622 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
7. THE STURGEON TRADE OF SAVANNAH. 
From the different inlets of the Georgia coast and from the Satilla River, the Altamaha, the 
Ogeechee, the Savannah, and the Cohambee rivers a considerable number of sturgeon find their 
way to the Savannah market. Here they are dressed, packed in ice, and shipped by steamer to 
New York. The roe, also, after some preliminary process here, is shipped to New York to be con- 
verted into caviare. 
The sturgeon are taken in drift-nets of 12-inch mesh, No. 40 cotton twine. The length of net 
varies from 80 to 150 fathoms, and is from 18 to 26 meshes deep. The length and depth vary witb 
the width and depth of the river in which they are to be used. Two men and boats are necessary 
for each net. The cost of a fishing outfit is on an average $130. Where the fishing is done by 
hired crews the men receive from $25 to $40 per month. Where the fishing is on shares the party 
furnishing outfit receives one-third of the proceeds, and the outfit is returned, but the nets are not 
serviceable more than one season. 
The fishing begins first on the Satilla. In 1880 the camps were established on the 6th of 
February, but the season did not fairly open until the 18th. 
The sturgeon as taken are either penned or tied out in the water and kept alive until a ship- 
ment is made up, when they are killed, disemboweled, heads and tails cut off, and shipped to Sa- 
vannah. Here they are skinned, the backbones taken out, packed in ice, and forwarded to New 
York, and sold at a price of 6 or 8 cents per pound. 
The species of sturgeon which is the object of this fishery is the Acipenser oxyrhyneus, or 
sharp-nose sturgeon. 
The average weight, gross, of the sturgeons brought to Savannah is about 150 pounds. The 
average weight, net, is 65 pounds. The largest size seen by Mr. Hudson, one of the principal 
dealers here, weighed 250 pounds. 
The fishing equipments in use during the season of 1880 were as follows: 
Locality. Nets. | Men. 
| On the Satilla River .............. 4 e 
On the Altamaha River........... 80 66 
On the Ogeechee River........-.-- 10 22 
On the Savannah River........... 2 5 
On the Combahee River........... 2 5 
TOCA ‘sceise gesesws teceeewan see 48 109 , 
These nets are not confined to one river or locality; these now being fished in the Satilla, later 
in the season will be transferred to the Savannah or rivers.farther east and north. " 
According to the best estimates which I can make, the average catch per net: may be put at 
one hundred, which gives 15,000 pounds gross and 6,500 pounds net weight to each fishing outfit. 
Of the roe, we have an average of fifteen sturgeon to the keg of 125 pounds, which gives seven 
kegs of roe to each fishing outfit. I have not learned that there is any use made of the offal. It 
could, of course, be used in the preparation of oil. 
We have the following statistical summary of the product and value of the sturgeon trade of 
Savannah and of the men and capital engaged in it: 
Number of fishing equipments engaged... ....----. 1.2200 ceca - cnceee weeens ceccce cnncee 48 
Male OF GAIN 6r wate Seite cates oh Sdecsincioccemawe adie wuitte wees Sebeeeecedlebscscweesiocee $6, 240 
Number of men employed .... 0.2.0. cece e cece ne cen e ee cece en cee cee coc n ce cenwens cave ncce 709 
Average number of sturgeon to net ...... 0.22. pees cece cones nena s cocuec ance cove sccees 100 
