590 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
a few groupers were taken with snappers at the same price, but for the past two years they have 
been separated and sold for one or two cents per pound.* 
2. THE RED-SNAPPER FISHERY OF EAST FLORIDA. 
In East Florida snapper fishing is carried on chiefly by amateur fishermen and with the same kind 
of bait as in the Gulf.t It is stated that the fish will sometimes bite at a whiterag. Iam inclined 
to doubt the statement of Norris, the only angling authority who has written understandingly ~ 
about this species, who says that they bite readily at the silver or pearl squid. They are similar 
in habits to the sheepshead and sea-bass, and it is well known that these fish seldom rise to the 
surface. 
A trip to the snapper banks is a favorite summer recreation for the gentlemen at Jacksonville. 
A tug is chartered for the day, and always returns to the city with flags flying, whistles triumph- 
antly sounding, and gorgeous festoons of redfish hanging over the bows. 
Dr. J. Kenworthy, of Jacksonville, describes one of these excursions as follows : 
‘‘Bighteen of us left Jacksonville at 2 o’clock in the morning, reaching Mayport before day- 
light. Before the sun rose we were 12 miles from the shore and near the banks. The second 
cast of the lead furnished unmistakable evidence of rocks, and overboard went the lines. They 
scarcely touched bottom before the cry of ‘Snapper!’ ‘Snapper!’ was heard, and a crimson beauty 
graced our deck. All were soon engaged, forward, aft, starboard, and port. To feel the bite of 
a 25-pound snapper at a depth of 12 fathoms causes a sensation never to be forgotten. As 
the line is pulled in, and the fish is first seen at a depth of several fathoms, he looks like silver, 
and not larger than one’s hand. As he comes nearer his tints deepen; as he struggles at the surface 
to escape, all his rich, brilliant colors are displayed; and when he reaches the deck every one ex- 
claims ‘What a beauty!’ For a few minutes the shouts resounded from all sides; but a change soon 
occurred. Each man labored as if the number to be captured depended upon his individual exer- 
tions, and no breath or time could be spared to ery ‘Snapper!’ or indulge in fisherman’s chaff. In 
less than two hours the whistles sounded ‘ Up lines!’ for we must cross the bar at. a partieular stage 
of the tide. The fish were biting rapidly, but our tired arms and blistered fingers induced us all 
quickly to obey the warning. 
*Since the above account was written Mr. Stearns has obtained the following additional information about 
the extent of the Pensacola fishery : 
Statistics of red-snapper fleet, 1874 to 1886. 
Season of— seo Tonnage. Number of 
OTA 1G ioe an sins stabi snciowceewint! 11 328, 22 60 
1875-"76 . 22.002 ee eee eee e eee 13 376. 95 vee 
1870297 sconwse ese resccccuns., 11 323. 47 57 
TST T18 inci soe win siceweeiene gues 10 297. 10 54 
WOT 8170 ciece cine rwean ne veonen 11 282, 12 60 
1878-80 sececumcmacinesiececeee 14 302, 11 71 
TBB0 8) oo cnens wwe nels vienneis 21 458. 03 108 
1881-'82 .......-..-..- raiaiestointe 26 732. 39 150 
188283... ee eee ceeeee 24 662. 91 183 : 
AES ~'64 oe naeswemaweseaswsieay 25 577, 96 140 
1B8AS 8G ive c.cisitwieaaoceracsasiees 27 751. 56 168 
B85 "BG io ssicinicis: sate sicminsine weve 33 1, 149.10 231 
In the season of 1885—’86 Mr. Stearns states that the fishery has been a financial failure, probably on account of 
the severe cold having driven the fish into deeper water.—A. H. Clark. 
+ Since 1882 there have been three or four schooners from Noank, Conn., fishing for red snappers off the east coast 
of Florida in winter, marketing the catch at Savannah. They ship part of their catch to New York. 
