THE COAST FISHERIES OF TEXAS. 409 



ARANSAS 13AY. 



Aransas Bay lies southwest of Mesquit Bay and empties its waters 

 into the Gulf of Mexico through Aransas Pass. The Mission, Aran- 

 sas, and other rivers, all together draining" an area of about 2,200 square 

 miles, empty their waters into this bay. One of its tributaries, Copano 

 Bay, nearly equals it in area. It also has several smaller estuaries, 

 viz, St. Charles Bay, Mission Bay, Puerto Bay, Shallow Bay, etc. The 

 area of Aransas Bay and its tributaries is 1G3 square miles. Its great- 

 est length measures nearly 20 miles, and the average width of the bay 

 lU'oper is about 5 miles. Its largest tributary, Copano Bay, is about 

 13 miles long and 5 miles wide. 



Tlie depth of water in Aransas Bay proper ranges from a few inches 

 to 14 feet, the latter depth being found in front of the city of Aransas 

 Pass and about li miles from shore. The average deptli of water is 

 about 10 feet. Southwest of Goose Island and from li to 2 miles dis- 

 tant there is a channel 30 feet deep. 



In the eastern portion of the bay there are a number of reefs over 

 which the depth of water ranges from a few inches to feet. The m(^»st 

 l)rominent of these reefs are Grass Island, Half Moon, Long, Pelican, 

 and Poverty reefs. In Copano Bay, the northern portion of Aransas 

 Bay, the depth of water does not exceed 10 feet and the average is not 

 more tlian 7. In tliis tributary are Shell Bank reef, Copano reef. Lap 

 Keef bank, and Lap reef; these reefs are narrow, but extend several 

 juiles in lengtli. As there is little depth of water over them they mate- 

 rially affect the navigation of the bay even by small fisliing craft. 



Importance of the fisheriefi. — Since the abandonment of the beef-pack- 

 ing business about 1880, and up to the iiresent time, the fisheries have 

 been the most important of the industries jirosecuted at Aransas Pass 

 and Fulton. In January of 1880 a small establishment for canning 

 lisli was erected here by Messrs. Kearney & Mercer, but it was in opera- 

 tion only a short while. The fish marketed fresli were shipped on the 

 steamers of the Morgan Steamship Line to Galveston and other ports, 

 and thence distributed throughout the interior. This business was cpiite 

 extensive for several years bef(U'e those steamers abandoned this port. 



On the completion of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad in 

 1888, a number of fishermen from Matagorda Bay moved here, and two 

 lish-marketing houses were established. In 1800 these two were con- 

 solidated, but before the close of that year another market-house was 

 erected, and the two are now doing business. 



In 1890 there were engaged in the fishery industries of Aransas Bay 

 210 men, using property valued at $59,540, The catch amounted to 

 2,055,150 pounds, for which the fishermen received $02,822. The 

 taking of fish by means of bay seines is the most impcn^tant fishery 

 here. The oyster industry ranks second, and considerable attention is 

 given to tlie captnre of green turtle. A few fish are taken by means of 

 hook and line, and quantities of crabs, ilounders, mullet, etc., are taken. 



