THE COAST FISHERIES OF TEXAS. 411 



of tlie grounds in this bay and its tributaries that have produced oys- 

 ters during the past ten years is estimated at 15 square miU's. 



The depth of water over the oyster beds varies from a few inches to 

 8 or more feet. No oysters are obtained from grounds more than 7 feet 

 under water, although there are probably many beds in such ]>]aces. 



Only a small part of the oysters shipped from the shores of Aransas 

 Bay are obtained from its waters. In recent years the supply has been 

 largely drawn from Matagorda- Bay, while Espiritu Santo, Mesquit, 

 and Corj)us Christi bays have furnished a few for this market, 



T1ie green-turtU Jhlicry. — Green turtle {CheJo7iia my das) have at times 

 appeared in large nund)ers in Aransas Bay. In 1869 the beef-packeries 

 began to can them. When these canneries were closed about ten years 

 ago, a small factory was established at Fulton for preparing turtle meat 

 for market in 1 and 2 pound tin cans. This is still continued. 



The weight of the green turtle taken on the Texas coast varies from 

 10 to 1,000 pounds, and averages about 270 pounds. When they arrive 

 in Texas waters they are in poor condition, but they fatten rapidly and 

 are best for the market from August to the end of the season. 



Aransas and Matagorda bays and the lower end of Laguna Madre 

 are favorite fishing-grounds; yet at times the nets are set in other bays 

 on the coast, and trips are made even beyond the Eio Grande. The 

 season for " turtling" begins in March and closes in October, June 

 to September being the best time for this fishery. 



Green turtle are never taken with seines on this coast, nor are they 

 usually hunted on the beaches during the breeding season. Gill nets 

 are the common means of capture, the length varying from 60 to 100 

 feet, and the depth from 7 to 10 feet. The size of the mesh ranges 

 from 14 to 16 inches square, the twine used being from ,48 to 60 medium- 

 laid. The nets are made by tlie fishermen, ajul about 2^ pounds of 

 twine are necessary for each one. No lead line is used, only a float 

 line being required. The cost of each net, ready for use, including . 

 ropes, cost of making, etc., is about |15. Each fishing crew should 

 have twenty or more of these nets. 



The nets are set in the "runs" or channels to which the turtle resort 

 to feed. The order in which they are set varies with the "lay of the 

 land." One of the lower ends of the net is fastened by m(^ans of a rope 

 to an anchor, leaving the net to swing freely with the current. Each 

 one is generally placed at a distance from the other slightly greater 

 than the length of the net, so that the nets may swing clear of each 

 other when the current changes. A turtle swimming through the "run " 

 is likely to pass a "flipper" through the mesh of one of these nets; and 

 while endeavoring to extricate it, becomes comi)letely entangled and 

 is easily secured. The daily catch varies from nothing to 20 turtles, an 

 average of 2 or 3 being quite good. The depth of water in which the 

 nets are set is usually from 9 to 14 feet. The l)est fishing is done at 

 night, but the day time is very good if moderate trade winds prevail 

 and the water be slightly rough. 



