550 GEOGRAPHICAL HE VIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



Crystal River to the inland settlers, or are exposed for sale at tbe fishing station, which is just at 

 the mouth of the river. About GO barrels of mullet are here salted annually. 



CHAMBERS'S MILL FISHERY. A few miles north of the mouth of the Crystal Kiver, on the 

 coast of Heruaudo County, is found the last fishing station before Cedar Keys is reached. This 

 station is behind the Crystal River reef. There has been a saw-mill at this point, and the fishery 

 is known as the Charabers's Mill fishery. It is used every season, sometimes by one party, some- 

 times by another. 



There is in use at Chambers's Mill a seine 70 fathoms iii length, handled by four or five men. 

 Fishing is carried on there through October; seldom later, as by that time they have used up all 

 their salt and money, or credit for provisions. The men composing the crew work for a share of 

 the catch. The object of this fishery is the same as that of the fishery at Crystal Bay. The curing 

 at Chambers's Mill is a second-rate operation. This place is not of much importance as a fishing 

 station, but it is a good spot, and is annually visited. Cedar Keys men stop here for a few weeks 

 as a rule. The average amount put up by the natives is about 25 barrels. These are sold at $5 a 

 barrel cash, or $G and $7 a barrel in trade. 



TOPOGRAPHY OP THE REGION BETWEEN CLEARWATER HARBOR AND CEDAR KEYS. 

 Between Clearwater Harbor and Cedar Keys the land is low, in some places swampy, and every- 

 where heavily wooded. The sea between the above points is shoal, only 12 or 14 feet deep at as 

 many miles from land. The sea bottom and several small islands near the coast are of coral lime- 

 rock. This formation is also prominent about the rivers, entering the sea between Clearwater 

 Harbor and Cedar Keys, for some distance inland. The coast and coast islands are covered with 

 mangroves and sedge, but a few miles inland palinettoes, oaks, and pines take their places. 



THE "BAG" CAST-NET. Between Clearwater Harbor and Cedar Keys, as also from the 

 Mississippi to Appalachicola Bay, the "bag" cast-net is used in preference to the "bail" cast-net 

 described and already stated as being in use from Clearwater Harbor to Key West. Its preference 

 is also apparent at and in the vicinity of Saint Mark's. 



The "bag" cast-net is described as being a net, circular in shape, 12 or 14 feet in diameter, 

 having leads strung on its edge at equal distances, and in the center a stout cord is attached. On 

 the under or inner side of the net, just inside of the leads, is a series of tangling lines, which form 

 pockets wherein the fish become fouled. 



199. FISHERIES OF CEDAR KEYS. 



SEINE FISHERY AT CEDAR KEYS. Off the coast of Levy County, immediately north of 1 ler 

 naudo County, and running parallel with the coast line, are the Cedar Keys. The fisheries carried 

 on from these Keys are very extensive. There are two hundred and sixty professional fishermen 

 employed throughout the greater portion of the year. The fishing, which is prosecuted in spring, 

 summer, and winter, is called " bottom fishing," probably because nearly all the fish are taken 

 below the surface. The methods employed differ altogether from those used in the mullet fishery. 

 Iii the fisheries of the three seasons above named very little gill-netting is done. The quantity of 

 fish caught by their use would not be sufficient to satisfy the dealers. The adoption of seines is 

 therefore greatly urged. There are twenty-eight seines in use, averaging about 80 fathoms in 

 length. They are about 12 feet long in the bag. The average stretch of mesh is about 2 inches. 

 From four to six men are required to handle one seine, dependent, of course, on the sixe of the net 

 and the nature of the bottom over which the net is to be dragged. These seines are used from 

 December to May, inclusive. The fish caught are of Kich varieties as are usually seen in the mar- 



