THE MULLET 



205 



the INIullet supply is extremely absurd, and should not for 

 one moment be taken seriously. 



The Mullet genus {Miigil) contains about seventy species, 

 widely distributed throughout the warm waters of the world. 

 Besides the species mentioned and figured above, the Striped 



THE SILVER MULLET. 



Mullet is also abundant in the waters of our southeastern 

 coast. Both are important food fishes, and are caught in 

 great numbers for the southern markets. They are taken in 

 gill-nets and cast-nets, and the largest specimens rarely at- 

 tain a weight of 6 pounds. 



Of all North American fishes, the Mullets rank high in 

 commercial value. In 1897 the total catch amounted to 

 21,402,624 pounds, which sold for $332,090. Of this the 

 yield to Florida alone amounted to 16,700,094 pounds. 



Later statistics show a great increase in the annual Mullet 



