FISHEEY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1929 915 



combined area of 12,300 square yards; 257 trammel nets having an 

 area of 216,810 square yards; 2,200 hand Hncs having ;3,216 hooks; 

 1,079 troll Hnes having"^ 1,905 hooks; 369 trot lines having 62,100 

 hooks; and 2 trot lines having 1,000 baits or snoods. There were also 

 31 pound nets; 240 stop nets having a combined area of 39,750 square 

 yards; 12,262 fyke nets; 103 dip nets; 34 cast nets; 475 otter trawls 

 used for shrimp, having an aggregate width at mouth of 8,048 yards; 

 65 eel pots; 1,510 crab pots; 2,328 sea crawfish pots; 76 spears; 2 

 steam clam dredges; 672 tongs; 18 rakes; 77 forks; 247 sponge hooks; 

 57 sea crawfish hooks; 44 stone crab hooks; and 52 diving outfits. 



CATCH BY SPECIES 



Based on the value to the fishermen, mullet, with a catch of 

 30,016,056 pounds, valued at $1,252,605, was the most important of 

 the fish taken. Red snapper was next in importance with a catch of 

 7,938,253 pounds, valued at $642,856. Squeteague or "sea trout" 

 was third, with a catch of 3,920,946 pounds, valued at $362,804. 

 Other fishes of importance were Spanish mackerel, 5,302,199 pounds, 

 valued at $349,893; catfish and bullheads, 5,821,635 pounds, valued 

 at $239,636; kingfish or "king mackerel," 3,948,567 pounds, valued 

 at $205,397; and pompano, 702,955 pounds, valued at $162,097. 

 Other species of fish were valued individually at less than $150,000. 

 Among the shellfish, shrimp was the most important in value with a 

 catch of 25,384,360 pounds, valued at $980,100. Oysters were next 

 in importance with a catch of 3,537,723 pounds of meats, valued at 

 $254,753. Among the sponges, sheepswool were most important, 

 with a catch of 345,586 pounds, valued at $778,497. The yellow 

 sponge ranked next in importance, with a catch of 87,206 pounds, 

 valued at $38,323. 



CATCH BY GEAR 



On the east coast, where 67,040,079 pounds of fishery products 

 were taken, otter trawls 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 b}^ otter trawls was principally shrimp; that by purse seines 

 menhaden; that by gill nets mainly mullet, Spanish mackerel, and 

 squeteague or "sea trout"; and that by lines chiefly kingfish or "king 

 mackerel," and catfish and bullheads. 



On the west coast where 61,120,555 pounds w-ere taken, gill nets 

 accounted for 36 per cent of the catch; lines, 24 per cent; haul seines, 

 12 per cent; and purse seines, 9 per cent. The catch by gill nets con- 

 sisted principally of mullet, Spanish mackerel, and squeteague or 

 "sea trout"; that by fines chiefly red snapper, groupers and kingfish 

 or "king mackerel"; that by haul seines mainly mullet and Spanish 

 mackerel; and that by purse seines, menhaden. 



In Lake Okeechobee, where 3,677,386 pounds were taken, haul 

 seines accounted for 89 per cent of the catch; fyke nets, 9 per cent; 

 and lines, 2 per cent. The catch by haul seines was principally cat- 

 fish and bullheads; that by fyke nets chiefly black bass and crappie; 

 and that by lines mainly catfish and bullheads. 



Considering the fisheries of the State as a whole,, five types of gear 

 accounted for 90 per cent of the catch. Listed in order of their im- 

 portance these were gill nets, which accounted for 25 per cent; purse 

 seines, 21 per cent; otter trawls, 20 per cent; lines, 15 per cent; and 



