MAEINE FISHERIES OF TEXAS 



181 



species has been virtually horizontal, also, although since 1908 the 

 catch of trout has increased somewhat more than that of redfish. 

 Both are valuable species, the redfish yielding the fishermen 8.2 

 cents per pound and the trout 10.1 cents in 1923. 



From 1897 to 1902 the yield of the more important species in the 

 shore fisheries declined somewhat, but this decline was more than 

 compensated by a remarkable development in the offshore fishery 

 for red snapper. The quantity taken of this valuable fish increased 

 about 400 per cent in this period, reaching a total of over 2,000,000 

 pounds, and continued to increase another 250,000 pounds in the 

 next six years. From 1908, however, the catch fell, until in 1923 

 the total was about 1,000,000 pounds. 



The fishery for the black drum has experienced an increase in 

 yield almost as spectacular as that of the red snapper. The black 

 drum is one of the cheaper, less popular fish and in earlier times was 

 discarded when taken in the fishermen's hauls. The first yield of 

 any importance was recorded in 1902, but from that time on the rise 

 was rapid, reaching a peak of almost 2,000,000 pounds during the 

 war year of 1918 and exceeding all other species. Although the 

 fishery declined greatly in 1923, it was exceeded only by trout and 

 amounted to well over 1,000,000 pounds. 



Among the minor fisheries the sheepshead shows the greatest vari- 

 ation in yield. From 1890 to 1902 the decline was marked, and 

 although a slight increase took place in 1908 the general decline 

 continued, reaching the lowest point in 1923. 



The relative importance of each species in the annual catches is 

 shown in Table 8. Here may be seen the rise and fall of the red- 

 snapper fishery and the rise in popularity of the black drum until 

 it constituted one-fourth or one-third of the total catch of all food 

 fish. 



Table 8. — Per cent of the various species of fishes in the total yield of food fish in 



Texas in various years 



[Data taken from reports of the Bureau of Fisheries and the Bureau of the Census] 



1 Average. 

 2281- 



-26t- 



