182 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



in diameter have resulted. The absence of any protection to his grow- 

 ing sponges from the dei)redations of ignorant or malicious persons 

 and the completion of his exi^eriments up to a point where scientific 

 research was needed to give full success to his practical studies, caused 

 Mr. Munroe to discontinue this work. 



COMMERCIAL FISHING IN BISCAYNE BAY REGION. 



Owing to the remoteness of this region from the markets and the 

 poor facilities for shipping perishable products, the general fisheries 

 have never attained any prominence. It maybe safely predicted, how- 

 ever, that the completion of the canal route between Lake Worth and 

 Biscayne Bay will give a decided impetus to the fishing industry, and 

 that the valuable water resources of the region, of which mention has 

 been made, will be utilized to supply distant markets and the local 

 demand resulting from the increase in permanent and transient popu- 

 lation. 



The most important fishing done in the Biscayne Bay region is for 

 sponges. This is carried on wholly by Key West fishermen, and is not 

 participated in by the people living on the bay. " Crawls," or pens for 

 the cleaning and bleaching of sponges, have been located at Cocoanut 

 Grove, Lemon City, Soldier Key, and elsewhere. There seems no rea- 

 son why (Sponge fishing in this section might not be very profitably 

 prosecuted by local fishermen. 



The taking of green turtles is the most important fishing in which 

 the peojjle of the bay are engaged, and, besides the line fishing, is the 

 only branch of commercial importance. In 1894 the business was of 

 much less extent than formerly, the season being very poor. Three 

 boats, belonging at Lemon City, Miami, and Cocoanut Grove, devoted 

 a short time to turtle fishing in Biscayne Bay and the adjacent ocean 

 reefs. Nets and pegs were used in the capture of the turtles. The 

 aggregate catch was about 205 turtles, viieighing 0,175 pounds, with a 

 value to the fishermen of about $708; of these, about 175 turtles were 

 taken in the bay. The turtles are shipped by sailing vessels to Key 

 West. The fishermen find that it is much more difficult than formerly 

 to make a remunerative business of this fishery, owing to the increasing 

 scarcity of the turtles. 



The quantity of loggerhead turtles taken exceeds that of green tur- 

 tles. There is no regular fishery for the former, however, aiul tliey are 

 simply taken on the beaches for family supply. Several hundred, with 

 an average weight of 300 pounds, are obtained annually in spring by 

 peo])le residing around the bay. In 1894 the turtles were much scarcer 

 than usual and only about 100 were secured, but in previous years from 



300 to 400 were taken. Large numbers of eggs of this turtle are also 

 utilized. 



A small line fishery is carried on from the several settlements on 



Biscayne Bay, the catch being sold to meet the local demand. Fishing 



is done with hand lines at the inlets or on the adjacent ocean reefs. 



