REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. CXXXI 



162 were operated in both years. Of these, 90 per cent took more 

 salmon in 1806. The persons engaged nnmbered 133 each year, and 

 the value of the investment in boats, apparatus, etc., was uj>ward of 

 $1(>,()00 each season. 



^Notwithstanding the greatly increased catch in 1896, that season 

 was behind a number of earlier years for which statistics are available. 

 Thus, in 1880 about 10,000 salmon were taken in this region, and in 1887, 

 1888, and 1889 the catch was still larger. From 1892 to 1895 the output 

 declined about 30 per cent, and the general tendency of late has been 

 toward a decrease, 1896 affording a pleasing contrast. 



The salmon fishermen are almost unanimous in the belief that the 

 maintenance of the supply is dependent on artificial propagation. 

 They think the opportunities for natural reproduction are so limited 

 that only a few years would elapse before the supply would become 

 exhausted without the planting of artificially hatched fry. All the eggs 

 collected by the Commission are from fish caught for market, which 

 eggs would otherwise be lost. There was in May and June, 1896, a 

 noteworthy run of small salmon that had then entered the stream for 

 the first time ; a corresponding scarcity of large fish was observed. The 

 fishermen refer to these small salmon as the hatchery school. 



The interesting experiment is being tried of introducing the quinnat 

 salmon and steelhead trout of the Pacific coast into the Penobscot and 

 other Maine waters. Should it prove successful, two very valuable 

 fishes will be added to the fishing resources of the region. 



COASTAL FISHERIES OF FLORIDA. 



In October and November, 1896, an investigation of the coastal fish- 

 eries of Florida was conducted by the writer and Mr. John N. Cobb, 

 field agent, in conjunction with other Fish Commission representatives 

 who were studying tbe natural- history features of the Florida fisheries. 

 All the fishing communities on the west coast of the State were visited, 

 and a number of places on the east coast. Most of the latter section, 

 however, had recently been canvassed by agents of the division. The 

 information thus obtained was incorporated in a report submitted to 

 the Senate by the Commissioner on January 28, 1897. 



Fishing is one of the principal industries of Florida, and the business 

 is doubtless destined to undergo much further increase in certain lines. 

 The approximate extent of the coastal fisheries at the present time is as 

 follows: Persons employed, 6,100 j capital invested, $1,300,000; value 

 of catch, $1,200,000. 



In this investigation special attention was given to the sponge, 

 oyster, green turtle, and red snapper fisheries, as well as the Key West 

 line fishing and the very extensive mullet fishing on the west coast. 

 Florida is the only State having a sponge fishery, and surpasses all 

 others in the yield of mullet, red snappers, green turtles, kingfish, pom- 

 pano, and many other products. 



