410 IIEPORT OF ('(>MI\rTSRI()NEU OV Fl^U AND FISHERIES. 



The hay-seine fishery. — In 1S90 29 seiiios were used in taking? fish for 

 the Aransas Pass markets, and 90 nuMi were employed iu operatiujii- 

 them. The cntcli amounted to 1,19.S,()()() ])ounds of sfale fisli valued at 

 $41,925, and 4(1, 100 ponnds of oTcen turtle and terrapins, for which the 

 lislierinen received $1,037. The number of sail craft employed in tlie 

 bay-seine fishery in that year was 27, the value of wliicth was $11,000. 

 Of these only 5 were over 5 tons measurement. 



The i)rice received by the fishermen for their catch was 3A cents ])er 

 pound in 1890; it was ^ and 4 cents in ISSO, while in 1887 and 1888 

 it was only 3 cents per pound round wei.nht. 



Buriuj;' the last two or tliree years, on account of the abundauce of 

 fish and the good shippiug facilities, the seine fishery has been more 

 prosperous at Arausas Bay than at other points along the Texas coast. 

 The average catch of lish to each man engaged in this fishery at Aransas 

 Bay in 1890 was 13,823 pounds, valued at $484. 



The favorite fishing-grounds are north of Live Oak Peninsula, in 

 Shallow Bay, along the shores of St. Joseph Island, in Kedfish r>ay, 

 and St. Charles Bay. Seines are not used in the rivers nor outside in 

 the Gulf of Mexico. 



Rool-and-Jitic and other fisheries. — In May and June numbers of per- 

 sons engage in taking jewfish with hook and line, and about 25,000 

 pounds are captured annually. The catch is usually sold to the mar 

 ketmen at 4 cents per pound. The quantity of redfish, trout, tarpon, etc., 

 taken by means of hooks and lines by sportsmen and the professional 

 fishermen who engage at odd times in this fishery is about 35,000 pounds 

 annually. These would sell in the local markets for about $1,200. 



In most of the rivers in this section of the State there are many 

 catfish, but no established fishery for taking them exists here as in 

 Louisiana. These fish are especially abundant in the Guadalupe Biver, 

 which empties into San Antonio Bay. They are very popular, in many 

 })laces being preferred to trout (squeteague) and redfish. The market 

 for them in the State was developed by the dealers at Morgan City, La. 



A few cast nets are used here, and flounders and crabs are taken by 

 means of si)ears and lines, respectively. These fisheries, however, are 

 of minor importance. 



The oyster industry. — Next to the seine fishery the taking of oysters 

 is the most im])ortant fishery of Aransas Bay. Twenty-six men were 

 empl<>yed in this fishery in 1890, an«l the catch amounted to 20,550 

 bushels, for which the fishermen received $6,()00. The reefs resorted 

 to change from year to year, on account of the freshets occasionally 

 destroying niany of the beds. During some years the greater part of 

 the oysters handled are obtained from reefs in Matagorda Bay. The 

 best-known reefs iu Arausas Bay and tributaries are located olf the 

 northeast section of St. .loseph Island and in the southern waters of 

 Copano I>ay. In tlu' extreme east»'rn ]>art of Aransas Bay there are 

 several small and scattered reefs whicli aie rpiite productive. The area 



