588 HISTORY AXD METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



anywhere were brought to those ports by two or three small sloop-smacks which were the greater 

 part of the time engaged in seining shore fish, and sold there at high prices in the public markets 



About the year 1874 attempts were made at Pensacola to catch and handle red-snappers in a 

 more economical and business-like manner. Staunch, well-equipped schooner-smacks were chartered 

 in Connecticut to fish off Pensacola during the winter, and on shore arrangements were made for 

 the storage, shipment, and sale of a large catch. On account of the poor facilities for transports 

 tion of such goods, the high prices at which the fish must be sold, and their strangeness to inland 

 people, there was but small demand for several years, and the prospect was not encouraging to the 

 men who had interested themselves in the enterprise. At last, however, the red-snapper became 

 introduced throughout the country, and most other conditions were favorable for its sale in large 

 quantities. 



The pioneer Pensacola firm introduced several new methoths and features into the business, 

 such as the buying of fish by the pound instead of by the bunch, as had before been the custom, 

 the shipping of fish to the interior, using ice for the preservation of fish on the vessels, and the 

 wages system of payment to the fishermen. 



In 1880-'8l another fishing firm was established and new impetus given to the trade. 



This season witnessed the most decided changes from mauy of the old customs of the business, 

 ashore and afloat, to the latest ideas and newest methods. The fleet of vessels was considerably 

 enlarged, and the whole improved in equipment and in the plans for catching and preserving fish. 

 Hen of experience from the deep-water fisheries of the northern countries were employed, some 

 receiving shares of the voyages, while the majority were paid monthly Wages. The crews were 

 enlarged in number from five to seven or eight men, the extra men being required to fish from 

 dories at different parts of the ground. Before this all of the fish that swallowed the hook or had 

 their stomachs forced out of their mouths were thrown away, as they would not live in the well, 

 but good ice-houses or pens were built into the vessels and all the " gulleters " saved, amounting to 

 several hundred fish on some trips. 



It was also found profitable to have a supply of ice at hand so that in stormy weather all of 

 the fish may be removed from the well, to prevent their being chafed or killed. At first each 

 vessel would take one or two tons of ice, but within five months the same vessels carried five or 

 six tons, and they brought very few of their catch in wells. Consequently since that time nearly 

 all the additions to the fleet have been vessels without wells, but with large and convenient 

 storage-room for ice. The question of having a regular supply of fresh bait has received much 

 attention for six years, and still is unsolved. A small pound was kept down one fall during a run 

 of young menhaden, and as long as the fish were present it kept a supply of good bait. The part 

 of the year when red snappers are dainty about their food is early spring when, generally, no 

 good bait fish can be caught anywhere within 400 miles of the fishery. Ibe northern salt-bait, 

 excepting squid, have been tried and proved of no value for snappers. 



Another year a small freezing-room was filled with lady fish (Elops saurus), which kept in 

 excellent condition, and answered the purpose well when carried to the fishing-grounds in ice water, 

 but it was too expensive to become generally used. For the preservation of small or soft fishes 

 there is no better way than to keep them in ice water. 



The fishing- grounds lately resorted to by the fleet are so far from land and so small in area 

 that very often the good weather would be spent in finding them by the old plan of steering a 

 certain course and then blindly searching with sounding line. Therefore to lessen such difficulties 

 the vessels were provided with patent taffrail logs, and the captains in some cases instructed in the 

 simple methods of finding their position at sea by the sun. 



