TFE COAST FISHERIES OF TEXAS. 



395 



The following- table exhibits the inimber of men and the amount of 

 capital employed in the wholesale marketing houses in 1890 : 



Localities. 



Galveston 



Port Lavaca. . 

 Aiansa.s Pas.-< 

 Corpus Cliristi 

 Point Isabi'l . . 



Total 



Prior to 1891, the only permanent establishment for canning or other- 

 wise preserving" fishery products, was a turtle cannery at Fulton, on 

 the shore of Aransas Bay. About 1879, a factory for canning shrimps 

 was erected at Galveston Bay, and operated for one or two years. 

 While the beef-packeries were in operation at Aransas Bay some green 

 turtle were canned there; and in 1S80 a small factory for canning fish 

 was erected at Eockport, now called Aransas Pass, but it was in ope- 

 ration only a short time. In the sirring of 1891 factories for canning 

 oysters were established at Galveston and Corpus Christi. 



The difficulty in disposing of an oversupply of fish, even at a reduced 

 price, at present militates against the successful prosecution of the fish- 

 eries of this coast. As yet, no one in the State makes a business of 

 salting fish. The general oi)iuion along the coast is that on account 

 of the climate it is imi)racticable to salt the fish so that they will keep 

 for a reasonable lengtli of time. But for many years trout, redfish, 

 sheepshead, mullet, etc., have been successfully preserved in this man- 

 ner in Florida; indeed, some of the fishing communities of that State 

 depend for support almost entirely on the sale of their salt fish; and 

 it seems that equal care would insure success on the Texas coast. 



The drying of fish after the inaniier i^racticed in the Barataria region 

 of Louisiana might be resorted to Avith some success along portions of 

 this coast. 



While some of the fish markets have ice manufactories connected 

 with them, by means of which the fish are kept for a few days, yet pre- 

 serving fish in cold storage for many weeks, as is done particularly 

 along the shores of the Great Lakes, has never been attempted in 

 Texas nor in any of the other States bordering on the Gulf of Mexico. 

 It is a jcjuestion whether, with the present ruling prices, it will pay to 

 add this feature to the marketing of the more plentiful species of fish 

 occurring here, although it might be done Avith the higher-priced ones. 



Another drawback to the prosperity of the fisheries is the difficulty 

 experienced in marketing many of the varieties of fish taken, which 

 conse([uently are thrown away as soon as cauglit. Among these miglit 

 be mentioned nuillet, drum, and other good edible fish which are taken 

 in large quantities, but against which local prejudices exist. 



