Williams. — Florida's Fish and her Fisheries 163 



yet I am of the opinion that in some of our waters they are of 

 sufficient quantities to be profitably taken. In commercial 

 importance, the oyster ranks first among our shell fish. In many 

 of our brackish waters they are found in paying quantities. 

 Appalachicola has probably the largest natural oyster beds south 

 of the Chesapeake. There oysters grow rapidly and to a great 

 size. They are fat throughout the year, being eaten at all times 

 by the citizens of the country. 



Probably one of the largest known clam beds of the world is 

 on the southwest coast of Florida. It is some five miles wide and 

 fifteen miles long. Two large, modern, sanitary canning factories 

 operate there throughout the year. 



Of our scale fish, the mullet is by far the most important from 

 a commercial and economic viewpoint. Commercially, it con- 

 stitutes almost one half of all our scale fish industries; and 

 economically it is the cheapest as well as one of our best fish. 

 There are two distinct varieties: 



(1) The common mullet, which is always with us; and 



(2) The silver mullet, which visits our shores in the spring 

 to spawn. 



The common mullet {Mugil cephalus) spawns in the fall. 

 There are reasons for believing that this mullet should be further 

 divided into two separate classes, one of which lives in the fresh 

 waters, only going to the salt waters for spawning. This type 

 appears to be darker along the back and to have a blunter snout. 

 To those of you who are scientific, I suggest that here is a field 

 for investigation. 



Before passing from mullet, I wish to say that we have a closed 

 season on them from November 20th to January 20th for the east 

 and south-west coasts of Florida, the time during which they 

 mainly spawn. Recently on a trip along the east coast, I was 

 informed that there are enough mullet now, about two years old, 

 (too small to be taken this year, but which will be large enough 

 for next season) to supply our catch for the next five years. 



As important to us (and also to North Carolina) as the mullet 

 are, there has been, so far as I know, but little investigation 

 of their habits, haunts, food, and manner of reproduction, either 

 by individuals, by the state, or by the federal government, not- 

 withstanding they are a shore fish. 



