EASTERN FLOEIDA: PRINCIPAL FISHERY DISTRICTS. 527 



192. THE FISHERIES OF INDIAN RIVER. 



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIAN RIVER COUNTRY. Indian River, lying just south of Mos- 

 quito Lagoon, and connecting with it by means of an artificial canal, is a sheet of water 150 miles 

 in length. It has two inlets in its lower portion, the first known as Indian River Inlet and the 

 second as Jupiter Inlet. These are obstructed by shifting sand-bars, where the water varies in 

 depth from year to year. The inlets are at present too shoal to admit the ordinary coasting vessels. 

 and in 1879 even the smaller fishing vessels could not enter. 



The section is quite isolated from the outside world. It is cut off from the ocean by the shoal- 

 ness of the water, and has communication with Jacksonville by means of small river steamers 

 during only a portion of the year. Until 18G5 the country was little better than a wilderness, and 

 at present there are but six post-offices along the entire shore, some of the settlements having only 

 five or six families, while the largest have but fifty. 



THE GREEN TURTLE FISHERIES. The first fishing in the region was for green turtles 

 (Chclonia mydas). This began at Indian River Inlet prior to the war, the catch being exchanged for 

 merchandise with the coasting and Government vessels that visited the locality. Turtles are 

 more abundant at this point than at any other on the Atlantic coast. They are said to be present 

 in the river during the greater part of the year, but it is only in winter that the absence of saw- 

 fish (Pristis antiquorum) and several of the larger species of sharks will warrant the fishermen in 

 engaging in their capture. They are taken in nets similar to the ordinary gill-nets, though neces- 

 sarily of heavier material. These have 11-inch mesh and are set directly across the channel, the 

 turtle being entangled in them while moving back and forth. The fishing begins early in September 

 and lasts uutil late in December. The best catch was made in 1878, when eight men caught 1,600 

 turtle. In 1879 sixteen men caught 1,400 in number, weighing about 75,000 pounds, and netting 

 the fishermen $8,000. Of late the catch is being shipped to the Northern markets through Jack- 

 sonville agents, and the price realized, after deducting expenses of transportation and commission, 

 averages about 11 cents per pound. The largest turtle taken in Indian River, according to the 

 fishermen, weighed 275 pounds, but the average for those taken in 1879 was only 50 or 60 pounds. 



UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH A CANNERY AT THE INLET. The first fishing 

 business of importance in this locality was in 1866, when a company was formed in New York for 

 the purpose of establishing a cannery on Indian River for putting up turtles, fish, and oysters. 

 It was also the intention to run fish in ice from this point to New York by means of a steamer. 

 The steamer was properly equipped and sent to this region, but was wrecked in crossing the bar 

 on her arrival, and, after two seasons of poor management, the business was abandoned. 



EXTENT OF THE FISHERIES OF THE REGION. From the date of the failure of the New York 

 enterprise to 1878 there was little fishing at Indian River. At that time, however, the smack 

 Lillian, of Noauk, came to the inlet with seines and boats, and began fishing for the Savannah 

 market. Pens, in which the fish could be kept alive during the absence of the smack, were built 

 in the water, and a crew of men were stationed on the shore to seine the fish. Another crew 

 remained on board the smack to "run" the catch to market. When the vessel could not enter the 

 inlet the fish were towed out in cars and placed in her well. In 1879 another vessel accompanied 

 the Lillian to the inlet, but she soon abandoned the fishery and returned to the North. This 

 season the smack had but one crew, and was anchored off the shore in charge of the cook, while 

 the captain and men went inside to seine the fish. On account of the lack of time no attempt was 

 made to keep the fish, and they were usually packed in ice for the trip. The fishery has been 

 very profitable, and there has usually been no difficulty in securing a load in two or three days. 



