SFC). Minimum and maximum SFC values across all cultivars, years and fields were 13.3% and 20.4%, respectively, for an average of 16.8%. Cultivar selection cannot solve the SFC problem, but can be coupled with optimum gin processing to control SFC levels at 12-13%.