582 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHEE1ES. 



remained almost stationary, it being carried on largely by the planters for the purpose of supply- 

 ing food for their slaves. During the war, and, indeed, for six or eight years thereafter, the fishery 

 was greatly reduced, many stations being entirely abandoned. Of late, however, owing perhaps 

 to the changed social condition of the people, there has been a growing demand for both fresh and 

 salt fish in all portions of the South. In the Northern States, also, the demand for fishery products 

 has greatly increased, and to day larger quantities of fish are consumed than ever before, while 

 twice as many could be readily disposed of in case they could be obtained at reasonable rates. 

 This growing demand is chiefly supplied in the spring and early summer by the large catch of 

 shad and alewives in the larger rivers, and by the mackerel vessels fishing off the New England 

 coast. In the winter the cod and haddock are peculiarly abundant off the northern coast, and 

 many persons are engaged in catching them to supply this trade. During the fall, however, when 

 the great run of mullet occurs, comparatively few other species are taken ill any considerable 

 numbers, and the market is quite bare of fresh fish. This gives an excellent opportunity for the 

 development of the mullet fisheries, for it provides a sufficient outfit for almost unlimited quanti- 

 ties of mullet at a handsome figure. The salt-fish trade is also greatly increasing, and the supply 

 of mackerel, though larger than for many years, does not equal the demand, and the prices are 

 rapidly advancing, the figures in 1882 being several dollars more per barrel than for the same 

 quality of fish in 1881, while those of the last-named season were considerably in advance of those 

 of the year previous. 



No systematic effort has yet been made to introduce salt mullet into the markets of the North 

 or West, and they are little eaten outside of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Even in this 

 region, owing to the poor quality of the fish, the demand is often limited. With well-cured fish it 

 seems that little trouble would be experienced in extending indefinitely the territory over which 

 they are eaten , and the better grades of mullet might be brought into competition with the mackerel 

 and lake whitefish, when their relative merits would at once be recognized. 



(7) The profits to be derived by the residents from the mullet fisheries. Many of the residents of 

 the sea-bordering counties of the Southern States own small tracts of land, on which they raise 

 limited quantities of the various products commonly cultivated in those regions. From these they 

 derive a moderate revenue, which is often quite insufficient to supply the wants of their families, 

 and they are obliged to devote a portion of their time to other work. In the fall and early winter, 

 when the mullet are most abundant, these men have little to occupy their attention, and they could, 

 therefore, engage in the prosecution of the fishery with great profit to themselves and at the same 

 time be increasing the food supply of the country, thus greatly benefiting the manufacturing 

 classes. The present methods are fairly adapted to the capture of the species, though they could, 

 perhaps, be somewhat improved upon by the exercise of a little thought and ingenuity. The purse- 

 seine, now so commonly employed by the Northern fishermen in the capture of mackerel, might be 

 introduced with advantage for use along the outer shore, where the fish are running too far from 

 the beach to come within reach of the drag-seines. Other Northern apparatus might, perhaps, be 

 introduced with advantage. Even with the apparatus now in use, however, we see nothing that 

 offers greater inducements to active and energetic men during the mouths of September, October, 

 and November than the mullet fisheries. 



