592 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



per, I did not land him; but I caught a noble string of blackfish, sometimes two at a time. We 

 could stay on the bank only forty -five minutes, for we had to get back in order to cross the bar at 

 high tide. But in that time were caught 20 snappers, weighing in the aggregate 600 pounds, and 

 over 250 blackfish, which weighed from three-fourths to 1 pounds each. If we had struck the reef 

 a little sooner we might have staid two hours, and I assure the reader that two hours of such fish- 

 ing is as much as he will waut. 



" We strung all our fish forward, and, forgetting our sickness, sat dowu to a chowder of snapper, 

 such as might make an epicure's eyes water. We arrived at Jacksonville with bell ringing, whistle 

 blowing, and all our flags flying, and were greeted by a large and enthusiastic crowd." 



2. THE HAVANA MARKET FISHERY OF KEY WEST. 



ORIGIN, PRESENT CONDITION, AND METHODS OF THE FISHERY. 



A trade in fish has been carried on between the Key West fishermen and the Cubans for over 

 fifty years, having been first started by Connecticut fishermen who spent their winters in the Gulf. 

 At first the smacks were small and chiefly sloops, carrying 5,000, 6,000, or 7,000 pounds of groupers 

 in their wells. As schooners came iuto general use in the fisheries they were sent here. These 

 were larger, with greater well room. In 1860 there were eight or ten smacks engaged in the 

 trade. At that time there was great demand for fresh fish in Havana, and good prices were paid 

 for them. A smack would make eight or nine trips a year if she fished summer and winter, and it 

 was considered that she was doing very well at that. Some few contracted with the Cubans to 

 furnish groupers at 50 cents apiece for all fish over 5 pounds; those weighing less were counted 

 two for one. This rate was finally broken up by competing parties, who would meet the vessels at 

 sea, offering large prices, such as 15 or 20 cents per pound for all sizes of fish. The result was 

 that more smacks were brought out after our civil war was ended, and the fishermen crowded them 

 so with large deep-water fish that would not live long in the "cars" that they failed in business. 

 Since then, or for the past ten years, the trade has assumed larger proportions, and is carried on 

 by more reliable parties. 



The smacks now make twelve or fourteen trips per year, or more than a trip per month, unless 

 they fall in with a wrecked vessel, when they perhaps miss a trip while attending to it. (All 

 smacks, and spongers have licenses for wrecking.) The fishing grounds are located all along the 

 West Florida coast from Charlotte Harbor to Cedar Keys in water that is deeper than 7 or 8 fathoms. 

 Fish are found only about the "patches " of rocks that occur on the bottom off that coast. Some of 

 the best fishing places are in gullies where there is living coral and an abundance of other animal 

 life; other places (not so productive generally) are on ridges of calcareous rock, that seem to be 

 surrounded by no amount of animal life, except, perhaps, niiuute animals that live in the scanty 

 growth of marine plants. When the fishermen reach the " grounds," or the vicinity of localities 

 where they have previously caught fish, they use the lead-line continually until rocky bottom or fish 

 are found. The sounding-lead itself has an " arming" of tallow or wax to show the character of the 

 bottom, while on the lead line is attached a baited hook, which is generally taken by the fish if 

 there are any near. When rocky bottom is found, but no fish, the vessel is allow i drift or 

 move slowly, while the crew try their fishing-lines, and very often good fishing grounds are found 

 in that way. As soon as it is ascertained that there are plenty of fish below, the schooner's jib is 

 hauled half-way dowu, the mainsail slacked off to the fullest extent, and the schooner allowed to 

 drift sidewise over the spot. Finally they drift away from the fish; then the lines are taken in, 

 jib hoisted, mainsail hauled flat (foresail is seldom used at all), and the smack is worked up to 



