FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 55 



Alligator and otter hunting. — In Hillsboro, De Soto, and Lee counties 

 considerable alligator and otter bunting is carried on by white men and 

 Indians. The alligator industry is much less extensive than formerly, 

 owing to excessive hunting of the alligators, which are being rapidly 

 killed off, but the hunting of otters is now receiving more than usual 

 attention, the otters having undergone a noteworthy increase in the 

 past few years. The reason generally assigned for the increase in the 

 number of otters is the decrease in the alligators, which are said to be 

 the principal enemies of the otters. 



In 1805, according to information obtained from the dealers in the 

 three counties named who handled the alligator and otter skins, 214 

 persons were engaged in the business; their investment in boats, guns, 

 traps, etc., was $7,421; and their product amounted to 10,750 alligator 

 skins, valued at $11,925, and 2.750 otter pelts, worth $13,750. 



The oyster industry. — Although the taking of oysters is one of the 

 principal branches of the fisheries of this section, the business is far 

 from being as extensive as the resources seem to warrant. The ques- 

 tion of maintaining the supply and developing the industry is one of 

 the most important related to the fisheries to which the attention of the 

 people of this region can be drawn. 



The principal oyster beds of the counties of Hillsboro, Manatee, and 

 De Soto are located in Hillsboro Bay, at and near the month of Mana- 

 tee River, in Sarasota Bay, and at Cape Haze in Charlotte Harbor. 

 There are isolated oyster beds along the entire coast, but the foregoing 

 are those which have up to this time been the chief source of supply. 



Opinions differ as to whether the oysters are becoming scarcer, 

 although most of the dealers and oystermen think they are decreasing 

 each year. Some time ago Tampa drew most of its oyster supply from 

 Old Tampa Bay, but the beds in that place are so depleted that it has 

 not paid to work them for several years. 



Most of the oysteriug is done from Tampa, although there is con- 

 siderable oyster business at Punta Gorda. In 1805, 77 persons were 

 engaged in taking oysters. These used vessels, boats, and apparatus 

 (tongs) valued at $3,058. The product, amounting to 70,381 bushels, 

 was worth $21,334, an average price of about 30 cents a bushel. 



During the past few years some efforts at private oyster-culture have 

 been made, consisting in the planting of seed oysters in Hillsboro Bay 

 and on the worked-out Manatee beds, but the enterprise has thus far 

 been unsatisfactory, owing to the robbery of the beds. 



Clams are found in Sarasota Bay and elsewhere, but owing to the 

 limited demand no regular fishery has been established and only a few 

 thousand are taken annually. 



The sponge fishery and trade. — The sponge business of this section 

 centers at Tarpon Springs, in Hillsboro County, on the Auclote River. 

 This river affords a good harbor, is adjacent to the Anclote sponge- 

 grounds, and is the rendezvous of a large number of sponge vessels 



