50 FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



The spiny lobster or crawfish, which is extremely abundant, would 

 doubtless meet with sale in a fresh condition in the northern markets 

 after its food value became known, and it would undoubtedly prove a 

 satisfactory substitute for the common lobster. The crawfish of the 

 California coast, which closely resembles the Florida species, has 

 been canned in limited quantities and is consumed fresh in very large 

 numbers. 



THE TURTLE FISHERY. 



This is one of the most prominent of the Key West fisheries, ranking- 

 next to the sponge and bottom fisheries in number of persons engaged 

 and value of products. While quite important, this fishery is much 

 less valuable than formerly, owing to the decrease in the supply. 



In 1895 this fishery gave employment to 70 persons, of whom 27 were 

 on registered vessels and 49 on open sailboats or small sloops. The 

 number of vessels and boats used was 29. The crews of some of the 

 vessels numbered 5 men, but on the small boats only 2 men were 

 carried. The apparatus consisted chiefly of nets, of which 54 were set, 

 but some turtling was done by means of pegs. 



Three species of turtles are caught, namely, the green, the logger- 

 head, and the hawksbill, but the green turtle is the most important. 

 The average weight of the last is between 125 and 275 pounds. The 

 loggerhead turtle, while quite common, is not sought to any great ex- 

 tent, as in food value it is inferior to the green, and is not in demand 

 for shipment. It exceeds the green turtle in size. A few hawksbill 

 turtles are taken each year. They average about SO pounds in weight, 

 although many small ones are caught. Their flesh has little value, but 

 their shell (which is the tortoise shell of commerce) brings a high price. 

 The average weight of the shell is about 34- pounds, and it is worth 

 from $2 to $4.50 per pound, depending on the quality. 



The grounds extend for many miles along the keys, and also include 

 the coast of the mainland of Monroe County and the Straits of Florida. 

 The principal region is from Marquesas Key, 30 miles west of Key 

 West, to Alligator Light, on the east coast; there is also good turtling 

 in the Bay of Florida — that part of the Gulf of Mexico intervening 

 between the western keys and the mainland. 



Fishing is carried on throughout the year. Crawls or pens are located 

 at convenient places, in which the turtles are kept pending collection 

 and transportation tu Key West, whence most of them are sent by 

 Steamer to New York. At Key West the turtles are sold at public 

 auction, and are bought by agents of New York houses. Pending sale 

 or shipment the turtles are kept in large pens near the docks. 



Quite a business is done in loggerhead-turtle eggs. These are either 

 taken from the female turtles that have been caught for market or are 

 dug up from the sand where they have been buried by the turtles. 

 The eggs taken directly from the female are yellow in color and bring 

 the best price; those that have been laid are white and sell for about 



