BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 77 



this sectiou, snch as trawliug, were thoroughly tested and found to be 

 of no advantage. 



The weather throughout the winter was unusually bad, as there was 

 a succession of hard blows. The Northern fishermen complained that 

 our weather was nearlv as severe as that of their own coast, and that 

 the short, choppy seas of the Gulf were more troublesome than the 

 long, regular roll of the Atlantic. The large schooner from Portland 

 did not appear to have any advantage over the smaller home vessels, 

 and she did not land as many fish as some of them did. Several of the 

 latter made good fares all winter; but the majority of the fleet, especially 

 tbe small well-smacks, did not make any monej'. 



The larger part of the fish caught came from comparatively a slightly 

 fished ground, about 215 miles southeasterly frona Pensacola. The older 

 grounds, from Pensacola to Cape San Bias, did not yield any good fish- 

 ing. The necessity of going so far for fish increased their cost and made 

 them of less value on account of their being so much longer kept in the 

 vessels. Instead of taking one Aveek, the trips were lengthened to two 

 weeks, which makes quite a diflereuce to the outfitters, who pay the 

 wages of the crews. It is an open question whether the fish have been 

 driven from the adjacent grounds by severe weather or have been in a 

 degree exhausted. It could hardly have been because of not having 

 suitable bait, for at that time there was a good supply of the several 

 kinds that suapj>ers usually prefer. The explorations of the Albatross, 

 made upon the most noted grounds during the milder weather of spring, 

 would suggest that the fish had gone from the grounds. 



In spite of the boisterous season the larger number of vessels brought 

 the catch to a much greater amount than that of any former season. In 

 the latter part of the winter one new fishing firm was established. 



The prices paid the fishermen remained at the same figures as before j 

 the selling prices were also kept up. The demand after the 1st of Jan- 

 uary, when the Western lakes were frozen, was moderately good, but 

 showed a falling off from the year before. At the end of the lenten 

 season the red-snapper fleet was reduced from twenty to twelve vessels, 

 the majority of the Northern men going home. The run of shore fish was 

 delayed about a month by the unusually cold weather; and when it did 

 take place almost every point had been fully supplied from either Cedar 

 Key or Tampa. 



Spanish mackerel came on the coast in great numbers, exceeding 

 anything known for many years ; but there was little demand for them, 

 and no good profit was realized on those sold. Pompanos were not so 

 plentiful as usual, and were not in much demand, as Cedar Key had a 

 iarge run much earlier in the season. Bluefish came during the last of 

 April, after the mackerel and pompanos, and in no great abundance. 



During the summer about a dozen snapper fishing vessels were run 

 with small crews and with orders to bring in limited quantities. The 



