THE COAST FISHERIES OF TEXAS. 383 



RED-SNAPPEK FISHERY. 



"Outside fisliiug" from vessels is also engaged in occasionally, the 

 species sought being the red snapper. All along the coast of Texas 

 from Sabine Pass to the mouth of the Eio Grande there is an irreg- 

 ular series of banks, or reefs, on which these tish may be taken. On 

 accouut of there being no extensive fishing for them in this i)art of the 

 Gulf of Mexico, the location of these banks is not generally known, and 

 doubtless but a small number of them have ever been fished on. 



Following is given the location of the best known reefs from which 

 red snappers have been obtained : Due south from Sabine Pass and 

 about 13 miles distant there is a small reef on which a few vessels from 

 Galveston fished several years ago; the depth of water on this reef 

 varies from 7 to 12 fathoms. Ofl" Galveston Island tlicreare two banks, 

 one southeast and distant about 45 miles, in 12 fathoms of water; the 

 other about 85 miles south of the island, with a depth of 30 to 45 fath- 

 oms of water. Southeast of Cedar Bayou, in 15 fathoms of Avater, there 

 is a small bank from which a few fish are taken at times by men living 

 at Aransas Pass and Corpus Christi. A small reef a few miles south 

 of the entrance to Aransas Bay also attracts some attention. Another 

 bank is reported about 6 miles east of Brazos Santiago and Boca 

 Chica. 



It is highly probable that all along the coast of Texas and Mexico 

 there are innumerable small iiatches of sea bottom where red snappers 

 and groupers are to be obtained. Off Sabine Pass and Galveston 

 Island these reefs will probably be found ranging from 5 to 100 miles 

 distant from the shore. Going southwest along the coast, the width of 

 this area becomes gradually smaller, the limits of the reefs being nearer 

 the shore. Off Padre Island there are doubtless no suaj>per banks at 

 a greater distance from the shore than 55 miles. 



Going southward the width of sea bottom on which the red snapper 

 will probably be found continues to contract. The Mexican fishermen 

 report that oft' Sota la Marina they have never found them at a 

 greater distance from the shore than 15 miles, and similar reports are 

 received from Tampico and Vera Cruz. This width remains about the 

 same all along the coast of the State of Vera Cruz and until in the 

 vicinity of the mouth of the Tobasco River. Here the area begins to 

 enlarge, and rounding Yucatan until Cape Catoche is reached, the 

 grounds on which the red snapper will probably be found extend from 

 5 to 120 miles from the coast. On account of the great depth of water, 

 there can scarcely be extensive reefs on the Yucatan coast beyond Cape 

 Catoche. 



The grounds north and west of Yucatan constitute the well-known 

 Campeche Banks, which have a reputation for being abundantly sup- 

 plied with fish, and i)articularly with the red snapper. Aside from one 

 or two trips no attempts have been made to establish a fishery here, 

 on account of the distance from American ports. 



