64 FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



ripe fish are found as late as February. The trout or squeteague ranks 

 next to the mullet in value. It is taken in largest quantities during 

 cold weather, when it congregates in deep holes and may be readily 

 caught with a seine, while in warm weather the schools scatter. The 

 sheepshead is most common from December to the last of March. 

 The best season for pompano is from April 15 to May 15, and for Spanish 

 mackerel from March 15 to May 1, though some pompano are taken in 

 October and November. The redfish or channel bass is taken princi- 

 pally in February, March, and April. 



Among the food-fishes of Franklin County that are not now utilized, 

 although abundant, are pinfish, sturgeon, and catfish. Large quantities 

 of pinfish are taken each year, but as there is no sale for them they are 

 thrown back into the water. Sturgeon are reported to be very common 

 in the rivers, but they are not sought. There are immense quantities of 

 catfish in the streams, but their food value is not appreciated, and up to 

 1890 no attention was paid to them. In this year, however, an Apalachi- 

 cola dealer began to purchase and ship them to various parts of the 

 country. 



The yield of these fisheries in 1895 was over 3,000,000 pounds, with a 

 value to the fishermen of more than $73,000. The quantity taken with 

 seines was nearly double that obtained with gill nets. Mullet, fresh, 

 salted, and in the form of roe, constituted five-sixths the quantity and 

 eight-ninths the value of the catch. The importance of each product 

 is shown in the following summary of the yield: 



Species. 



Anyel-fish 



Blueflsh Y////.'.'.'.'.'.'.'".'.'.'.'."Y, 



Channel bass 



Drum !....!!.... 



Flounders 



Kin "fish '//'_ ....'.'. 



Mullet, fres h 



Mullet, salted.. 'I!."".".""."."".""!.".":" 1,524.! 000 



Mullet roe, iresu 



Mullel ioi', Baited 



Pigfish '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.[". 



Pompano, fresh ....... .'. 



Pompano, salted 



Sheepshead, fresh Y...Y...V..'... 



Sheepshead, salted 



Spanish mackerel 



Sin. Is 



Trout, fresh 



Trout, salted 



Whiting 



Total 3,013,030 73,470 



The red-snapper fishery.— A little fishing for red snappers and group- 

 ers was carried on from Oarrabelle in 1895, a small sloop and a small 

 schooner, each with 3 men, being employed. It is reported that one of 

 the finest snapper banks off the Florida coast is located a few miles 

 southeast of Dog Island, which is about 9 miles from Carrabelle. Owing 

 to the very shoal water in the entrance to the harbor of this place, only 



