THE COAST FISHERIES OF TEXAS. - Ail 
_ of the grounds in this bay and its tributaries that have produced oys- 
ters during the past ten years is estimated at 15 square miles. 
The depth of water over the oyster beds varies from a few inches to 
8 or more feet. No oysters are obtained from grounds more than 7 feet 
under water, although there are probably many beds in such places. 
Only a small part of the oysters shipped from the shores of Aransas 
Bay are obtained from its waters. In recent years the supply hasbeen 
largely drawn from Matagorda Bay, while Espiritu Santo, Mesquit, 
and Corpus Christi bays have furnished a few for this market. 
The green-turtle fishery.— Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) have at times 
appeared in large numbers in Aransas Bay. In 1869 the beef-packeries 
began to can them. When these canneries were closed about ten years 
ago, a small factory was established at Fulton for preparing turtle meat 
for market in 1 and 2 pound tin cans. This is still continued. 
The weight of the green turtle taken on the Texas coast yaries from 
10 to 1,000 pounds, and averages about 270 pounds. When they arrive 
in Texas waters they are in poor condition, but they fatten rapidly and 
_are best for the market from August to the end of the season. 
Aransas and Matagorda bays and the lower end of Laguna Madre 
are favorite fishing-grounds; yet at times the nets are set in other bays 
on the coast, and trips are made, every beyond the Rio Grande. The 
season for ‘“turtling” begins in March and closes in October, June 
to September being the best time for this fishery. 
Green turtle are never taken with seines on this coast, nor are they 
usually hunted on the beaches during the breeding season. Gill nets 
are the common means of capture, the length varying from 60 to 100 
feet, and the depth from 7 to 10 feet. The size of the mesh ranges 
from 14 to 16 inches square, the twine used being from 48 to 60 medium- 
laid. The nets are made by the fishermen, and about 24 pounds: of 
twine are necessary for each one. No lead line is used, only a float 
line being required. The cost of each net, ready for use, including 
ropes, cost of making, ete., is about $15. Each fishing crew should 
have twenty or more of these nets. 
The nets are set in the ‘‘runs” or channels to which the turtle resort 
to feed. The order in which they are set varies with the “lay of the 
land.” One of the lower ends of the net is fastened by means of a rope 
to an anchor, leaving the net to swing freely with the current. Each 
one is generally placed ata distance from the other slightly greater 
than the length of the met, so that the nets may swing clear of each 
other when the current changes. A turtle swimming through the “run” 
is likely to pass a “flipper” through the mesh of one of these nets; and 
while endeavoring to extricate it, becomes completely entangled and 
is easily secured. The daily catch varies from nothing to 20 turtles, an 
average of 2 or 3 being quite good. The depth of water in which the 
nets are set is usually from 9 to 14 feet. The best fishing is done at 
night, but the day time is very good if moderate trade winds prevail 
and the water be slightly rough. 
