128 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



An idea of the extent of the turtle industry of Florida in past years 

 can be gained from a glance at the following table: 



FISHERIES OF ALABAMA. 



Alabama has a much shorter coast line than any other State in the 

 Gulf region. The more extensive and valuable section of the coast of 

 the State consists of the shores of Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound. 

 Mobile Bay extends inland for a distance of about 40 miles, and is the 

 only important indentation. The Mobile Eiver, a large stream formed by 

 the junction of the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers, flows into its head- 

 waters. Mississippi Sound extends along the shore of Alabama west of 

 Mobile Bay, the two bodies of water being connected by Grant Pass. 



The two counties of the State which reach the coast and are inter- 

 ested in fisheries are Mobile County on the west and Baldwin County 

 on the east of Mobile Bay. The city of Mobile, located on the west 

 side of the bay in Mobile County, is the principal fishing and trade 

 center. There are several small settlements in both counties which are 

 to some extent fishing localities, the most important being Mon Louis 

 Island, Dauphin Island, Coden, and Bayou Labatre, in Mobile County; 

 Bromley, Daphne, Point Clear, Pish Eiver, Magnolia Springs, Bonse- 

 cour, and Shell Banks, in Baldwin County. 



The fishing interests of this State are divided into three principal 

 branches, viz, the vessel fisheries, the shore or boat fisheries, and the 

 trade in fishery products. The persons employed on the fishing vessels 

 numbered 150, on boats in the shore fisheries 443, and in packing and 

 fish houses of various kinds 196, a total of 789. 



The number of vessels engaged in fishing was 53, having a value, 

 including their outfits, of $50,945; the number of boats employed in 

 the shpre fisheries was 254, valued at $12,939; the apparatus used on 

 vessels and boats, consisting of seines, trammel nets, lines, tongs, and 

 spears, was valued at $9,205; the value of the shore and accessory 

 property employed in the fishery trade was $49,350, and the amount 

 of cash capital utilized $42,750; a total investment, including the cash 

 capital, of $165,189. 



The products of the fisheries consisted of 2,846,009 pounds of fish, 

 valued at $72,797; 73,200 hard crabs, or 24,400 pounds, valued at $505; 



