THE MULLET FISHERY. 581 



(2) Peculiar abundance in the in-shore waters. The peculiar instincts of the mullet which 

 draw them toward the shore are greatly in the fisherman's favor, for while the cod, mackerel, red- 

 snapper, grouper, and many other important food-fishes remain in the deep water at a considerable 

 distance from the shore, the mullet enter the shoal water in enormous quantities, and continue 

 their migrations along the outer beach within a few rods of the land; and, indeed, they as frequently 

 enter the inner bays and sounds, where they are readily taken by the fishermen, who are not obliged 

 to endure the hardships and perils of the open ocean in the prosecution of the fishery. 



(3) Readiness with which the mullet can be secured^ The gregarious instincts of the mullet bring 

 them together in schools, which are often of large size and great density. Instances are on record 

 where 600 barrels have been taken at a single haul of the drag-seine, and schools containing 200 to 

 300 barrels are not uncommonly seen. Again, in their migrations the mullet swim near the surface, 

 where their presence is easily recognized by their continual jumping and splashing, and the fisher- 

 man is thus directed as 'to when and where to set and haul his nets. With bottom-swimming fish 

 the conditions are much less favorable, for he is obliged to make " blind sets," trusting to chance 

 to surround a school, much time and labor being lost in making "water hauls." 



(4) Its merits as afresh fish. The fresh mullet is rapidly growing in favor among the fresh-fish 

 dealers in the districts where it is known, and though somewhat inferior to several of the more 

 highly prized species, such as the Spanish mackerel and the whiting, it is of firm flesh and excellent 

 flavor. Formerly it was sold only in the markets of the seaboard towns, but of late it has been 

 introduced into many of the interior cities, where it has met with a ready sale and is regarded with 

 considerable favor. Its distribution, however, is still confined to a comparatively small area, though 

 there seems little doubt that it will soon be much more widely known. The improved shipping 

 facilities along the southern coast will aid greatly in the distribution of the fresh fish, and the 

 demand, as well as the price, will undoubtedly be increased in proportion, and the time seems not 

 far distant when the market will take much greater quantities than at present. 



(5) Its value for salting. The fishermen of many localities have little idea of the value of the 

 mullet, and in many counties almost none are salted, as the residents do not know that they could 

 find a market for them even though they might be able to catch and cure them. The business is 

 thus confined within narrow limits, and there are stretches of coast 50 to 75 miles in extent where 

 not a single barrel of mullet is put up for shipment, though the fish are present in immense numbers 

 and would yield remunerative employment to the fishermen of the locality. Even in places not now 

 accessible by rail or steamer the fisheries could be carried on with profit, as the products could be 

 carted overland or boated through the inner tide-channels and lagoons to the nearest shipping 

 point. In fact, we see no reason why the entire coast from Carolina to Texas should not be one 

 continuous mullet fishing ground. 



At present a large percentage of the Southern fishermen, even where salting is practiced, are 

 unacquainted with the best methods of curing, and many of them are putting up mullet in so crude 

 a manner as to greatly impair their flavor and to render them of little value. Such fish greatly 

 injure the reputation of the species and do much to destroy the demand, for when a person in 

 testing the mullet gets fish of an inferior quality he at once infers that all mullet have a similar 

 flavor, and seldom cares to give them another trial. Some, however, are giving careful attention 

 to the preparation of these fish, and are putting them up in a neat and attractive manner. When 

 thus cured the mullet are held in much favor even by the epicures. It only remains for the fish- 

 ermen to become familiar with the proper methods of curing, and to give more attention to cleanli- 

 ness in the preparation of 'their fish, to have them meet with a ready sale. 



(6) The growing demand for fishing products. For many years prior to the rebellion the fishery 



