52 FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



the rates on fish, but desisted on the representations of the Tampa 

 dealers, who showed that there had been a large increase in the ship- 

 ment by rail during the past few years and that Tampa would be 

 unable to compete with other places in supplying certain sections if the 

 shipping prices were raised. 



One of the statements prepared by the dealers for the information of 

 the railroad companies was the following table, showing the combined 

 fresh-fish rail shipments by the three wholesale dealers during the 

 mouth of October, from 1890 to 1895, inclusive : 



From the most accurate data obtainable, it appears that in 1895 over 

 4,000,000 pounds of fresh fish alone were shipped by rail from Tampa, 

 to which should be added the very large trade in salt mullet, oysters, 

 and other fishery products. 



. Most of the fish brought into Tampa are from fishing-camps located 

 between Clearwater (Hillsboro County) and Naples (Lee County). A 

 large number of small vessels are employed in taking the catch from 

 the camps to the city. The camps are most numerous around the 

 entrance to Charlotte Harbor and Caloosahatchee lliver, Grove City, 

 St. James City, and Punta Rassa being the most important centers. 

 Hunter Point, near the entrance to Tampa Bay, is a very important camp 

 region. The camps consist of collections of cheap wooden buildings, 

 sometimes constructed over the water on piling, but usually on the 

 mainland or keys on leased ground, convenient to the fishing-grounds. 



The mullet fishery gives to Tampa its chief importance as a fishing 

 center, and is much more extensive than all other fisheries combined; 

 but numerous other fish are taken, and there are sponge, turtle, oyster, 

 and alligator fisheries in this region. 



The mullet fishery. — In the extensive region under consideration, this 

 fishery in 1895 gave employment to 699 fishermen, who employed 356 

 gill nets (with an aggregate length of 225,520 feet) and 162 seines 

 and stop nets (with a combined length of 75,450 feet). The boats and 

 vessels used in catching aud transporting the fish numbered 526. The 

 value of the apparatus was $11,907, and of the vessels and boats was 

 $98,554. The transporting fleet numbered 36 vessels and carried 87 

 men. The results of the fishery were as follows: 8,183,539 pounds of 

 fresh mullet, worth $74,133; 2,182,556 pounds of salt mullet, worth 

 $36,505 ; and 138,400 pounds of salt mullet roe, worth $9,895. 



The stop net is the most important apparatus used iu the capture of 

 mullet. It is in reality a seine from 300 to 500 feet long, with a 3-inch 

 mesh. Duriug high water it is secured to stakes across the entrance 



