FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



159 



per cent of the total value, being accredited to this State. Of the 

 total catch on the west coast of Florida, 22,569,736 pounds, valued 

 at $973,129, was marketed fresh; 2,453,930 pounds, valued at 

 S177,974, salted; and 86,285 pounds, valued at $17,593, represented 

 salted roe. The apparatus oi capture, arranged in the order of im- 

 portance, as indicated by the catch taken, was as follows: Gill nets, 

 15,340,486 pounds; seines, 5,746,282 pounds; stop nets, 3,055,498 

 pounds; and trammel nets, 967,685 pounds. 



The following table gives the yield of the mullet fishery of the 

 west coast of Florida in various years from 1879 to 1918: 



o- From data published by the Bureau of the Census. 



ft Includes fresh and salted. 



The Oyster Fishery. — The catch of oysters in 1918 on public 

 grounds was 2,602,446 pounds, or 371,778 bushels, valued at $121,049, 

 and on private beds, 13,496 pounds, or 1,928 bushels, valued at $771. 

 The greater part of the catch, or 341,003 bushels, is credited to Frank- 

 lin County. Compared with 1911, there has been an increase in the 

 catch of 186,244 bushels, and in the value of $12,348. 



A summary of the catch of oysters on the west coast of Florida for 

 various years from 1880 to 1918 is given in the table of comparative 

 statistics of the oyster industry of the Gulf States on page 138. 



The Red Snapper Fishery. — This fishery centers largely at 

 Pensacola, the catch credited to Escambia County being 4,661,984 

 pounds, or 64.49 per cent of the catch of the west coast of Florida 

 and 49.43 per cent of the catch of the entire Gulf coast. Of the other 

 counties in which this fishery is of importance, Franklin is credited 

 with 655,716 pounds. Bay with 564,139 pounds, and Hillsborough with 

 353,247 pounds. Compared with 1908, there has been a decrease in 

 the catch of 428,832 pounds and an increase in the value of $23,640. 

 Those engaged in the industry experience considerable difficulty in 

 supplying the demand for this highly prized fish, while the catch of 

 groupers taken with the red snapper exceeds the demand. Reference 

 has been made elsev/here in this report to the Bureau's efforts to 

 increase the demand for groupers to supply markets for all that may 

 be caught, as the future of the red-snapper fishery is, in a measure, 

 dependent upon the accomplishment of this end. 



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