THE SAINT MARY’S AND ALTAMAHA RIVERS. 617 
fresh fish. Thousands are often lost in a week, and the loss of one tierce materially lowers the 
profit on many others. In my own judgment, 40 cents would be a very small return, and 
perhaps 50 or 60 would be more equitable. Before the shad reaches the table of its final 
purchaser it must pass through the hands of two additional agents—the wholesale fishmonger and 
the retail dealer. It appears evident, then, that Florida shad must always be a luxury in the 
North. If the proposed improvements in the navigation of the Saint John’s are ever effected, 
through lines of steamships to New York, with refrigerators built especially for transporting fish, 
would doubtless be sustained. In this event the cost of transportation would be much diminished, 
the cost of icing somewhat diminished, and the risk of loss entirely done away with. The fish 
would then reach their destination in excellent condition, and we may anticipate a very great 
reduction in their price. Forty or even 35 cents ought to remunerate the dealers, as well as 
double that price at the present time.” 
STATISTICS OF THE FISHERY.—The amount of capital invested in the shad fishery on the 
Saint John’s in 1877 may be roughly estimated as follows: 
Value. 
Seine-boats (80, at $50 each)....-......-------- $4, 000 
Gill-neta (80, at $100 each) .........--.--.--.-- 8,000 
Shanties, platforms, reels, fish-h | SO. 2 noe 8, 000 
; Mota ic acd cosyncdsutcde yaweeegaanceeaces 15, 000 
The number of fishermen and shore hands does not probably exceed one hundred and seventy- 
five. 
The total value of the shad fisheries for the four months and a half beginning December and 
ending April 15 may be fairly estimated at $50,000, allowing 25 cents to be the price at retail 
in Jacksonville. The actual cost of catching the fish has been shown to be 15 cents, allowing no 
profit and no risk-margin to the capitalists. The cost of taking the fish out of the water, then, is 
about $30,000. os 
Statistical summary" of the fisheries of the Saint John’s, Florida, for the season of 1880. 
Number of men employed ....... 2-2. 2205 ceca ee cee es neces cence cece ee cone ceccnecwnnes 182 
Amount of capital employed ... 2.22. 22. 2oe once cee eee cee ee eee cee nee e ee een ee $13, 630 
Product of the fisheries, in pounds (shad) .......22. ..- 220 eee e ee cen nee cee eee eee 251, 700 
Walle Of prodaet: soccce ices case ceisescliceeaciocinaees ceeneenie sega aaasiod seek coke sees $20, 136 
2. SAINT MARY’S RIVER. 
Saint Mary’s River lies between Florida and Georgia, and has its source in Okefenokee Swamp. 
From its size and character we would expect to find it abounding in extensive and valuable fish- 
eries. Shad fishing, however, has met with only doubtful success, and no organized fresh-water 
fisheries have ever been prosecuted on the river. A considerable number of sturgeon are taken 
in the estuary, and find a market in Savannah. The statistics of capture and value are given 
in the discussion of the sturgeon trade of Savannah. 
3. ALTAMAHA RIVER. 
The shad fisheries of the -Altahama seem to have been formerly much more productive than 
they are now. The migrations of the shad before there were any obstructions extended on the 
Oconee to some distance above Milledgeville. At the present day, although there is nothing to 
prevent their passage up to that place, they are rarely or never seen there. 
* For details see Census Volume on Fisheries, 
