362 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Speaking in general terms, there has been a marked increase during 
the past eight years in the three grand items of persons employed, cap- 
ital, and value of catch. The increase in capital is found chiefly in boats, 
nets, seines, oyster apparatus, and shore property, and this, together with 
the increase in personnel, is due to the development of certain fisheries 
and the establishment of these industries at points where they were not 
prosecuted in the census year. 
There is little change in the vessel fishery, for the reason that there is 
a natural limit to the sponge trade, and the high tariff on fish in Cuban 
markets has held in check the development of the smack fishery. 
The shad catch shows a marvelous increase — from 251,700 pounds in 
1880 to 1,444,000 pounds in 1888. There has also been a marked im- 
provement in the mullet fishery, amounting to 200 per cent, in the catch. 
There has been a large increase in the red-snapper fishery, but a de- 
cline in the grouper catch ; the combined output of the two species, 
however, is about 1,000,000 pounds more than in 1880. 
The oyster industry is no less noticeable for improvement. Canning 
establishments have recently been located on the east coast, and a 
large business has been built-up. In 1888 the product was 239,195 
bushels against 78,600 bushels in 1880. 
That portion of the figures in the accompanying tables which is to 
be credited to the west coast, for the year 1888, may be briefly sum- 
marized as follows : 
Persons employed : 
V essel fishermen 1, 045 
Shore fishermen . 1,831 
Shoresmen and factory hands 190 
Total .. 3,066 
Apparatus and capital: 
Vessels (2,486.37 tons) 141 
Boats 1,159 
Seines 93 
Gill nets 621 
Pound nets 3 
Total investment, including shore property and cash capital $613, 736 
Value of products: 
General food-fish $319, 280 
Mollusks 44, 448 
Reptiles 10, 978 
Sponge 253, 690 
Total 628, 396 
126. Table of persons employed , 1888. 
On fishing vessels 
On transporting vessels . . 
On boats 
On shore, in factories, etc. 
How engaged. 
No. 
1, 029 
26 
2, 576 
286 
Total 
3,617 
