178 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The only exception to this statement was the hunting of alligators in 
the interior waters of Florida, the small force available and the time re- 
quired personally to visit these regions, remote and difficult of access, 
precluding the possibility of undertaking the work at this time. Consid- 
erable valuable information on the alligator industry of the St. Johns 
River and the coast sections was, however, obtained in connection with 
the regular fishery canvass, and, together with data relating to the west- 
ern part of the State, will enable the office to possess a satisfactory 
knowledge of the present condition of the business. 
The fisheries of this region are less valuable than those of any other 
coast section; the natural advantages, however, are extensive, and the 
possibilities for development are considerable, especially in the oyster 
and offshore line fisheries. Up to a comparatively recent date the South 
Atlantic States took precedence over the Gulf States, but the marked 
advances in the latter easily overcame the comparatively slight differ- 
ence between the two regions in the absence of a correspondingly large 
increase in the South Atlantic States. Special fisheries of this section 
are nevertheless of great extent, and the industry as a whole has un- 
dergone a very important increase since 1880. 
In 1890, 16,001 persons were engaged inthe South Atlantic fisheries, 
$1,688,286 was invested in the industry, and $1,575,704 accrued from 
the sale of products, of which sum $482,403 represented shad, $254,141 
oysters, $166,106 alewives, and $133,635 mullet. During the years 
covered by the field inquiries the fisheries of this region were, as a 
whole, more successful and extensive than at any previous time. Espe- 
cially worthy of mention was the flourishing condition of the shad, 
alewife, striped bass, black bass, and other fresh-water fisheries, and 
of the oyster, squeteague, mullet, and other salt-water fisheries. The 
only important branches which have declined are the shrimp and stur- 
geon fisheries. More than half the proceeds of the fisheries represents 
fresh-water products. The fresh-water fisheries of North Carolina and 
Florida are more important than those prosecuted in salt water. The 
relative extent of the river and other fresh-water fisheries of the region 
is probably greater than in any other coast section, and constitutes 
one of the principal features of the industry; in 1890 the salt-water 
products had a value of $740,539, and the fresh-water were worth 
$833,165. pa 
The oyster fishery and the question of oyster cultivation have of 
late years received more attention in these States than at any previous 
time. Careful surveys of the coast waters with reference to oyster- 
culture have been made in the three northern States of the tier, and 
the legislatures have shown their appreciation of the importance of the 
subject by enacting modern laws intended to promote and protect the 
oyster industry. Large areas of oyster land have been taken up for 
private planting purposes, new capital has been brought into the States, 
and a very decided impetus has been given to the oyster fishery. 
