242 SCIENCE OF FISHING. 



only by" salmon and cod. Gill nets are the leading apparatus 

 of capture. 



SHRIMP AND PRAWN The shrimp is a crustacean found 

 in large numbers on all our coasts and in many inland waters. 

 The usual length is about & inches, but some attain a larger 

 size. They are caught in dip nets, purse nets, etc., and are 

 used for food and bait. The prawn is generally larger 

 than the shrimp, often having a length of 7 inches. The 

 bulk of the shrimp and prawn products come from the warm 

 western waters, and by far the largest portion from Loui- 

 siana. 



SNAPPERS The red snapper which is the most important 

 of the snappers, is a large fish, bright red in color, and is 

 found from Long Island southward, but in greatest abundance 

 along the coasts of the Gulf states. The red snapper product 

 of Florida, Alabama and Texas contribute over 90 per cent. 

 of the total value of the snappers caught in these Gulf 

 states. The chief fishing ground is off the west coast 

 of Florida. As these fish habitually feed along the ground in 

 from 10 to 40 fathoms of water, lines are only used in 

 their capture. 



SPONGE The sponge which is of commercial value is 

 found off the west coast of Florida. 



SQUETEAGUE 'The common weakfish, or squeteague is 

 found in abundance along the Atlantic coast from Cape 

 Cod to Florida. It averages about 2$ pounds in weight, 

 ibut some attain a weight of 80 pounds. The spotted 

 squeteague is found from New Jersey to Texas, and some- 

 what larger than the other species. The California ''blue- 

 fish" and the great "white sea bass" of California are the 

 other species of weakfish. Squeteague fishing begins in the 

 latter part of April and lasts from six to eight weeks, until 

 tho school begins to move off into deeper and cooler waters. 

 They are caught in pound nets, traps and weirs. 



