A STATISTICAL REPORT ON THE FISHERIES OF THE GULF STATES. 
BY J. W. COLLINS AND HUGH M. SMITH. 
I.— GENERAL NOTES AND STATISTICS. 
The geographical and natural advantages of the Gulf coast. — The Gulf region has a 
coast line very much longer than that of any other geographical division of the coast 
States. Taking into consideration the principal indentations, its approximate length 
is 6,875 miles, while the Middle Atlantic States, which rank next in this respect, have 
only 5,400 miles of coast, including the rivers to the limits of commercial fishing. The 
shores of this entire section are low, and for the most part sandy and swampy, sterile 
sandy beaches and shallow bayous being characteristic features of the coast. 
The Gulf States occupy a favorable location for supplying a large part of the 
country with marine products. A dozen or more States in the lower Mississippi Y alley 
have their nearest coastal connections through these States, and it will probably be in 
response to this section’s demand for marine food-products that the Gulf fisheries will 
reach their highest development. 
This region is favored with many highly esteemed food-fishes, which occur here 
in greater abundance than elsewhere on the coasts of the United States; among these 
the sheepshead, pompano, red snappers, and groupers may be mentioned, while certain 
important products may be said to be peculiar to the region. The undeveloped 
resources of the Gulf States invite outside attention and afford a promising outlook 
for future increase. The possibilities of the region in the matter of oyster production 
and cultivation are believed to be great, though there are in some localities certain 
difficulties to be encountered and natural limitations which may somewhat retard 
rapid development. 
The fisheries of this region are not specially important when compared with those 
of some other geographical divisions of the coast States. Nevertheless, though the 
New England, the Middle Atlantic, and the Pacific States have much larger fishing 
interests, the Gulf fisheries are remarkable for their recent wonderful growth and for 
the possibilities of greater advancement in the future. It is noteworthy that in recent 
years they have surpassed both in extent and value the fisheries of the South Atlantic 
region. 
Investiga tion of the Gulf fisheries . — In conformity with the prescribed functions 
of the Division of Fisheries of the U. S. Fish Commission, an investigation of the 
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