124 REPORT OF COlklMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



NOTES ON CERTAIN FISHERIES. 



The sturgeon fishery. — Sturgeon are quite numerous in nearly all riv- 

 ers on the west coast of Florida north of Cedar Key during their regu- 

 lar season, but very little attention has been given to their capture. In 

 1896 a fishery was started on the Suwanee Kiver and a few were secured, 

 and it is likely that the fishery will be carried on more extensively here- 

 after. No caviar was put up during this first season. 



The mullet fishery. — So far as the number of persons employed, quan- 

 tity and value of apparatus used, and quantity of catch are concerned, 

 this is the most important fishery in the State. Mullet have appeared 

 along the shores in such abundance each year that the fishermen 

 have thought the supjily inexhaustible until within the last year or 

 two. In 1897 a law was passed forbidding the catching of any fish 

 from June 15 to August 15, and of mullet alone from November 15 to 

 December 31, except with cast nets and hook and line. The existence 

 of this law explains part of the decrease that has taken place, as it went 

 into effect in 1897 and thus shortened the fishing season. 



The main cause of the decrease lies further back than this, however. 

 Prior to 1896 a large business in salted mullet was carried on with 

 Cuba, but this trade was practically abandoned in 1896, owing to the 

 high tariff imposed on imported fish as a consequence of the revolu- 

 tion in Cuba. Previous to this time the salt-fish trade with Cuba had 

 been virtually controlled by Americans. Now that conditions in Cuba 

 are more favorable, this trade will probably revive and prove a boon 

 to the Florida fishermen. 



There was formerly a great deal of waste in the handling of fresh 

 mullet, owing to the softening of the fish during transportation from 

 the camps to the shipping centers. As the camps are scattered many 

 miles up and down the coast, and sailing vessels are generally used, 

 when head winds are encountered the whole cargo might be lost, as the 

 fish were merely stowed in the hold in bulk with a little cracked ice 

 thrown on them. Nearly all of the transporters are now fitted with 

 refrigerators, in which the fish are stored, and brought to market with 

 very little loss, even though the vessels should be detained. 



An important feature of the mullet fishery is the large number of 

 transporters used in it. In 1897 there were employed 27 vessels, with 

 an aggregate tonnage of 255.95, which were valued, with their outfits, 

 at $44,268. These were manned by 58 men. 



The following table shows the catch of muUet for six different years : 



