526 GEOGEAPHICAL EEVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



and maiiy fishermen never cross the bar. When Matanzas Inlet is visited only three trips are 

 made in a week, but when fishing nearer home it is customary to go out oftener. After securing 

 as many fish as can be sold the fishermen start for home, and by daybreak each has his catch 

 spread out upon his stall in the market. As the customers arrive they make their own selections 

 of such fish as they desire. These are at once strung in bunches of 4 to G pounds each, the average 

 price being only 10 to 15 cents a string, while the hotels are supplied at an average of 81.50 per 

 bushel. 



EXTENT OF THE FISHERIES AT SAINT AUGUSTINE. There were ten men, with five boats, 

 engaged regularly in the fisheries during the winter of 1879-'80, and the average daily catch was 

 about 50 strings to a boat. In addition to the regular fishermen a few negroes go out occasionally, 

 selling their catch in the same manner as the others. As the season advances the visitors return 

 to their homes in the North, and the demand becomes so much lighter that some of the fishermen 

 naturally turn their attention to other work, and a few engage in the capture of turtle or shrimp. 



THE GREEN-TURTLE FISHERIES. The green turtle make their appearance in the waters of 

 Saint Augustine Harbor in May and remain till November; they are most plenty during the mouths 

 of July, August, and September. During this season two gill-nets are set for them in the waters 

 opposite the city. It is said that in 1878 about 700 turtle, weighing 16,000 pounds, were taken, 

 and 350, weighing 8,000 pounds, were caught in 1879. The turtle here are smaller than those farther 

 south, averaging only 20 to 25 pounds apiece. They are usually sold at once to the residents of tlie 

 city at from 15 cents to $1.50 each. For the past two or three years a few have been penned and 

 saved for the winter trade, when they bring about 10 cents per pound. 



THE SHRIMP FISHERIES. Shrimp and prawn are abundant during the summer months on the 

 various mud flats in the locality. Three men are engaged regularly in this work, catching their 

 supply chiefly during the hours of low water at night. The yearly catch is about 600 bushels, 

 valued at $700. The shrimp are sold locally. At the beginning of the season the price is 10 cents 

 per quart, but it soon drops to 5 cents, or 3 quarts for a dime; and when the season is well 

 advanced they sometimes sell for 15 cents a peck. None are shipped, and not more than 20 bushels 

 are dried. 



191. THE FISHERIES OF MOSQUITO LAGOON. 



Lying to the southward of Saint Augustine is another lagoon, some 60 miles in length, con- 

 necting with the ocean through a small inlet. This opening, known as Mosquito Inlet, and situated 

 about midway from either end of the lagoon, is so shoal that even vessels of small size can seldom 

 enter. The northern arm of the lagoon is known as Halifax River, and the appropriate name of 

 Mosquito Lagoon has been applied to the southern one. Until recently the country was almost 

 uninhabited, and there are now but four or five settlements in the region, all of which are very 

 small and unimportant. 



The waters abound in fish of various kinds, and mullet are said to be remarkably abundant. 

 Owing, however, to the lack of transportation, the fisheries are little developed, the only products 

 shipped from the locality in 1879 being 150 green turtle, a few barrels of salt mullet, and 300 or 

 400 dried mullet roes. The fishing is wholly by means of cast-nets, each farmer going to the vicinity 

 of the inlet in November or December to secure his yearly supply of mullet, which he salts and 

 packs for family use. Seven men are engaged in the green-turtle fishery with gill-uets for about 

 two months. The catch in the winter of 1879-'80 was about 200 turtle, equal to 7,000 pounds, 

 valued at $770. These were sent to New York and Philadelphia through Jacksonville parties. 



