.582 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
remained almost stationary, it being carried on largely by the planters for the purpose of supply- 
ing food for their slaves. During the war, and, indeed, for six or eight years thereafter, the fishery 
was greatly reduced, many stations being entirely abandoned. Of late, however, owing perhaps 
to the changed social condition of the people, there has been a growing demand for both fresh and 
salt fish in all portions of the South. In the Northern States, also, the demand for fishery products 
has greatly increased, and to day larger quantities of fish are consumed than ever before, while 
twice as many could be readily disposed of in case they could be obtained at reasonable rates. 
This growing demand is chiefly supplied in the spring and early summer by the large catch of 
shad and alewives in the larger rivers, and by the mackerel vessels fishing off the New England 
coast. In the winter the cod and haddock are peculiarly abundant off the northern coast, and 
many persons are engaged in catching them to supply this trade. During the fall, however, when 
the great run of mullet occurs, comparatively few other species are taken in any considerable 
numbers, and the market is quite bare of fresh fish. This gives an excellent opportunity for the 
development of the mullet fisheries, for it provides a sufficient outfit for almost unlimited quanti- 
ties of mullet at a handsome figure. The salt-fish trade is also greatly increasing, and the supply 
of mackerel, though larger than for many years, does not equal the demand, and the prices are 
rapidly advancing, the figures in 1882 being several dollars more per barrel than for the same 
‘quality of fish in 1881, while those of the last-named season were considerably in advance of those 
of the year previous. 
No systematic effort has yet been made to introduce salt mullet into the markets of the North 
or West, and they are little eaten outside of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Even in this 
region, owing to the poor quality of the fish, the demand is often limited. With well-cured fish it 
seems that little trouble would be experienced in extending indefinitely the territory over which 
they are eaten, and the better grades of mullet might be brought into competition with the mackerel 
and lake whitefish, when their relative merits would at once be recognized. 
(7) The profits to be derived by the residents from the mullet fisheries—Many of the residents of 
the sea-bordering counties of the Southern States own small tracts of 1nd, on which they raise 
limited quantities of the various products commonly cultivated in those regions. From these they 
derive a moderate revenue, which is often quite insufficient to supply the wants of their families, 
and they are obliged to devote a portion of their time to other work. In the fall and early winter, 
when the mullet are most abundant, these men have little to occupy their attention, and they could, 
therefore, engage in the prosecution of the fishery with great profit to themselves and at the same 
time be increasing the food supply of the country, thus greatly benefiting the manufacturing 
classes. The present methods are fairly adapted to the capture of the species, though they could, 
perhaps, be somewhat improved upon by the exercise of a little thought and ingenuity. The purse- 
seine, now so commonly employed by the Northern fishermen in the capture of mackerel, might be 
introduced with advantage for use along the outer shore, where the fish are running too far from 
the beach to come within reach of the drag-seines. Other Northern apparatus might, perhaps, be 
introduced with advantage. Even with the apparatus now in use, however, we see nothing that 
offers greater inducements to active and energetic men during the months of September, October, 
and November than the mullet fisheries. 
