Part 1.— THE SPINY LOBSTER FISHERY OF SOUTHERN FLORIDA. 



THE SPINY LOBSTER FISHERY AT KEY WEST, FLA. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE FISHERY. 



The importance of the spiny lobster can not be questioned. Besides being of 

 value as food for human consumption, it is the favorite food of many fishes and other 

 marine animals. Were it not used for fish-baiting purposes the catch of fish by hook 

 and line and small traps would be greatly curtailed. According to the United States 

 Bureau of the Census, Fisheries of the United States, 1908, the catch for the State of 

 Florida was 53,000 pounds, having a value of $3,600. The total value of all fishery 

 products for the State at that time was $3,289,000. The spiny lobster industry, 

 therefore, constituted a very small part of the total value. It has been estimated that 

 the present annual catch is 300,000 pounds, valued at $25,000. It is impossible to 

 determine the number of spiny lobsters used for bait, but it is said that fully one-half 

 of all caught are used for this purpose. It can be seen that the lobster industry, 

 although still small, has been developing. 



In the local fishing with hook and line, or with traps, or pots, the fishermen depend 

 almost entirely on spiny lobster meat for bait. The tail of this animal consists of 

 solid meat, and it is said to be equal in quality to that of the northern lobster. The 

 spiny lobsters utilized in the fishing industry are caught by the fishermen on the way 

 to the fishing grounds. Spiny lobsters which die before the fishermen can market them 

 are also utilized in this manner. It is said that four or five dozen, with a market value 

 of $1 per dozen, when used for bait usually net the fishermen $40 to $50 worth of fish. 



The industry is of greater importance at Key West than elsewhere in southern 

 Florida, though the markets at Miami, Fla., are handling more and more spiny lobsters 

 each year.. The demand is sometimes greater than the supply. During the migratory 

 periods, when spiny lobsters are plentiful and easily taken, it is more profitable to catch 

 them than fish. Consequently, a large majority of the fishermen engage in the industry 

 at this time. Only about one dozen boats are engaged in the industry throughout 

 the year, and two men per boat usually constitute the crew. 



FISHING GROUNDS. 



LOCAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The spiny lobsters are found throughout the Florida Reef but are most numerous 

 along the southern shore, where the bottom is rocky and ledges are prominent. The 

 local fishing grounds are about 25 miles in length, extending from Boca Grande Key 

 on the west to Sugar Loaf Keys on the east. The principal and most important fishing 

 grounds are between these extremities off the following Keys: Boca Grande, Mann, 

 Ballast, Mule (Little Mullet Key), 3 Woman, Man of War, Barracouta, Joe Ingams, Mullet 

 (Big Mullet), 3 and King Fish Shoals (Crawfish Bar). 3 The older fishing grounds are off 



8 Local names in parentheses. 



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