FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UKITED STATES. 7 



AID IN DEVELOPMENT OF FISHERY FOR BLACK DRUM. 



The black dnim {Pogonias cromis) is a predacious fish, very 

 destructive of oysters, particularly on cultivated beds, where the 

 oysters occur singly and may the more readily be seized and crushed. 

 This species is quite common on the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 

 migrating northward along the coasts of the Middle Atlantic States 

 in summer. It not uncommonly reaches a weight of 60 pounds or 

 more. Complete data as to the movements of the fish and the 

 possibility of establishing a regular fishery have been lackuig, and 

 the demand for the fresh fish nas been insufficient to care for the 

 catch. In fact, the fishermen frequently avoid taking it in their nets. 

 An examination of samples of canned black drum indicates that it is 

 excellent for this purpose, resembling the meat of poultry. 



Wishing to provide persons interested in the development of the 

 fishery with more detailed information as to localities in which the 

 fish might be taken in commercial quantities and as to seasons of 

 abundance, an assistant was detailed to visit the principal fishing 

 centers on the Gulf coast. On the Florida coast south of Tampa 

 the black drum is reported to be plentiful for about four months of 

 the 3"ear, beginning with April, and at Cedar Keys, throughout the 

 year, being taken principally in Withlacoochee Bay, on Port English, 

 and Waccassassee and Suwanee Bars. Cedar Keys would, therefore, 

 appear to be the most promising point on the Florida coast for a 

 fishery. To the westward conditions are less favorable, the fish 

 behig very scarce at Pensacola. At Mobile, Ala., the fish is said 

 to be plentiful throughout the year, but up to the present season 

 there had been no demand for it. At Biloxi and Gulfport, Miss., 

 it is scarce; in Louisiana waters some are taken throughout the year, 

 but no large schools are observed. At Galveston, Tex., a few are 

 taken in all months. Corpus Christi supports a fishery, but the 

 demand has lately fallen off as a result of publicity wrongly intimating 

 that the fish were unfit for food. At Point Isabel about 70 per cent 

 of aU fish taken are reported to bo drum. These are taken throughout 

 the year with pocket nets; that is, drag seines provided with pockets. 

 The seines are 300 to 500 feet long of No. 24 cotton twine, l|-incli 

 bar mesh. Point Isabel app(>.ars, therefore, to bo the most promising 

 place on the Gulf for a fishery. Fish from this point and from Mexico 

 are re-iced and shipped to market from Brownsville, Tex., the fisher- 

 men receiving about 2 cents per pound for tho catch. 



INCREASING THE USE OF FISH AS FOOD. 

 DEMONSTRATIONS IN FISH COOKERY. 



In previous reports attention has been called to tho practical 

 demonstrations and lectures in fish cookery initiated ])y tho Bureau 

 in May, 1918. These were intended to extend tho uso of cheaper, 

 more abundant species in each locality, to introduce appetizing, 

 inexpensive methods of cooking fish while conserving labor and elimi- 

 nating tho uso of expensive cooking fats and oils, and to encourage 

 the use for food of parts of tho fish usuaUy discarded. At tho beghi- 

 ning of 1919, tho holdJTigs of fish in tho cold stf)rag(>s of tho country 

 wero about double normal, with tho result of imminent danger that 

 large quantities of these fish saved during the war period would have 



