118 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 

 FISHERIES BY APPARATUS. 



Vessel fisheries. — In the vessel fisheries of western Florida purse and 

 haul seines, lines, turtle nets, sponge apparatus, and tongs were the 

 only forms of apparatus in use. Much the largest catch was made with 

 lines — 5,840,042 pounds, valued at $171,229, being secured. Of the line 

 catch 5,032,4:87 i)0unds, worth $101,999, consisted of red snappers; the 

 other species were groupers and king-fish. 



The most valuable products were obtained by the sponge apparatus, 

 302,101 pounds of sponges, worth $270,295, being secured. Oysters and 

 turtles were taken with tongs and turtle nets, respectively; the value 

 of the former was $17,1-44:, and of the latter $10,308. 



Purse seines were used in Biscayne Bay on the eastern coast for Spanish 

 mackerel alone, aud 70,000 pounds, valued at $7,000, were obtained. 



Haul seines, which were used incidentally by several red-snapper 

 vessels, occupy an insignificant position, as their catch was only 26,392 

 pounds, valued at $555. 



The total yield from all forms of apparatus was 7,221,987 pounds, 

 valued at $488,531. 



Shore Jishcries. — Gill nets are the most important means of capture in 

 the shore or boat fisheries. With this form of apparatus 11,847,155 

 pounds of fish, worth $164,971, were secured. Mullet is by far the most 

 important fish taken, while the other prominent species were the pom- 

 pano, Spanish mackerel, trout, and sheepshead. 



The seine catch is less than half that of the gill nets, but has a higher 

 proportionate value. The total is 5,956,891 pounds, worth $115,993. The 

 principal species taken is the mullet, as is the case with gill nets; other 

 l)rominent species are Spanish mackerel, trout, and pompano, although 

 these occupy an insignificant position as compared with the mullet. 



The line fishery comes next in importance, yielding 2,081,971 pounds, 

 valued at $72,443. The greater part of this fishery was carried on in 

 Monroe County. The leading species are grunts, red snappers, and 

 yellow-tail. 



Cast nets, turtle nets, trap nets, sponge apparatus, tongs, hooks, 

 guns, etc., are credited with taking 1,147,215 pounds, valued at $102,855. 

 The prominent species taken by these forms of apparatus are mullet, 

 oysters, sponges, alligators, and otters. 



In 1897 an act was passed by the legislature prohibiting the use of 

 " stop nets." For some years the fishermen have been in the habit of 

 operating with this net, which is an ordinary seine or gill net, by stretch- 

 ing it across the mouths of small bights, creeks, and rivers along the 

 coast and holding it in position by means of stakes driven in the bot- 

 tom. This net, set at high water, when the fish had run in, would prevent 

 them from running out again with the tide, aud they could be easily 

 caught by the fishermen at low water. This fishery was mainly for 

 mullet. The method was very destructive, as young and old, large and 

 small, were taken, or else left to die on the bare bottom, and the enact- 

 ment of this law will doubtless greatly benefit the fisheries. 



