36 



FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



No fish are shipped from Biscayne Bay, those caught being sold to 

 meet the local demand. All fishing is done with hand lines at the 

 inlets or on the ocean reefs. Groupers and grunts constitute fully 

 three-fourths of the catch, besides which there are taken porgies, 

 yellow-tails, redfish, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, and numerous other 

 varieties. In 1894 only four men made a business of taking fish for 

 sale, and these caught only 11,000 pounds, valued at $400. 



In 1895 some impetus was given to the local fishing by the opening 

 of a canal route between Lake Worth and Biscayne Bay. Eight per- 

 sons were engaged during a part of the year in taking fish with hand 

 lines and trap nets, and twenty-two others were employed in the turtle 

 fishery. The investment in the fishing industry amounted to $4,798, of 

 which $3,970 represented 2 vessels and 11 boats and $828 the apparatus 

 and accessories. The two vessels referred to were owned on Indian 

 River and Lake Worth, and engaged in turtle fishing off Biscayne 

 Bay in 1895. The aggregate yield of the fish was 86,282 pounds, 

 valued at $2,603. The turtle fishery yielded 425 green and hawksbill 

 turtles and 436 pounds of tortoise shell, the whole having a value of 

 $3,076. The following table shows the quantity and value of each of 

 the principal species : 



For a detailed description of Biscayne Bay and an extended account 

 of its fishery resources, fisheries, etc., reference is made to an article in 

 the report of the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries for 1895. 



FISHERIES OF KEY WEST. 



Importance and principal features. — The commercial fisheries center- 

 ing at Key West are not only much more important and extensive than 

 those of any other locality in Florida, but are also more valuable than 

 the salt-water fisheries of all the rest of the State. This preeminence, 

 which has been enjoyed for many years, is chiefly due to the rendez- 

 vousing of the numerous sponge fleet at this place and the discharging 

 of the cargoes there, although the principal part of the catch is taken 

 far from Key West. The local fisheries are, however, important, and 



