538 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



cent, of all bills for port charges, food, and apparatus, the last two being furnished by the owner 

 previous to the sailing of the vessel. The crew receives the remaining 60 per cent, of the gross 

 proceeds, from which they pay CO per cent, of all the bills for port charges, food, and apparatus, 

 dividing the remainder among themselves. The captain, in addition to his share, receives from 

 the owner 5 per cent, of the total paid to the owner, or, in other words, 2 per cent, of the gross 

 stock of the voyage. Some shippers, instead of receiving this 5 per cent., are paid by the owner a 

 certain amount per mouth, generally about $15. 



BOATS IN MARKET FISHERY. The boats used in the Key West market fishery are, with few 

 exceptions, built upon one model and adopt a uniform style of rig ; that of the sloop. The mast 

 is placed well forward so that the jib, which is a small sail, can be furled during heavy winds 

 without affecting the management of the boat. The mainsail, which has no gaff, runs up to a 

 point at the masthead, and is of the shape known as " leg-of-mutton sail." The foot of the main- 

 sail is cut convexly,* and is fastened to the boom only at the extreme ends, leaving the "roach" 

 to hang below the boom. It is thought that a sail cut in this manner conduces to the greater speed 

 of the vessel. In rough weather the jib is not used, and is of but little consequence at any time. 



In all there are about forty boats, manned by seventy-five men. The average length is about 

 twenty-four feet, with a width of eight or u ine feet and a depth of four or five feet. 



All of these boats are provided with wells. This provision is absolutely necessary in hot 

 climes in order that the fish may be brought alive to market. They are built very sharp on the 

 bottom, with large draught, so that the hull may be submerged to such a depth as to afford a 

 supply of water in the well sufficient for the preservation of the fish. These boats have but little 

 shear ; they are made with raking stems and sterns and a deep keel. They draw more water aft 

 than forward. The interior of the boat is divided into three compartments. In the bow is a cabin 

 or "cuddy," iu which dry clothes and spare gear are kept. The entrance to this cabin is through 

 a small hatch just aft the mast. Xext comes the well, occupying about one-fifth of the entire 

 length of the boat. Last iu order is the " cockpit," which is of the same width as the well, 

 extending to within a few feet of the stern. 



As a rule these boats present but a rude appearance and furuish little evidence of fine work- 

 manship. They are very strong and seaworthy, and answer admirably their purpose. They are 

 purely Bermudian or Bahamian in type, and many of them have been brought over on the decks 

 of vessels from the Bermudas, and some few have sailed across to Key West from the Bahamas. 



These boats are employed in the fisheries throughout the year. The men fish in them at a 

 distance of from one to four miles from shore with hand-lines. The fish caught represent all the 

 common species of these waters. The average value of each day's catch for the whole year is $1 

 for each man. Of course, on some days one man will take enough fish to realize from the sale of 

 them as much as $20. During several weeks iu the year the fishing is extremely irregular on 

 account of rough weather. 



The proceeds of the catch are divided into a certain number of shares, one of which belongs 

 to each fisherman, one share being given to the owner of the boat. There is no distinction in the 

 share of the captain and that of any one of the crew. 



SEINES. There are three seines iu use at Key West throughout the year. Their average 

 length is 45 fathoms and depth 12 feet, with a mesh of 1 to 1 inches. From four to six men are 

 required to haul a seine of these dimensions. The catch includes all the common species, of which, 

 on an average, half a barrel to the seine is taken each day. The yearly average catch for each 

 seine amounts to 150 barrels, worth $1,500. 



* A sail whose foot is thus shaped is called by the sailors a "reaching sail." 



