THE COAST FIHHERIES OF TEXAS. 415 



less salty watoi- of the Gulf of Mexico fmds entrance through Brazos 

 Santiago and Boea Chica. The depth of Avater here varies from 3 to 

 feet. All the species of tish coiunion along the Texas coast are found 

 here, and many of them in abundance. But the fisheries are not prose- 

 cuted to any great extent on account of the small market for the 

 catch. 



Bay-seine fishery. — The bay-seine fishery employs two seines, four men 

 being reiiuired for each seine. These men work probably about one 

 hundred and fifty days in the year. The catch, which amounts to 

 about 75,000 pounds annually, is bunched and sent by rail to Browns- 

 ville and Matamoras once or twice each week, i)articular attention being 

 paid to having them on the markets on " fast days." Each bunch (<f 

 fish weighs about 5 pounds, and these are sold in the markets for " two 

 bits" (25 cents) each. The weight of fish in a bunch varies according 

 to the supply and demand, but the price per bunch does not ordinarily 

 change. 



The seine fishermen also catch shrimj) in their seines, the quantity 

 obtained annually being about 30,000 pounds. These are marketed 

 both fresh and dried. 



Catfish on the Lower Rio Grande. — In the Eio Grande, between its 

 mouth and Hidalgo, a distance of about 100 miles, yellow and silver 

 catfish are abundant. The quantity taken on the American side is 

 about 30,000 pounds annually. Aside from this no fishery is reported 

 from the Lower Rio Grande. 



Cast-net and crab fisheries. — About twenty cast nets are used at Point 

 Isabel at times. The catch consists of mullet, shrimp, trout, etc., but 

 chiefly of the first named variety. It amounts to about 10,000 pounds 

 annually, some of which is consumed locally and the rest sent to 

 Brownsville. 



A few crabs are taken here by traps and lines. The catch, however, 

 is quite small on account of the limited market demand. 



(Treen-turtlc fishery. — About 50,000 pounds of green turtle are ob- 

 tained annually, one sailboat and three men being employed; but on 

 account of the distance from market the prices received by the fisher- 

 men are small, averaging not over a cent per pound. A large factory 

 for canning green turtle, oysters, fish, game, etc., was for a short while 

 in oi)eration at Point Isabel. 



The oyster industry. — Four men, with three small sailboats, are re- 

 ported as having engaged in taking oysters by means of tongs in 1890. 



The oyster reefs near Point Isabel are <piite scattering, and are spread 

 over about 3 square miles. The most productiAc gi-ounds are located 

 along the shore of the mainland, about 3 or 4 miles west of Point Isabel. 

 Some small reefs are included between Long Island and the mainland, 

 and at various other points. The total quantity of oysters taken an- 

 nually from this section is about 4,L'00 bushels. Many more might be 

 obtained, but the catch is restricted by the small demand. 



