562 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



be said to last from December until March), when the fish retire to the deep water or among the 

 thick grass. The method of using a gill-net is to set it around a hole or grassy place and then, by 

 splashing with a pole, frighten the fish into the inclosure. The catch thus effected is never large. 

 There are only three equal divisions, however, to be made of the catch, namely, one to the owner 

 of the boat and net and one to each of the two men; consequently, the men often make more money 

 in this way than in seining, in which latter business so many shares must be taken out of the 

 proceeds of the catch. 



DISPOSITION OP THE CATCH. The packages used for "putting up" the fish are of white 

 pine, either barrels, half barrels, quarter barrels, or kits; these come by freight from Boston. 

 Formerly cypress packages were used, but were discarded because they were not so neat or cheap 

 as those of pine. With the freight included, these barrels, half barrels, quarter barrels, and kits 

 cost, respectively, $1.00, 65 cents, 45 cents, and 30 cents. 



In the fishing outfit salt is a very important item. To salt one barrel of fish properly, about 

 one-third of a sack, or one bushel, is needed. This salt is bought chiefly of Mr. Murat, the prin- 

 cipal dealer in salted fish, at the rate of $1.50 a sack. Other provision dealers supply salt to the 

 fishermen who do business with them. When a person is fitting to go on a fishing expedition he 

 first makes a verbal contract with his dealer to take all his fish. The dealer furnishes the pack- 

 ages and promises to pay so much for the fish, generally from $4 to $4.50. The fisherman buys 

 the salt. Mr. Murat controls the bulk of the trade by furnishing in advance salt, barrels, and 

 provisions. The fish are shipped by river to nearly all the towns and cities of Georgia and 

 Alabama, in which States his traveling agent procures orders throughout the fishing season. 



Mullet, bluefish, sheepshead, and pompauo are certainly very attractive looking fish when 

 properly prepared in pickle. They are said to be superior in flavor to the mackerel which have 

 been in the southern markets during the past few years. Mr. Murat warranted his fish to remain 

 sweet for a year. This business of salting has grown immensely during the last five years, having 

 been taken up by a most enterprising set of people. It promises to become a business of much 

 greater importance. Mr. Murat says that for the past five years the number of barrels of salt fish 

 shipped from Appalachicola has averaged about 1,000 barrels a year, thus, at $5 a barrel he has 

 shipped ofi' $25,000 worth of fish in that space of time. He now receives $7 a barrel, the fish 

 delivered on board of the boat. 



As the majority of the inhabitants of Appalachicola are fishermen, to some extent, it is not to 

 be expected that there is a very large trade in fresh fish. Those, who are not occupied at all on 

 the water find leisure to fish sufficiently to supply themselves with fish for their own consumption, 

 when fish are very abundant. A few fish are offered for sale on the wharf every morning: sheeps- 

 head, trout, mullet, redflsh, small "grass-fish," and frequently fresh-water fish from the rivers 

 above, such as black bass, perch, bream, &c. The salt-water fish are caught during the night in 

 cast-nets and the fresh-water fish with hook and line the day before. The sale. does not exceed ,1 

 barrel a day, and they sell for very little. 



During the fishing season (fall and winter) one or two of those crews which are engaged in 

 salting fish secure several hundred pounds of ice from Columbus or Chattahoochee; this ice they 

 use to preserve such mullet, sheepshead, &c., as they intend to ship back on the boat which brings 

 the ice. The fish thus shipped are packed in flour barrels with broken ice, and a sack is then 

 nailed over the top. Twelve or 15 barrels are often sent to Eufala, Ala., and Baiubridge and 

 Columbus, Ga. If the means of transportation were surer or more regular, a much larger trade 

 of this kind would be carried on. 



