592 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
per, I did not land him; but I caught a noble string of blackfish, sometimes two at atime. We 
could stay on the bank only forty-five minutes, for we had to get back in order to cross the bar at 
high tide. But in that time were caught 20 snappers, weighing in the aggregate 600 pounds, and 
over 250 blackfish, which weighed from three-fourths to 14 pounds each. If we had struck tlfe reef 
a little sooner we might have staid two hours, and I assure the reader that two hours of such fish- 
ing is as much as he will want. 
‘We strung all our fish forward, and, forgetting our sickness, sat down to a chowder of snapper, 
such as might make an epicure’s eyes water. We arrived at Jacksonville with bell ringing, whistle 
blowing, and all our flags flying, and were greeted by a large and enthusiastic crowd.” 
2.—THE HAVANA MARKET FISHERY OF KEY WEST. 
ORIGIN, PRESENT CONDITION, AND METHODS OF THE FISHERY. 
A trade in fish has been carried on between the Key West fishermen and the Oubans for over 
fifty years, having been first started by Connecticut fishermen who spent their winters in the Gulf. 
At first the smacks were small and chiefly sloops, carrying 5,000, 6,000, or 7,000 pounds of groupers 
in their wells. As schooners came into general use in the fisheries they were sent here. These 
were larger, with greater well room. In 1860 there were eight or ten smacks engaged in the 
trade. At that time there was great demand for fresh fish in Havana, and good prices were paid 
for them. A smack would make eight or nine trips a year if she fished summer and winter, and it 
was considered that she was doing very well at that. Some few contracted with the Cubans to 
furnish groupers at 50 cents apiece for all fish over 5 pounds; those weighing less were counted 
two for one. This rate was finally broken up by competing parties, who would meet the vessels at 
sea, offering large prices, such as 15 or 20 cents per pound for all sizes of fish. The result was 
that more smacks were brought out after our civil war was ended, and the fishermen crowded them 
so with large deep-water fish that would not live long in the “cars” that they failed in business. 
Since then, or for the past ten years, the trade has assumed larger proportions, and is carried on 
by more reliable parties. s 
The smacks now make twelve or fourteen trips per year, or more than a trip per month, unless 
they fall in with a wrecked vessel, when they perhaps miss a trip while attending to it. (All 
smacks, and spongers have licenses for wrecking.) The fishing grounds are located all along the 
West Florida coast from Charlotte Harbor to Cedar Keys in water that is deeper than 7 or 8 fathoms. 
Fish are found only about the “patches” of rocks that occur on the bottom off that coast. Some of 
the best fishing places are in gullies where there is living coral and an abundance of other animal 
life; other places (not so productive generally) are on ridges of calcareous rock, that seem to be 
surrounded by no amount of animal life, except, perhaps, minute animals that live in the scanty 
growth of marine plants. When the fishermen reach the “ grounds,” or the vicinity of localities 
where they have previously caught fish, they use the lead-line continually until rocky bottom or fish 
are found. The sounding-lead itself has an “arming” of tallow or wax to show the character of the 
bottom, while on the lead-line is attached a baited hook, which is generally taken by the fish if 
there are any near. When rocky bottom is found, but no fish, the vessel is allowed to drift or 
move slowly, while the crew try their fishing-lines, and very often good fishing grounds are found 
in that way. As soon as it is ascertained that there are plenty of fish below, the schooner’s jib is 
hauled half-way down, the mainsail slacked off to the fullest extent, and the schooner allowed to 
drift sidewise over the spot. Finally they drift away from the fish; then the lines are taken in, 
jib hoisted, mainsail hauled flat (foresail is seldom used at all), and the smack is worked up to 
