60 



FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



formerly engaged in shad fishing on Albemarle Sound, it is probable 

 that they were correct in their identification. This year the sturgeon 

 fishermen intend to use a number of shad gill nets in connection with 

 their sturgeon fishing, and are in hopes of making profitable catches. 

 A drawback to the use of nets on this river is the great number of 

 stumps and sunken logs which interfere with the fishing. If shad are 

 caught in paying quantities, it is probable that an effort will be made 

 to improve the bed of the river in certain spots that are favorable for 

 the use of drift gill nets. 



Turtle and terrapin fishinr,.— In 1895 the taking of green turtles was 

 engaged in by 42 Cedar Keys fishermen. These used 28 sail and row 

 boats, valued at $5,405, and 43 turtle nets, worth $1,290. The number 

 of turtles taken was 2,051, weighing 107,010 pounds and valued at 

 $0,981. The average weight was only 40 pounds. In 1890 113 turtle 

 nets were used in this place; these took 89,958 pounds of turtle, having 

 a value of $0,297. The turtle fishermen and larger boys of Cedar Keys 

 make quite a business of getting terrapins, winch are usually caught 

 with the hands. About 30 cents apiece is the average price received 

 by the fishermen. In 1895 the catch amounted to 11 ,400 pounds, valued 

 at $1,250. This was an increase over 1890, when the output was 4.180 

 pounds. The average weight of the terrapins is 3 pounds. 



Summary of Cedar Keys fisheries.— In 1895 the fisheries of this place 

 gave employment to 240 persons; of these, 230 were in the fisheries 

 proper, were engaged in transporting fishery products to market, and 

 10 were employed in various capacities on shore. The aggregate 

 capital invested in this industry was $20,051. The leading items in the 

 investment were 123 vessels and boats valued at $13,910, apparatus of 

 capture worth $2,702, shore and accessory property valued at $1,539, 

 and cash capital $8,500. The fishery products weighed 1,726,658 pounds' 

 and had a value of $33,888; of this sum, fishes represented $23,052' 

 reptiles $8,231, and mollusks $2,005. 



The foregoing figures do not include the sponge vessels which take 

 out papers at the Cedar Keys custom-house, but are owned or make 

 their headquarters elsewhere. 



THE FISHERIES OF APALACHICOLA AND VICINITY. 



General character and extent.— The fisheries prosecuted from Apalach- 

 icola, Carrabelle, and other points in Franklin County are of a varied 

 character ami in the aggregate are quite important, although no single 

 branch is of special prominence. The principal fisheries are the sponge, 

 oyster, and mullet, although a number of other fish are taken in com- 

 paratively large quantities with gill nets, seines, and other apparatus. 

 Apalachicola ranks next to Key West and Pensacola in the value of 

 its fisheries, and this prominence seems quite remarkable in view of the 

 exceedingly poor facilities for shipping the catch. The establishment 

 of railroad communication, which is now assured, will greatly increase 

 the fishing industry of Apalachicola and vicinity, as the resources are 



