3 so REPORT OF COMMISSIONER (^F FISH AND FISHERIES. 



domaiHl, except at Galvesten Bay. Oceasionally IIk' (lalvestoii fleet 

 is lV)r weeks unable to siqiply tlic market (leniaiids; but in Mataj;or«la, 

 Aransas, and Corpus Christi bays, and at Point Isabel many of the 

 crews are frequently idle for serveral days on account of an oversupplied 

 market. 



Green turtle {Chelonia mydas) and terrapin {Malaclemmys palustris) 

 are occasionally taken in the bay seines while beings hauled for fish. 

 A small chain is also sometimes attached to the lead line of the seine and 

 a haul is made especially for them. This is done chiefly at Aransas 

 Bay. The terra] )in taken weigh about 3 pounds each and are sold by the 

 fishermen at from $4 to $15 i)er dozen. They do not possess the tine 

 flavor of the Maryland diamond-back. The turtle average from 5 to 

 20 pounds and sell for about 3 cents per pound. They are the young 

 of the green turtle common on this coast. 



JJelieving that the tish are caught in greater quantities than their 

 natural fecundity can make good, there is a desire on the part of many 

 persons, esjiecially those interested in developing the sporting fisheries 

 of Texas, to restrict in some way the use of seines. While the supply 

 of fish may be decreasing, yet there does not appear to be an urgent 

 necessity for very great restriction. The cessation of the seine fishery 

 in the bays for four months from May to August, which is the plan gen- 

 erally urged, would throw entirely out of employment over 350 men, 

 removing from the coast towns a monthly revenue of more than $12,000, 

 and taking from the market a cheap and Avholesome article of food. It 

 would also seriously affect the marketing offish taken during the winter, 

 since purchasers in the interior would prefer obtaining their supplies 

 from such sources as could provide for them continuously throughout the 

 year. If restriction bo deemed expedient and necessary, the prevention 

 of the marketing of large fish, say of redfish weighing over 14 pounds 

 (advocates of a close time contend that redfish, more than any other 

 S])efics, require special protection), Avould largely answer the purpose 

 without embarrassing persons depending on the bay-seine fishery for a 

 living. These large red tish are the spawning fish. They are difficult 

 to market, being coarse and of poor flavor, and are sometimes even 

 thrown away. 



I'or tlie purjiose of <"om])arison, the total catch by bay seines at the 

 various -fishing localities in the State during each of the past four years 

 is herewith iippended: 



