THE COAST FISHERIES OF TEXAS. athe. 
redfish, sea trout, sand trout, sheepshead, croakers, jackfish, hogfish, 
drum, mullet, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, pompano, rockfish, jewfish, 
pigfish, and whiting. 
The following species are alsoreported as being taken in small quan- 
tities: Shoemaker, perch, pike, flat croaker, robalo, sawfish, catfish, 
calico-fish, needle-fish, moonfish, gulf menhaden, crabs, ete. Most of 
these species are considered of no value and are thrown away as soon 
as removed from the seines, except occasionally when better fish are 
scarce. 
By far the greater part of the fish brought to market by the bay- 
seine fishermen consists of redfish, sea trout or squeteague, and sheeps- 
head. Of these, the trout is generally considered the finest for the 
table, but it does not bear transportation so well as some of the other 
species. The redfish is preferred for shipping purposes, and is much 
more popular for the table than the sheepshead, which at times does 
not meet with a ready sale. 
The average weight of a redfish is about 10 pounds and the length 2 
feet or over, while some weigh 40 pounds and are 4 feet long or over. 
The Mexican fishermen in Texas frequently call it the “ pez colorado,” 
and in Louisiana the name “ poisson rouge” is applied to it. Accord- 
ing to the fishermen, the redfish are not usually found in spawn when 
weighing less than 10 pounds. All fish of this species which weigh 
over 16 pounds are called “bulls.” These are sold at a reduced price, 
and at so much per fish, usually about 25 cents. 
The sea trout (the weakfish or squeteague of the Atlantic coast) 
average in weight about 3 pounds, and at times attain a weight of 10 
pounds and a length of 3 feet. They spawn when weighing about 13 
pounds. They are fine food-fish, but do not keep well, the flesh being 
very soft. While trout are taken at all times of the year, they are 
more plentiful in March, April, and May. The sheepshead average in 
weight about 24 pounds, with a maximum weight of about 10 pounds. 
All along the Gulf coast the name of this fish-is contracted into “ sheep- 
head.” ; 
Occasionally the fish taken by a crew during several days consist 
almost entirely of one of these three most plentiful species. On several 
oecasions the writer has at different ports in Texas seen several thou- 
sand pounds of fish of which probably 90 per cent were of one species. 
One week they may be nearly all sheepshead and the next week trout 
or redfish. Ordinarily the fishermen and marketmen put the same 
value on the different species of fish taken, but if an extra large quan- 
tity of ‘poor fish” is taken, or if the catch consists largely of sheeps- 
head, the marketmen may refuse to accept a portion or all of it. 
Little difference has been noticed in the quantity of each species of 
fish taken by the bay seines from year to year. Redfish are reported 
as having decreased most in plentifulness; bluefish, pompano, and 
Spanish mackerel are growing more abundant. There is no place 
along the Texas coast at which the supply of fish is less than the 
