THE SHltlRIP AND PKAWN FISHERIES. 803 



much thought of by the people, aud not over 100 bushels were marketed yearly, at the rate of about 

 25 cents per quart. In the year 187:.', the first shrimp-seine was introduced, and from that time 

 business increased until eight seines were in use. None of the shrimp were sent away, and the 

 home market therefore soon became overstocked, the result being that some of the shrimpers were 

 obliged to give up the business. At the present time only four shrimp-seines supply the Wilming- 

 ton markets, all of which are owned in Wrightsville or Middle Sound. These seines range in 

 length from 30 to 40 yards, and in depth from 6 to 10 feet; the size of the mesh is one-half inch, 

 and they cost about $35 apiece. Two men are required for each seine, the season's catch for 

 each being about 500 bushels, or 2,000 bushels for the four seines in use. 



In addition to the seiners there are about fifty men engaged in taking shrimp with cast-nets 

 and skim-nets, their season's catch amounting in all to nearly 3,000 bushels, though not more than 

 one-half of their catch is marketed. The total catch of shrimp for 1880 amounted therefore to 

 about 5,000 bushels, of which only 2,200 bushels were sold for food at a cost of $5,500. The 

 remainder of the shrimp taken were used for fertilizing purposes or thrown away, only the best 

 and largest specimens being marketed. Fishing is carried on only in the daytime, aud then not 

 with any precise regularity, as the markets cannot take all that could be caught. Before sending 

 the shrimp to market, they are boiled by the fishermen for about ten minutes in kettles holding 

 from 10 to 50 quarts each, and then spread out to cool. They are shipped in baskets. 



No shrimp were sent away from the city until 1878. but since that time a trade has sprung up 

 with the neighboring towns and northern cities, which promises to increase and become of con- 

 siderable value. 



The principal cities and towns supplied with shrimp from Wilmington are New York, Phila- 

 delphia, Charlotte, N. C., Florence, Sumter, Columbia, S. C., aud Augusta, Ga. 



SOUTH CAROLINA. The shrimp aud prawn industry of Charleston is one of the most import- 

 ant branches of the fisheries at that point, both as regards the number of men engaged and the 

 value of the catch. The fishery begins the last of March or first of April, aud continues until the 

 middle of November. During the first of the season (March to July) the so-called prawns alone 

 are taken, but after that the smaller shrimp take the place of the prawns. At the first of the 

 season, six to eight seine-boats, with crews of about six men each, go nightly to the various 

 fishing shores, all of which are within 15 miles of the city, aud draw their seines during the two or 

 three hours of low tide; they return before day to supply the boat fishermen with bait, after which 

 they dispose of the remainder of their catch to the men, women, and children, who vend the 

 prawns through the street. The catch varies greatly at this time of year, as the prawns seem 

 to be more abundant in some localities than in others ; and the successful boats may return with 

 10 to 20 bushels, while the less fortunate ones obtain only 4 or 5 bushels. This is also the time 

 when whiting are most plentiful in this region, and for this species prawns are said to consti- 

 tute the best bait. The whiting fishermen, are, therefore, very anxious to obtain them, even at a 

 high figure, the ordinary price being about 50 cents per plate, containing from a quart to a quart 

 and a half each. Sometimes, however, as high as 2 cents apiece, or about $1 a plate, is paid for 

 them. Each hook-and-line fisherman requires one or two plates for a day's fishing, according 

 to the abundance of fish, and this gives rise to a constant demand for them, at excellent prices. 

 During the first few weeks of the season this fishery is one of the most profitable of any on this 

 part of the coast. 



When the prawns become more abundant, cast-nets come into use; early in May the seiners 

 lay aside their seines, and in common with others, engage in cast-net fishing solely. The fishery 

 soon reaches its height, and at this time not less than one hundred and twenty men with sixty 



