GULF OF MEXICO: WESTERN FLORIDA. 539 



PRODUCTS. The fleet of boats comes borne at night and lies at tbe wharf until morning, when 

 the sale of fish takes place. 



The species most esteemed for its food qualities is the " gruut," next to which comes the 

 "small snapper," of which there are several kinds; groupers, and moonfish. All palatable fish 

 sell readily. The prices obtained vary greatly, being high when fish are scarce and low when 

 plentiful. The average price per pound is about 5 cents. Turtles brought to this market in the 

 shell are sold for 4 cents a pound. This price varies but little. 



The favorite baits are crawfish and couchs. The crawfish is preferred to all others and is 

 found in the crevices among the rocks or on the sand-flats about Key West. Conchs are found on 

 the shoals about Key West or on the reefs outside. Sometimes, when the fishermen have used up 

 all their bait, they dive to the bottom, frequently 5 fathoms deep, and bring up couchs. While the 

 fishermen are engaged in fishing they often scatter broken crawfish, by which method they attract 

 the fish to the surface. All unmerchantable fish are thrown back into the water. Great quanti- 

 ties of kingfish are taken at certain times generally most abundant during "northers"' by troll- 

 ing lines as the boat sails. A good day's catch is 100 small fish or 25 kiugfish. Sometimes, how- 

 ever, more than twice that number are taken. 



DISPOSITION OF CATCH. The object of this boat fishery is to supply the people of Key West 

 with fresh fish, which are sold alive at the wharves from the boats. When an unusually large 

 amount has been taken into the market a portion of the catch is bought by the fishing smacks and 

 taken to Havana, where they are disposed of. As soon as the fish are sold, which is usually the 

 case by 9 o'clock in the morning, the fleet of boats starts in different directions for the reefs of 

 coral which extend along the edge of the Gulf Stream. Sometimes these boats go ten miles from 

 Key West to fish, but usually not over four miles. When they reach suitable fishing grounds they 

 anchor and commence work. 



"BAITTNG trp." Here, as also at the Bahama Islands, a curious method is adopted for the 

 purpose of insuring a good supply of fish at any given spot. This is called by the fishermen 

 " baiting up," and is performed thus : A large supply of crawfish, having been collected by the 

 fishermen, is mashed up into a pulpy mass called "chum," which is then placed in ordinary gunny- 

 bags and carried to the selected spot where the bag is placed in the water. The bait in one bag 

 will last several days, oozing out but slowly, and thus attract the fish. When the fishermen come 

 back to this spot, four or five days later, they usually find a plentiful supply of fish in good con- 

 dition. 



HAVANA MARKET. It has been already stated that the larger class of smacks take fish to 

 Havana. At that port there is a great variation in the price paid for fish, ranging from 4 to 20 

 cents a pound. The original price was 50 cents apiece for all groupers and snappers weighing' 

 over 5 pounds, those of less weight counting two for one. From 1850 to I860, 12, 15, and 20 cents 

 a pound were paid, but the trade was crippled during the war and never regained its former 

 standard. After the war the price fell as low as 4 cents a pound. The period during which this 

 low price was paid was of but short duration. The fishermen refused to carry their catch there 

 unless the value was increased, in consequence of which the Cubans agreed to take all that couM 

 be brought for 8 cents a pound. For a few months, during 1874, the price rose to 12 cents a pound, 

 after which it fell to the old price, S cents, at which it still remains. 



There are no duties on the fish carried alive to that port, but the port charges and other 

 expenses average nearly 8100 a trip for each smack. 



