590 



HISIOiiY AND METHODS OF THE FISHEEIES. 



a few groupers were taken with snappers at the same price, but for the past two years they have 

 beeu separated and sold for one or two cents per pound.* 



2. THE BED-SNA PPEE FISHEEY OF EAST FLOEIDA. 



In East Florida snapper fishing is carried on chiefly by amateur fishermen and with the same kind 

 of bait as in the Gulf.t It is stated that the fish will sometimes bite at a white rag. I am inclined 

 to doubt the statement of Norris, the only angling authority who has written understandiugly 

 about this species, who says that they bite readily at the silver or pearl squid. They are similar 

 in habits to the sheepshead and sea-bass, and it is well known that these fish seldom rise to the 

 surface. 



A trip to the snapper banks is a favorite summer recreation for the gentlemen at Jacksonville. 

 A tug is chartered for the day, and always returns to the city with flags flying, whistles triumph- 

 antly sounding, and gorgeous festoons of redfish hanging over the bows. 



Dr. J. Kenworthy, of Jacksonville, describes one of these excursions as follows : 



"Eighteen of us left Jacksonville at 2 o'clock in the morning, reaching Mayport before day- 

 light. Before the sun rose we were 12 miles from the shore and near the banks. The second 

 cast of the lead furnished unmistakable evidence of rocks, and overboard went the lines. They 

 scarcely touched bottom before the cry of ' Snapper ! ' ' Snapper ! ' was heard, and a crimson beauty 

 graced our deck. All were 'soon engaged, forward, aft, starboard, and port. To feel the bite of 

 a 25-pound snapper at a depth of 12 fathoms causes a sensation never to be forgotten. As 

 the line is pulled in, and the fish is first seen at a depth of several fathoms, he looks like silver, 

 and not larger than one's hand. As he comes nearer his tints deepen; as he struggles at the surface 

 to escape, all his rich, brilliant colors are displayed; and when he reaches the deck every one ex- 

 claims 'What a beauty!' For a few minutes the shouts resounded from all sides; but a change soon 

 occurred. Each man labored as if the number to be captured depended upon his individual exer- 

 tions, aud no breath or time could be spared to cry ' Snapper!' or indulge in fisherman's chaff. In 

 less than two hours the whistles sounded ' Up lines ! ' for we must cross the bar at a particular stage 

 of the tide. The fish were biting rapidly, but our tired arms and blistered fingers induced us all 

 quickly to obey the warning. 



* Since the above account was written Mr. Stearns has obtained the following additional information about 

 the extent of the Pensacola fishery : 



Statistics of red-snapper fleet, 1874 to 1886. 



In the season of 18S5-'86 Mr. Stearns states that the fishery has been a financial failure, probably on account of 

 the severe cold having driven the fish into deeper water. A. H. Clark. 



t Since 1882 there have been three or four schooners from Noank, Conn., fishing for red snappers off the east coast 

 of Florida in winter, marketing the catch at Savannah. They ship part of their uatch to New York. 



