FISHERY mDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1020 901 



The total catch amounted to 67,040,079 ])Ouncls, vahicd at 

 12,214,839. This is an increase of 11 per cent in the catch and 18 per 

 cent in the value of the catch as compared with the catch and its 

 value for 1927. Of the total value of the catch, that for shrimp 

 accounted for 39 per cent; mullet, 11 per cent; and kinsjfish, or "king 

 mackerel," Spanish mackerel, and catfish and bullheads each 

 accounted for 6 per cent. Of the total jjroduction, that of shrimp 

 accounted for 34 pci cent; menhaden, 32 per cent; mullet, 10 per cent; 

 and catfish and bullheads, 5 per cent. 



OPERATING UNITS BY GEAR 



The catch of fishery products along the east coast of Florida was 

 taken by 3,026 fishermen who used 25 motor vessels, 2,333 motor 

 and other small fishing boats, and 15 major types of gear. The 

 vessels had a combined capacity of 469 net tons. The fisheries 

 accounting for the greatest number of persons were the drift gill-net 

 fishery employing 888 fishermen, the otter-trawl fishery employing 

 716 fishermen, the troll-line fishery employing 660 fishermen, and 

 the hand-line fishery employing 539 fishermen. 



CATCH BY GEAR 



Four types of gear accounted for 91 per cent of the fishery products 

 taken in the marine fisheries of the east coast of Florida in 1928. 

 Listed in order of their importance, they were otter trawls which 

 accounted for 34 per cent of the catch; purse seines, 33 per cent; 

 gill nets, 17 per cent; and lines, 7 per cent. The catch by otter 

 trawds was almost exclusively shrimp, that by purse seines almost 

 entirely menhaden, that by gill nets chiefly mullet and Spanish mack- 

 erel, and that by hand lines chiefly squeteagues or "sea trout," 

 flounders, muttonfish, and bluefish. 



OPERATING UNITS BY COUNTIES 



St. Johns and Nassau Counties each accounted for 14 per cent of 

 the total number of fishermen. Dade County followed with 13 per 

 cent. Other counties employing a considerable number of fishermen 

 listed in order of their importance in this respect w^ere Palm Beach, 

 Duval, Putman, Volusia, Martin, Brevard, and St. Lucie — Nassau 

 County accounting for 52 per cent of the total number of fishing ves- 

 sels. No other county had in excess of four vessels operating in the 

 fishing industries. Dade County led in the number of motor and 

 other small fishing boats, accounting for 13 per cent of the total. 

 Duval followed wath 11 per cent. 



CATCH BY COUNTIES 



Fishing was prosecuted in the marine waters of 15 counties on the 

 east coast of Florida during 1928. Ranked according to value the 

 fisheries of Nassua County were most important, accounting for 50 

 per cent of the total catch and 22 per cent of the total value of the 

 catch. St. Johns County was next in importance, accounting for 

 1 5 per cent of the catch and 18 per cent of the value. Other important 

 counties listed in order of their importance with respect to the value 

 of the catch were Dade, Putman, Martin, and Brevard. 



