THE FISHERIES OF GEORGIA. 517 







shad fisheries, ami as early as 1834, according to Captain Larkiu, a number of Connecticut fisher- 

 men came to the region with gill-nets and took shad for shipment in sail vessels to the North. 

 When the first line of steamers between Savannah and New York was started, the fishing assumed 

 important proportions, and it continued to increase till about 1870, when it reached its height. 

 Since that date it has gradually declined, though at the present time a number of Northerners, 

 with others from the locality, fish regularly in the Savannah, Ogeechee, and Altamaha Rivers, a 

 greater part of the catch going to Savannah. Many of the nets and boats are owned by the city 

 dealers. According to Colonel McDonald the catch for 1879 was 17,500 white shad (C. sapidissima) 

 and 7,500 "hicks" (Clupea mediocris) for the Savannah; 15,000 white shad and 7,400 hicks for the 

 Ogeechee; and 3,750 white shad and 3,750 hicks for the Altamaha. A detailed account will be 

 given in the chap ter on the shad fisheries. 



THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL FISH TKADE OF SAVANNAH. Savannah, on account of its 

 location, is more important as a distributing center for the Georgia and Florida catch than as a 

 fishing town. Formerly the supply was obtained almost wholly from Charleston, but with the 

 opening of Florida by the railroads large fisheries were established in that State, and Savannah 

 was the natural market for the catch. At the present time the supply comes largely from the 

 rivers of the State, and from various localities iu Florida, the principal ones being Cedar Keys, 

 Saint Mark's, and the Saint John's and Indian Rivers. 



The principal species of the market are shad, sturgeon, catfish, red-snappers, groupers (Epine- 

 phelus morio and E. Drummond-Hayi), mullet, sheepshead, spotted trout, and crevalle (Caranx 

 pisquetus). 



There are three firms extensively engaged in the shipment of all kinds of fresh fish, with 

 two others that handle sturgeon exclusively. Some of the marketmeu also ship a few barrels 

 to different parts of the State. Formerly no fresh fish, with the exception of shad, were sent 

 beyond the limits of the State, but the trade has gradually increased until Savannah has come to 

 be the largest fish market of the South Atlantic States, and now sends a few fish as far west as 

 Chicago and Saint Louis, while many go to Kentucky, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Owing to 

 the warm weather the business is continued only from October to the middle of May, and few if 

 any fish are sent out in summer. 



THE CITY TRADE. The city retail trade is largely under the control of the marketmeu. Ten 

 parties, including the three large dealers, rent stalls and keep a full assortment of both fresh and 

 salt-water species. Several of the smaller firms get their supply direct from Florida and from the 

 fishermen of the locality; but the majority depend wholly upon the wholesale dealers for their 

 salt-water fish. There are also a few negroes who make a business of vending fish through the 

 streets. The number varies considerably according to the season. The average is about nine or 

 ten for the year. 



The peculiar feature of the market is the large number of catfish consumed. Saturday is 

 known as catfish day, and many of the local fishermen, who devote their attention to the capture 

 of the species with line, trawl, or trap, keep their catch in cars till Saturday, marketing them on 

 that day only. The catfish are sold chiefly to the negroes, who usually buy them in preference to 

 any other species, both on account of their cheapness and flavor. Fifteen hundred to 2,000 

 bunches are sometimes sold in a day, and it is estimated that not less than 30,000 bunches are 

 sold yearly, at an average of 15 cents a bunch. 



A few hard crabs and clams are sold by negroes from little stands in other parts of the 

 market, but, according to Mr. George Witte, the business is very limited, and the clain trade of 

 Savannah does not exceed 150 to 200 bushels yearly. 



