178 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The only cxccptioM t<> this stafciiuMit was tlic huutiiij;- of alligators in 

 the interior waters of Florida, the small foree available and the tiinere- 

 (jnired personally to visit these repons, remote and dittieult of aeeess, 

 preclndiiii,^ the possibility of undertaking the work at this time. Consid- 

 erable valuable information on the alligator industry of the St. Johns 

 River iind the coast sections was, however, obtained in connectiou with 

 the regular fishery canvass, and, together with data relating to the west- 

 ern part of the State, will enable the oflice to possess a satisfactory 

 knowledge of the present condition of the business. 



The lisheries of this region are less valuable than those of any other 

 coast section ; the natural advantages, however, are extensive, and the 

 X)Ossibilities for development are considerable, especially in the oyster 

 and offshore line fisheries. Up to a comparatively recent date the South 

 Atlantic States took precedence over the Gulf States, but the marked 

 advances in the latter easily overcame the comparatively slight dilfer- 

 ence between the two regions in the absence of a correspondingly large 

 increase in the South Atlantic States. Special fisheries of this secticui 

 are uevertheless of great extent, and the industry as a whole has un- 

 dergone a very important increase since 1880. 



In ISnO, 16,001 persons were engaged in the South Atlantic fisheries, 

 $1,088,280 was invested in the industry, and $1,573,701 accrued from 

 the sale of products, of which sum $-182,403 represented shad, $251,111 

 oysters, $100,100 alcAvives, and $133,035 mullet. During the years 

 covered by the field inqidries the fisheries of this region were, as a 

 whole, more successful and extensive than at any previous time. Espe- 

 cially worthy of mention was the flourishing condition of the shad, 

 alewife, striped bass, black bass, and other fresh-water fisheries, and 

 of the oyster, S(iueteague, mullet, and other salt-water fisheries. The 

 only important branches which have declined are the shrimp and stur- 

 geon fisheries. More than half the i^roceeds of the fisheries represents 

 Iresh-water products. The fresh-water fisheries of North Carolina and 

 Florida are more important than those prosecuted iu salt Avater. The 

 relative extent of the river and other fresh-water fisheries of the region 

 is probably greater than in any other coast section, and constitutes 

 one of the [>riiicii)al features of the industry; in 1800 the salt-water 

 products ha<l a value of $740,530, and the fresh-water were worth 

 $S33,105. 



The oyster fishery and the question of oyster cultivation have of 

 late years receive<l more attention in these States than at any previous 

 time. Careful surveys of the coast waters with reference to oyster- 

 culture have been made in th^ three northern States of the tier, and 

 the legislatures have shown their ai)]>reciation of the importance of the 

 subject by enacting modern laws intended to promote and protect the 

 oyster industry. I^arge areas of oyster land have been taken up for 

 jtrivate i)lauting purposes, new cai)ital has been brouglit into the States, 

 and a very decided impetus has been given to the oyster fishery. 



