380 V. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



catch, that of menhaden accounted for 35 per cent; mullet, 19 per 

 cent; shrimp, 13 per cent; red snapper, 5 per cent; and Spanish 

 mackerel, and catfish and bullheads, each 4 per cent. 



OPERATING UNITS BY GEAR 



The catch of fishery products in Florida during 1929 was taken by 

 9,003 fishermen, who used 106 motor vessels, 8 sailing vessels, 6,573 

 motor and other small fishing boats, and 19 major types of gear. 

 The vessels had a combined capacity of 3,897 net tons. The fish- 

 eries accounting for the greatest number of persons were the fishery 

 with runaround gill nets, employing 2,498 fishermen, and the hand- 

 line fishery, employing 1,950 fishermen. 



CATCH BY GEAR 



Five types of gear accounted for 95 per cent of the fishery products 

 taken in the fisheries of Florida (including Lake Okeechobee) during 

 1929. Listed in order of their importance, they were: Purse seines, 

 which accounted for 35 per cent of the catch; gill nets, 23 per cent; 

 lines, 13 per cent; otter trawls, 13 per cent; and haul seines, 10 per 

 cent. The catch by purse seines was almost exclusively menhaden; 

 that by gill nets was principally mullet, Spanish mackerel, and 

 squeteagues or "sea trout"; that by lines was principally red snap- 

 per, kingfish or "king mackerel" and groupers; that by otter trawls 

 was principally shrimp; and that by haul seines chiefly mullet and 

 catfish and bullheads. 



OPERATING UNITS BY COUNTIES 



Pinellas County led in the number of persons fishing, accounting 

 for 12 per cent of the total. Escambia County followed, with 8 per 

 cent. Other counties employing a considerable number of fisher- 

 men were: Monroe, Franklin, Charlotte, and Bay. Escambia 

 County accounted for 32 per cent of the total number of fishing ves- 

 sels and Bay County accounted for 16 per cent. Charlotte County 

 led in the number of motor and other small fishing boats, accounting 

 for 9 per cent of the total. Monroe and Pinellas Counties followed, 

 each accounting for 8 per cent. 



CATCH BY COUNTIES 



Fishing was prosecuted in the waters of 39 counties in Florida 

 (including Lake Okeechobee) during 1929. Ranked according to 

 value the fisheries of Pinellas County were most important, account- 

 ing for 4 per cent of the catch and 18 per cent of the value of the 

 catch. Escambia County was next in importance, accounting for 5 

 per cent of the catch and 8 per cent of the value. Other important 

 counties, listed in order of their importance, with respect to the value 

 of the catch, were: Nassau, Franklin, St. John, and Monroe. 



CATCH BY DISTRICTS 



Considered according to value of products taken during 1929, the 

 west coast of Florida was by far the most important district in that 

 State, accounting for 49 per cent of the total quantity and 63 per 

 cent of the total value. The east coast of Florida accounted for 48 

 per cent of the total quantity and 34 per cent of the total value. 

 Lake Okeechobee accounted for 3 per cent each of the quantity and 

 value. 



