THE COAST FISHERIES OF TEXAS. 379 



redfish, sea trout, suud trout, slieepsliead, croakers, jaekflsh, hogtisli, 

 drum, mullet, bluefisli, Spanish mackerel, pouipano, rock tisb, jewfisli, 

 pigfisli, and whitiug. 



The following species are also reported as being taken in small quan- 

 tities: Shoemaker, perch, pike, tiat croaker, robalo, sawfish, catfisli, 

 calico-tish, needle-fish, moonfish, gulf menhaden, crabs, etc. Most of 

 these species are considered of no value and are thrown away as soon 

 as renioved from the seines, except occasionally when better fish are 

 scarce. 



By far the greater part of the fish brought to market by the bay- 

 seine fishermen consists of redfish, sea trout or squeteague, and sheeps- 

 head. Of these, the trout is generally considered the finest for the 

 table, but it does not bear transportation so well as some of the other 

 species. The redfish is preferred for shipping purposes, and is much 

 more popular for the table than the sheepshead, which at times does 

 not meet with a ready sale. 



The average weight of a redfish is about 10 pounds and the length 2 

 feet or over, while some weigh 40 pounds and are 4 feet long or over. 

 The Mexican fishermen in Texas frequently call it the " pez Colorado," 

 and in Louisiana the name "poisson rouge" is applied to it. Accord- 

 ing to the fishermen, the redfish are not usually found in spawn when 

 weighing less than 10 pounds. All fish of this species which weigh 

 over 16 pounds are called "bulls." These are sold at a reduced price, 

 and at so much per fish, usually about 25 cents. 



Tiie sea trout (the weakfish or squeteague of the Atlantic coast) 

 average in weight about 3 pounds, and at tiuu's attain a weight of 10 

 pounds and a length of 3 feet. They spawn when weighing about li 

 pouiuls. Tliey are fine food-fish, but do not keep well, the llesh being 

 very soft. While trout are taken at all times of the year, they are 

 more plentiful in March, Ai)ril, and May. The sheepshead average in 

 weight about 2^ pounds, with a maxinuim weight of about 10 pounds. 

 All along the Gulf coast the name of this fish is contracted into " sheep- 

 head." 



Occasionally the fish taken by a crew during several days consist 

 almost entirely of one of these three most i)lentiful species. On several 

 occasions the writer has at difl'erent ports in Texas seen several thou- 

 sand pounds of fish of which probably 00 per cent were of one species. 

 One week they nmy be nearly all sheepsliead and the next week tr<mt 

 or redfish. Ordinarily the fishermen and marketmen put the same 

 value on the different species of fish taken, but if an extra large quan- 

 tity of ''poor fish" is taken, or if the catch consists largely of sheeps- 

 head, the nuirketmen may refuse to accept a portion or all of it. 



Little difference has been noticed in the quantity of each species of 

 fish taken by the bay seines fiom year to year. Redfish are reported 

 as having decreased most in plcntilulnessj bluefish, pompano, and 

 Spanish mackerel are growing nu)re abundant. There is no place 

 along the Texas coast at which the supply of fish is less than the 



