FISHERIES OF THE GULF STATES. 149 



beginning" in ISOO, iind was of small extent in 1897, only 4 seines being 

 used, the principal species obtained being shrimp, red-fish or channel 

 bass, trout, etc. The prospects for developing an important seine fish- 

 ery tributary to Morgan City are extremely favorable. 



Although the value of the alligator yield increased slightly from 

 1890 to 1897, being $21,150 in the former year and $22,096 in the latter, 

 the condition of that industry is far from satisfactory. For many years 

 there has been a steady decrease in abundance of alligators, and the 

 average size of the hides secured has diminished. Localities in which 

 they formerly abounded are now almost exhausted, and it is only by 

 greatly increased ettbrts that the product has been kept up to its pres- 

 ent extent. The number of hides reported in 1889 was 74,240, worth 

 $38,185 at first hands; in 1890, 38,588, worth $21,150, and in 1897, 

 41,092, for which the hunters received $22,090. The yield of alligators 

 in those parts of the State not covered by the present canvass is 

 estimated at 30,000, valued at $15,000. These alligators are secured 

 principally by shooting, but also in various other ways, such as gaffing 

 with a long pole when hibernating in old stump holes and the like, 

 hooking on lines attached to bent saplings so fastened as to fly up 

 when the alligator becomes fixed to the hook, etc. 



The cat-fish fishery in Louisiana, which is the most extensive in the 

 United States, is centered at Morgan City and Melville. The business 

 in 1897 was seriously restricted by quarantine regulations, which pre- 

 vented shipments during two months of the fall; but the catch by 

 lines amounted to 1,950,004 pounds, for which the fishermen received 

 $46,082. The greater part of these, 979,093 pounds, worth $24,516, 

 were received at Morgan City, where they were dressed and shipped 

 throughout the West. The receipts of cat-fish at Melville aggregated 

 456,291 pounds gross weight, worth $10,496; and 121,670 pounds of 

 cat-fish, worth $2,836, were received at Plaquemine. The two last-named 

 ports also received 148,273 pounds of buffalo-fish and 18,120 pounds 

 of cat-fish and drum, which were caught in fyke nets. These fisheries 

 were carried on by 828 woodsmen living in the St. Mary, Assumption, 

 Iberia, Iberville, St. Landry, St. Martin, Pointe Coupee, and Avoyelles 

 parishes, and who engaged in fishing, alligator hunting, gathering 

 moss, and the like. In taking cat-fish they use both trot lines and 

 single lines, the latter being employed daring high water, the lines 

 being tied to tree trunks and bushes in the swamps, whereas the trot 

 lines are strung out in the lakes and bayous. 



The aggregate weight of crabs taken in Louisiana is considerable, 

 amounting in 1897 to 4,376,500 in number, equivalent to about 1,458,833 

 pounds. These are caught by long lines in brackish waters adjacent 

 to New Orleans, and especially in Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard 

 parishes. Owing to the expense attendant upon marketing the crabs 

 the fishermen obtain very small returns, sometimes receiving only 5 

 cents for a basket containing 5 dozen crabs, and the total receipts from 

 this source in 1897 were only $12,891. 



