REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. owe 
Sponge fishery of Florida, 1900—Continued. 

Key West. ali Apalachicola. Total. 
Kinds and grounds. 

Lbs. | Value. | Lbs. | Value.| Lbs. | Value.} Lbs. | Value. 



Catch by boats on “Bay” 




























rounds: | 
Bieepawosl pee ee eg Ore) So7 UUN |e 8.428 2, 20 | 996 | $2,934 | 29,093 | $84,763 
WEG ee ee 3, 793 2, 827 | 2,670 780 438 292 6, 901 4,899 
GiShek;. 238,02 o ee ee 6, 683 2,035 | 10,894 2 O05 360 96 | 17,937 5, 036 
EONS ee ee 237 OF eee noes EOE (=e os we Lees 237 34 
TST |S ed 30,387 | 61,905 | 21,987 | 29,505 | 1,794 | 3,322 | 54,168 | 94,732 
Catch by boats on ‘Key” Hf ; | 1 if 
grounds: | , 
MHEG PSWOO! 2 es ese 2b Sone 39, 341 5, 363 Saue pane 39, 341 85, 363 
RG Gy ope ee E220), 250 Teas = 20, 250 17,345 
RET ASS Neste eres coe eee 37,551 11, 968 37, 551 11, 968 
GiO Vere ts eee 7,495 1, 084 7,495 1, 084 
Velvet or boat .......-........| 4,281 3, 504 4, 281 3, 504 
UG Ga Re oe ee re ee NOSROTS sO 264 |e - 2 eee ee | ee LOS S918 | 119, 264 
(rand vOLal.222522---—- -s- 315, 377 | 488, 744 | 45,180 | 70,320 | 4,483 | 8,621 | 364,990 | 567, 685 
Yield and value of the sponge fishery tn 1895, 1896, 1899, and 1900. 
1895. 1896. 1899. 1900. 
Kinds. ] | : 
Lbs. | Value. | Lbs. Value. Lbs. | Value. Lbs. Value. 
| % _ | 
Sheepswool ----.--- 231,272 | $368,107 | 149, 724 | $248,196 | 153,700 | $332,390 | 181,311 | $483,263 
Mellow focss-c «5-52 29, 509 11,798 23) 655 9,318 55, 800 16, 205 55, 178 44,045 
REMASS 2 oc 350 oes eo: 21,387 5, 464 44,617 11,508 76, 900 14,319 | 109, 265 33, 263 
WiHercess. =: Se 23, 952 6,502 | 18,315 3, 990 18, 000 5, 000 19, 236 7, 114 
| —_s — | == 
Total 3522 5.2-2 306, 120 ~ 386, 871 | 236,311 | 278,012 | 304,400} 367,914 | 364,990 567, 685 






FISHERIES OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES. 
A condensed statement of the results of the investigations of the 
Mississippi River and tributaries has already been published as sta- 
tistical bulletin No. 107. 
The total number of persons engaged in the fisheries of these waters 
was 11,218, the capital invested amounted to $1,883,875, and the 
products aggregated 94,713,402 pounds, valued at $1,771,812. 
The most important apparatus of capture employed in these fish- 
eries is fyke nets. They exceed in value all other forms of apparatus, 
and are more extensively used in this region than in all the other 
fishing sections of the United States combined. 
Among the products of these fisheries, buffalo-fish is most promi- 
nent, the yield being 14,215,975 pounds, valued at $349,913. Cat-fish 
is vO very abundant, the quantity taken being 7,648,179 pounds, 
valued at $359,800. German carp stands next in value and is greater 
in quantity, ne eatch being 11,868,840 pounds, valued at $289,258. 
Mussel shells constitute another important product, due to their use in 
the manufacture of pearl buttons, the quantity secured being 45,564,000 
pounds, for which the fishermen received $207,187. Other important 
products were crappie, worth $61,400; black bass, worth $56,652; 
paddle-fish, worth $55,514; suckers, worth $40,340; frogs, $53,054 
