412 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Green turtle are gradually becoming less abundant on the coast of 
Texas, yet on account of the increasing demand for them the annual 
catch is probably increasing. The turtles are either disposed of at the 
Fulton canning factory or are sold to the fresh-fish marketmen, who 
ship them to the interior and even to New York City. Those sent to 
the latter place go by the regular line of steamers from Galveston, to 
which port they are sent by rail or general freight boats fron: Aransas 
Pass. They are shipped alive, and live a great length of time out of 
water. 
The fishermen usually receive from 1 to 2 cents per pound for their 
catch. While awaiting a suitable market the turtles are kept in 
“crawls,” or pens, made of poles driven in the bottom of the bay a 
few inches from each other, and sufficiently long to project a few feet 
above the surface of the water. If properly fed, the turtle may be re- 
tained several months in such inclosures. 
The cannery at Fulton was established ona small scale in 1881. In 
1890 about 900 green turtles, weighing 243,000 pounds, were reported 
as being received at this cannery. About 40,000 2-pound cans of tur- 
tle meat, and 300 dozen 2-pound cans and 500 dozen 38-pound cans of 
“turtle soup” were prepared. It is quite difficult to prepare these 
products so that they will keep a suitable length of time, such work 
requiring close attention and the greatest cleanliness. 
The shells of the green turtle have no recognized commercial value. 
Marketing of fishery products.—In 1890 there were two wholesale fish 
and oyster markets at Aransas Pass. The numberof men employed 
was 31, and the capital invested $23,000, AI the fishery and game 
products of the region were handled by these two houses, and in the 
same manner as is common along the coast. One of the marketing 
houses was connected with an ice plant and the fish were preserved in 
dry cold storage while awaiting orders from the interior. 
CORPUS CHRISTI BAY. 
Southwest of Aransas Bay and connected with it by Corpus Christi 
Bayou is situated Corpus Christi Bay. This is a beautiful body of 
water, very nearly circular in shape, and, together with its tributaries, 
covers about 185 square miles. The average depth of water is fully 14 
feet. At present the only navigable outlet is through Aransas Pass by 
way of Corpus Christi Bayou. This bayou had a natural depth of water 
of about 4 feet, but by Morris and Cunningham’s Cut it has been made 
navigable for vessels drawing 7 feet. 
The only estuaries entering Corpus Christi Bay are the Nueces River 
and Oso Creek. The latter, as implied by its name, is quite salty. It 
is wide and shallow and drains but a small area; in fact, it is more of 
a tributary bay than a creek. The Nueces River drains about 10,000 
square miles of territory, and at times during the spring it empties 
great quantities of fresh water into the bay. 
