382 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



in tlio coastal waters of Texas. They would be of little service in these 

 waters, not only on account of the dainaye that would \nt done to them 

 by predaceous tish, but also because the hii;h tem])erature of the water 

 would necessitate at too freciuent intervals their being raised to remove 

 the lish while in good condition. 



THE SHRIMP-SEINE, SURF-SEINE, AND GREEN-TURTLE FISHERIES. 



Around Galveston Island, besides the bay-seine fisliery, two special 

 forms of seine tishery arc found in practice, one for taking shrimj* in 

 (iralveston Bay, the other used in the surf on the south side of (lalves- 

 ton Island for obtaining sand trout, large redhsh, etc. As they were 

 found at no other locality, the discussion of these fisheries Avill be 

 iiuiluded in the descni)tion of the tisheries of Galveston Bay. 



La )'ge green turtle (67/c'?o«m mydas) owuv mora or less abundantly 

 all alojig the Texas coast; a few are taken by the fishermen of Point 

 Isabel, but as their capture and utilization centers at Aransas Bay a 

 description of this fishery will be found in the notes on that locality. 



IIOOK-AND-LINE FISHERIES. 



While seine fishing continues so successful as at present, it is not 

 probable that an extensive hook-and-line fishery will be developed in 

 the Texas waters; yet, from all the bays along the coast and in the many 

 rivers throughout the State, quantities of fish are taken in this way 

 by sportsmen as well as by those men who engage in the other fisheries. 



Catfish are taken on trot lines and by means of hand lines in Sabine 

 Lake, Guadalupe Eiver, Rio Grande, and to a less extent in many 

 other streams. These are the large mud or channel catfish common in 

 the Mississippi Ixiver and the Southern States. They sometimes attain 

 a weight of 50 and even 70 i)ounds. They are quite well liked in this 

 State, in some of the interior towns being preferred to redfish or trout. 



Some line fishing in the surf is engaged in on the south side of Gal- 

 veston Island, and at one or two other places. From all the coast set- 

 tlements some hand lines are used for taking redfish, trout, sheepshead, 

 tarpon, and other kinds common on the coast. INlore redfish are taken 

 in this manner than any other single species, nuillet and shrimp being 

 the most popular baits used for them. They are very gamy, and a 25- 

 pouud redfish will give plenty of sport. 



The tarpon, known in Texas also as " grande ecaille" or *' savanilla," 

 are abundant, but not i'requently landed. Jewfish attract much atten- 

 tion in the spring. The Mexican fishermen call this fish the " guasa," 

 and at Pensacola it is known by the name of " warsaw," doubtless a 

 corruption of "guasa." In Texas it is also called the "Junefish," be- 

 cause of its being more plentiful in June than at other times. Grabs 

 and mullet are used as bait. Occasionally fish of this si)ecies weighing 

 over 500 poiuids are taken. In Aransas Bay, in l.SOO, a jewfish was 

 caught which weighed 5U7 pounds round weight. 



