FISHERIES OF KEY WEST. 3 



person, ov at the most two, constitutes the crew. Fishing is done 

 entirely with hook and line. The general equipment consists of 

 numerous fish hooks and lines, a small minnow seine or cast net with 

 which to secure fish bait, a pair of "grains" for spearing spiny 

 lobsters also for bait, a small dij) net for removing fish from the well 

 when desired, a barrel of fresh water, a supply of food, an open- 

 grate wood stove, some dry firewood, and the necessary bedding for 

 accommodation over night. 



Some of the fishermen return from the day's fishing by late after- 

 noon, while others remain away for one or more days, fishing at 

 more distant points where somewhat larger or perhaps more desir- 

 able fish may be found. The fishery is of local importance only, 

 as these fish rarely are shipped from the city. Because of the 

 regularit}^ of the fishing throughout the year the value of the annual 

 catch is quite large and assumes a prominent place among the other 

 fishery resources of the region. 



Practically all of these smaller fishes are kept alive until sold. 

 Each boat, as already stated, is equipped with a fish well, where the 

 fish are retained after they are removed from the hook. At the 

 wharf the fisherman has one or more live cars in which the fish are 

 placed in order to display them for sale, leaving the boat's well 

 empty for the next fishing trip. A well-stocked live car is a pretty 

 sight, as many of the reef fishes are beautifully colored. 



A fishing boat without a well would be quite useless for reef fish- 

 ing in this region, as the fish would spoil long before they could 

 reach the market. Ice is used to preserve only those species that will 

 not live in confinement, such as the mullet, kingfish, or Spanish 

 mackerel. The fish well is carefully constructed of from 2 to 4 inch 

 lumber, according to the size of the boat, and the seams are caulked 

 with the same care that is given to the outer hull. At the base the 

 four sides fit snugly with the contour of the boat and converge 

 toward the top like a frustum of a pyramid, which the well diagram- 

 matically resembles. The top of the well fits flush with the deck 

 and is covered with a trapdoor, which is removed during actual 

 fishing. The floor of the well, which is part of the hull, is pierced 

 with numerous 1-inch holes to permit a constant interchange of 

 water. 



Tlie necessary equipment for reef fishing is simple, the running 

 expenses are small, the fishing grounds are near by, and the fish 

 are readily caught and quickly sold. The fishery, however, does not 

 appear to be overcrowded, for the markets are more liable to be 

 without fish than to be overstocked. 



LARGER REEF FISHES. 



The larger reef fishes consist mostly of groupers, jewfish, hogfish, 

 large porgies, and large snappers. They are taken throughout the 

 year, although each at certain seasons furnishes better fishing than 

 at other times. Larger boats are used, and fishing is carried on 

 in deeper water than for the smaller reef fishes. 



The few Key West boats that engage in this fishery range in 

 length from 80 to 75 feet, or from the half-cabin dory type to the 

 small schooner. Since hand lines only are used, the equipment is 

 similar to that of the smaller boats. A crew of from two to five is 



