FISHERIES OF THE GULF STATES. 



163 



The fisheries of Aransas Bay show a considerable falling-off since 

 18U0, when its rank was second among the Texas bays, the value 

 amounting- to $62,822, against $36,236 in 1897. The decrease is most 

 apparent in the seine fishery, the 29 seines used in 1890 yielding 

 1,214,] 00 pounds of fish, worth $13,562; whereas iu 1897 the yield in 

 the 28 seines was but 638,636 pounds, for which the fishermen received 

 $26,009. The oyster yield of Aransas Bay in 1890 was 26,550 bushels, 

 worth $6,600, and iu 1897 it was increased to 28,700 bushels, valued at 

 $6,872. 



The fisheries of Sabine Lake have developed considerably during 

 recent years, increasing in value from $1,038 in 1890 to $12,530 in 1897, 

 due principally to the utilization of the oyster reefs at the lower end 

 of the lake, which yielded 32,164 bushels in 1897 and many more than 

 that in 1898. The fisheries of the lower end of Laguna Madre and of 

 several other points on the coast are of minor imj)ortance, due to lack 

 of suitable transportation facilities. 



The following tables show in detail the extent of the fisheries of 

 each of the above mentioned localities, the figures being presented by 

 counties. The counties which border Galveston Bay are Galveston, 

 Harris, and Chambers; the fisheries of Matagorda Bay are prosecuted 

 from Matagorda and Calhoun counties, those of Aransas Bay from 

 Aransas County, Corpus Christ! Bay from Nueces County, Laguna 

 Madre from Cameron County, and Sabine Lake from Jefferson County. 

 The Brazoria County fisheries are prosecuted in Brazos River and in 

 West Bay, and the red -snapper fishery of Galveston County in the 

 Gulf of Mexico. 



Table showing the number of persons emploijed In the fisheries of Texas in 1897. 



Aransaa 



Brazoria . . . 



Calhoun 



Cameron . . . 

 Chambers.. 

 Galveston. . 



Harris 



Jefferson . . . 

 Matagorda. 

 Nueces 



Total. 



Counties. 



On ves- 

 sels fish- 

 ing. 



Boat or 



shore 

 tisher- 

 mcn. 



173 

 22 

 92 

 27 

 19 



387 

 33 

 48 

 22 



142 



Shores- 

 men. 



Total. 



190 

 22 



145 

 29 

 19 



467 

 49 

 48 

 39 



191 



