REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. aay 
Sponge fishery of Florida, 1900—Continued. 
' Tarpon sahinals 3 
Key West. Springs. Apalachicola. Total. 
Kinds and grounds. |__ Rs : - a eee, 
Lbs. | Value. | Lbs. | Value.} Lbs. | Value.| Lbs. | Value. 
2 a | 
Catch by boats on “Bay” | 
grounds: : = 
Sheenswoolie-t 3S <<scesse sss 19, 674 | $57,609 | 8,423 /$24, 820 996 | $2,934 | 29,093 | $84, 763 
Vie O Wane sees aoe er eee eee 3,793 | 2,827 | 2,670) 1,780 438 292 6, 901 4, 899 
GAS Bee te yaw wote eessceseias cece 6, 683 2,035 | 10,894 2,905 360 96 17,937 5, 086 
GOV Cee tee tee eet aee a 237 | SE eee SA ecm eer =| sae - 237 34 
= | = ve i eas _ = 
Motalbasees t= ef tae || BOL Bae 61,905 | 21,987 | 29,505 | 1, 794 3,322 | 54, 168 | 94, 732 
roe {= aes = = sank | mem =| = = == y (ee — a rey 
Catch by boats on ‘‘Key” | 
grounds: ee | | | 
Sheepswool --_---- Benth se ree BOP B41 ll 8b, aba leon onse. ieee eek eee ss eee 39, 341 85, 363 
Wellow: 22222 sates. sidcocscee 205250) aligetD Vase. 222s ake cesses ae Soe 20, 250 17,345 
Gracgee seins os seen eee oe 87,551 1 COGS" | eter oo |beaa nee eeosaere Jsacetoes 37,551 | 11,968 
GOV OR Re- tak 52.252 2oo sateen 7,495 TOBA oe Se sa| eek |S ee ee Tee 7,495 | 1, 084 
Welvetioriboat 2. -.cacc-s22- 21. 4,281 5 OOS last Sa ees | ee e's ees OL ee se 4, 281 3, 504 
pUOUAI cose satcees ee See | LOS 018) lil OF 2645, bese ec pee eee oe ..-.-.--| 108,918 | 119, 264 
.| = | =| 2 ar = 
Grand total _--..-.__--_---.| 315,577 488, 744 | 45,180 | 70,320 | 4,483 | 8,621 | 364,990 | 567,685 
Yield and value of the sponge fishery ti 1895, 1896, 1899, and 1900, 
1895. 1896. 1399, | 1900. 
Kinds. = : = al iz = 
Lbs. | Value. | Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. | Lbs. Value. 
Sheepswool .....--. 231,272 | $363,107 | 149,724 | $248,196 | 153,700 | $332,390 | 181,311 | $483,263 
Mellow: 2s.scaceess2 29, 509 11,798 | 238,655 9,318 55, 800 16,205 | 55,178 44,045 
(GmASS= = eee ee 21, 387 5, 464 | 44,617 11,508 76, 900 14,319 | 109,265 33, 263 
Other. -.....- een rece 23, 952 6, 502 18, 315 3, 990 18, 000 5,000 | 19,236 7,114 
—— aes | : 
Motal\.--..:--- 306,120 | 386,871 | 236,311 | 273,012 | 304,400 | 367,914 | 364,990 567, 685 
FISHERIES OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES. 
A condensed statement of the results of the investigations of the 
Mississippi River and tributaries has already been published as sta- 
tistical bulletin No. 107. 
The total number of persons engaged in the fisheries of these waters 
was 11,218, the capital invested amounted to $1,883,875, and the 
products aggregated 94,713,402 pounds, valued at $1,771,812. 
The most important apparatus of capture employed in these fish- 
eries is fyke nets. They exceed in value all other forms of apparatus, 
and are more extensively used in this region than in all the other 
fishing sections of the United States combined. 
Among the products of these fisheries, buffalo-fish is most promi- 
nent, the yield being 14,215,975 pounds, valued at $349,913. Cat-fish 
is also very abundant, the quantity taken being 7,648,179 pounds, 
valued at $339,800. German carp stands next in value and is greater 
in quantity, the catch being 11,868,840 pounds, valued at $289,258. 
Mussel shells constitute another important product, due to their use in 
the manufacture of pearl buttons, the quantity secured being 45,564,000 
pounds, for which the fishermen received $207,187. Other important 
products were crappie, worth %61,400; black bass, worth $56,652; 
paddle-fish, worth $55,514; suckers, worth $40,340; frogs, $53,054 
