FISHEEY INDUSTHIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1924 401 



FISHERIES BY APPARATUS 



The total catch taken by vessels in the fisheries of the east coast 

 of Florida in 1923 amounted to 58,118,030 pounds, valued at $280,709, 

 the species taken being menhaden, mullet, and shrimp. The only 

 forms of fishing apparatus used on vessels were purse seines and 

 otter trawls. The catch with purse seines included 57,918,03Q 

 pounds of menhaden, valued at $276,209, which was the entire catch 

 of this species. There were also taken with this apparatus 100,000 

 pounds of mullet, valued at $1,500. The catch with otter trawls, 

 consisted of 100,000 pounds of shrimp, valued at $3,000. 



In the shore or boat fisheries the catch amounted to 28,777,892 

 pounds, valued at $1,439,212. The forms of fishing apparatus used 

 include purse seines, haul seines, gill nets, lines, otter trawls, cast 

 nets, spears, crab traps, dip nets, tongs, rakes, and grabs. Gill nets 

 were the most productive form of apparatus used, the catch amounting 

 to 11,038,780 pounds, valued at $675,056. The principal species 

 taken with gill nets were mullet, 5,381,200 pounds, valued at $175,562; 

 Spanish mackerel, 2,418,500 pounds, valued at $183,110; squeteagues 

 or "sea trout," 1,056,900 pounds, valued at $108,834; bluefish, 

 980,800 pounds, valued at $133,240; and shad 278,750 pounds, 

 valued at $38,935. The catch with otter trawls, which was next in 

 importance, amounted to 11,034,045 pounds, valued at $384, 661^ 

 and included 10,924,045 pounds of shrimp, valued at $382,361; 

 100,000 pounds of king whiting, valued at $2,000; and 10,000 pounds 

 of squeteague or "sea trout," valued at $300. The entire catch of 

 shrimp was taken with this form of apparatus. The catch with 

 seines amounted to 3,565,611 pounds, valued at $148,551. Purse 

 seines took 684,000 pounds, valued at $16,050, including 660,000 

 pounds of mullet, valued at $14,850, and 24,000 pounds of bluefish,. 

 valued at $1,200. 



The catch with haul seines amounted to 2,881,611 pounds, valued 

 at $132,501. The principal species taken were alewives, 1,048,000 

 pounds, valued at $26,700; catfish, 743,440 pounds, valued at $36,372; 

 shad, 224,116 pounds, valued at $23,512; and sunfish, 476,809 

 pounds, valued at $19,672. The catch with lines amounted to 

 2,434,782 pounds, valued at $197,663. Among the more important 

 species taken with lines were bluefish, 76,200 pounds, valued at 

 $10,544; catfish, 40,000 pounds, valued at $2,000; cero and kingfish, 

 1,962,457 pounds, valued at $160,777: snook or sergeant fish, 36,900 

 pounds, valued at $1,116; Spanish mackerel, 32,900 pounds, valued 

 at $2,457; squeteague or "sea trout," 118,000 pounds, valued at- 

 $12,110; and hard crabs, 40,000 pounds, valued at $2,000. The 

 catch of mullet and various other species with cast nets amounted 

 to 8,150 pounds, valued at $457. There were taken with spears 

 1,500 pounds of flounders, valued at $90. Crab traps were used 

 in taking hard crabs, the catch amounting to 32,000 pounds, valued 

 at $1,600. The total catch of sea crawfish or spiny lobster, amount- 

 ing to 156,200 pounds, valued at $11,634, was taken with dip nets. 

 The forms of apparatus used in taking oysters and hard clams were 

 tongs, rakes, and grabs. The catch of hard clams with tongs 

 amounted to 3,040 pounds, or 380 bushels, valued at $1,110; and with 

 rakes 1,520 pounds, or 190 bushels, valued at $555. The catch of 

 oysters with tongs amounted to 155,414 pounds, or 22,202 bushels, 



