24 FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



<■)((]((), wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri), bonito (Gymnosarda aUeierata), 

 whiting ( Orthopristis chrysopterus), and many others of less importance. 



The fishes of Biscayne Bay are not very different from those of Key 

 West. The chief difference lies in the fewer species at Biscayne Bay; 

 many of the species used as food at Key West are either entirely absent 

 or quite rare at Biscayne Bay. Commercial fishing in Biscayne Bay 

 and vicinity has only recently begun, and it is improbable that overfish- 

 ing will occur for some years yet. The fishes of the bay are considered 

 in a report recently published by the Commission. The development 

 of the fisheries of Lake Worth has only recently begun. The species 

 there are essentially the same as those of Indian River, which have 

 been discussed in the special report to the Senate already referred to. 



The most prominent fish on the Florida coast between Key West and 

 Pensacola is the mullet, which exists in incredible numbers and is taken 

 in enormous quantities. Tampa is the principal receiving center for 

 mullet on the west coast, and a large part of the mullet taken in the 

 counties of Lee, De Soto, Manatee, and Hillsboro pass through the hands 

 of Tampa dealers, together with large catches of other species. 



The results of the methods here are far from satisfactory. During 

 one day in November, 1890, several thousand mullet were seen thrown 

 away at Tampa, because they were too badly spoiled for shipping. 

 From the most reliable data that could be obtained, it is estimated that 

 the annual loss of mullet on the west coast of Florida amounts to about 

 500,000 pounds. This loss is due to two principal causes, (1) adverse 

 winds, preventing collecting vessels from returning promptly from the 

 fishing-camps, and (li) the failure to supply the vessels with sufficient 

 ice. Such waste is unfortunate and in large part unnecessary. Other 

 species suffer in the same way to some extent, but the great loss is 

 with the mullet. 



Other prominent shallow-water fishes of the west coast are sheeps- 

 head, redfish, squeteague, Spanish mackerel, pompano, bluefish, lady- 

 fish, and crevalle. These are generally distributed and abundant, and 

 are represented in the catch at most of the fishing centers. The offshore 

 fishing-grounds yield red snappers (Xeomanis aya) and groupers {Epi- 

 nephelus morio) in largest quantities. The fishery, which is centered at 

 Pensacola, is prosecuted chiefly on the ''snapper banks'" in the Gulf of 

 Mexico, although some fishing is done near shore and about the keys. 

 The abundance of groupers is far in excess of the present demands, 

 but the red snappers seem to be decreasing in numbers and fishing has 

 to be done at greater distances from the land than formerly in order to 

 produce satisfactory results. The abundance of the species is specially 

 referred to in the chapter on the Pensacola fisheries. The red snapper 

 is one of the most highly prized of the Florida fishes and ranks next 

 to mullet in commercial value. It attains a weight of 40 pounds, but 

 the average weight is not over 10 pounds. 



