FISHERIES OF THE GULF STATES. 



161 



culture about 1890. The decrease is greatest, in Galveston, Aransas, 

 and Corpus Cbristi bays— the yield in Sabine Lake showing a consider- 

 able increase. While some experimental work at oyster culture is now 

 iu operation, practically the entire market receipts are from the public 

 reefs. These oysters are shipped raw to the trade throughout the west 

 and southwest and to Mexican points, none of them being steam-canned. 



The green-turtle fishery has never been of great consequence on the 

 Texas coast, yet its present extent is very much less than formerly, the 

 decrease since 1890 being about 60 per cent. Most of the green turtle 

 are taken by gill nets or liy nets, the jiercentage taken in seines being 

 very small. Notwithstanding an increase of 10 per cent in number of 

 nets used in 1897 over 1890, the gill-net yield in the two years decreased 

 from 585,000 to 237,385 pounds. The scarcity of green turtle is gener- 

 ally attributed to the vigorous fishery prosecuted along the Mexican 

 coast. Several green turtle canneries were formerly operated in Texas, 

 but they have been closed on account of the scarcity of turtles, and the 

 product is now placed on the market fresh. 



Cast nets, hand lines, spears, and crab traps constitute the minor 

 apparatus employed, and their yield fluctuates from year to year 

 according to the prosperity of other industries along the coast. If t)ie 

 other industries of the coast towns give steady employment to the 

 laborers, the latter spend but little time in fishing with this class of 

 apparatus. 



The general extent of the fisheries of Texas in 1897 is presented in 

 the following series of three tables, showing the number of persons 

 engaged, the quantity and value of boats, apparatus, etc., employed, 

 and the weight and value of the catch : 



Table of persona employed. 



How engaged. 



No. 



On vessels fishing 



In shore or boat fisheries 



On shore, in tish-houses, etc 



Total 



175 

 965 

 59 



Table of apparatus and capital. 



Items. 



Vessels fishing. 



Tonnage 



Outfit 



Boats '. 



No. Value. 



Apparatus — vessel fisheries : 



Seines 



Turtle gill nets 



Lines 



Tongs and rakes 



45 

 508. 81 



686 



.$36, 565 



15, 119 



77,911 



,762 

 115 

 148 

 255 



Items. 



Apparatus — shore fisheries : 



Seines 



Turtle gill nets 



Cast nets 



Minor nets 



Lines 



Spears 



Tongs and rakes 



Shore and accessory property 



Cash capital 



Total 



No. 



147 



204 



158 



60 



285 



$15,517 



1,254 



542 



20 



393 



52 



1,688 



55, 155 



30, OOP 



237, 496 



r C 99- 



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