GULF OF MEXICO: WESTERN FLORIDA. 541 



Captain Beacon thinks that the supply of mullet has in no way diminished, and that they are as 

 plentiful as they have ever been. Many experiments have been made at these stations, resulting 

 very often in failure. The men engaged there of course profit by the accumulated experience 

 gained by the exertions of others. The buildings are now of a more permanent character, and, if 

 possession can be obtained of the islands or ground which the stations occupy, this trade will 

 probably increase and assume an important shape. 



CHARLOTTE HARBOR FISHING BOATS. There is a peculiarity in the Charlotte Harbor boats. 

 They are built so as to carry a large load in very shallow water. They resemble, in some 

 respects, the lap-streak boats of Maine. In fact they are a kind of lap-streak boat, having planks 

 of cedar or white pine, knees and timbers rather large and of oak, and fastened with galvan- 

 ized iron. Their usual length is 24 feet, and their width 8 feet. In shape they are somewhat 

 awkward, being full at bow and stern, flat-bottomed, stem and stern rakiug, and quarters over- 

 hanging. They are, however, able boats, and well adapted for the work. Besides carrying a large 

 seine and six men, they will cany 65 tubs of mullet. While fishing they are rowed by two or four 

 men, the captain standing in the bow to guide with a pole. These boats are made to order in New 

 York, and cost $150. There are not over a dozen on this coast, and these are continually changing 

 hands. Each of these four fisheries has two boats and two seines. 



CAPTIVA FISHING STATION. At the Captiva fishing station, managed by Captain Pierce, of 

 Key West, are thirty fishermen. All of them are "Conchs," natives of the Bahamas, or Ameri- 

 cans. The seines are 120 and 100 fathoms long, and each is 18 feet deep. The stretch of mesh is 

 2| inches. During 1879, 3,000 quintals of salted mullet and 225 quintals of dried mullet roe were 

 sent from the Captiva fishery to Cuba. 



FISHING STATIONS ON LACOSTA ISLAND. AtLacosta fishery No. 1 are twenty-six fishermen, 

 all Spaniards from Cuba or Key West, excepting one American. Jos6 Sega is the captain. The 

 two seines at this place are each 100 fathoms long, and 24 and 18 feet deep, respectively. The 

 stretch of mesh is about 2 inches. In 1879 1,500 quintals of salted mullet and 120 quintals of 

 mullet roe were sent to Cuba from this station. 



At Lacosta fishery No. 2 are twenty-four men, all Spaniards, excepting one American, as at 

 No. 1. Captain Papy commands the station. The two seines used here are 100 fathoms and 75 

 fathoms long, and 10 and 12 feet deep, respectively. From this place 2,100 quintals of salt mullet 

 and 250 quintals of mullet roe were shipped to Cuba in 1879. 



GASPARILLA FISHING STATION. At the Gasparilla fishery, managed by Captain Beacon, are 

 thirty fishermen, either Conchs or Americans from Key West. The Conchs here, as elsewhere, 

 are very ignorant, and are the drudges and laughing-stock of the others. 



From Gasparilla, in 1879, 2,500 quintals of salted mullet and 200 quintals of mullet roe were 

 shipped to Cuba. In 1877, 2,400 quintals of salted mullet and 175 quintals of dried roe were 

 shipped, and in 1878, 2,600 quintals of salted mullet and 300 quintals of dried roe. 



The seines here are SO and 60 fathoms long, and 24 and 18 feet deep, respectively. The stretch 

 of mesh is about the same as that of the others already mentioned. 



SEINES. The seines above referred to, and varying considerably in size, require from four to 

 twelve men each to handle them. The fishing is carried on from the middle of August to the 

 middle of January, and the variety chiefly taken is mullet. Ten to twenty thousand fishes are 

 frequently taken at a haul. More are often surrounded by the seine than can be hauled out. 

 There is no bag or pocket to these seines, and therefore they are hauled out on the beach. 



LAY. The "lay" arrangement at the Gasparilla fishery differs from that at the other three 

 fisheries. At the first-named fishery all the gear and the carrying vessel belong to one company, 



