334 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION 
the current is usually quite sluggish, and the ocean tide extends to Lake George, situated 158 miles 
from the sea, while the water is usually brackish for a considerable distance beyond Jacksonville. 
Lake George is the prettiest and clearest sheet of water on the entire river. It is 12 miles wide by 16 
to 20 long, and abounds in fish of various species, being seemingly the summer home of large num- 
bers of mullet. There are several salt springs in various parts of the lake, and the fishermen claim 
that many of the mullet spawn there instead of taking the long trip to the sea. Probably no point 
on the St. Johns River affords better facilities for an extensive mullet fishery than Lake George. 
Fish of large size are reported to be remarkably abundant during the entire year, and it is said that 
they can be taken iu any quantity desired. The distance from a suitable market might interfere with 
any extensive shipping of fresh mullet, but it seems probable that any party familiar with the proper 
methods of salting and curing fish could establish a very profitable business in the salting and ship- 
ping of mullet to other States, especially North and South Carolina. Lake Monroe, a sheet of water 
5 miles wide by 10 long, is another expansion of the St. Johns River 240 miles above its mouth. Lake 
Harney, about 265 miles above the mouth of the St. Johns, is the highest point on the river where the 
fisheries have been prosecuted. The lake, which is only 5 or 6 miles in diameter, is so shoal that 
a common seine will scrape the bottom in almost every part. * 
Mosquito Lagoon and Indian Eiver are the principal bodies of water on the coast 
having connection with the fisheries. Mosquito Lagoon is, next to Indian Eiver, the 
largest of the shallow waters on the east coast. It is GO miles long and about its middle 
is connected with the ocean by means of a narrow opening known as Mosquito Inlet. 
The northern extension of the lagoon is called Halifax Eiver. This area contains fish 
in large variety and great abundance, the supply of mullet being noticeably plentiful. 
The green turtle is also common. Indian Eiver lies immediately south of Mosquito 
Lagoon and extends parallel with the coast for more than 150 miles. The region is rich 
in aquatic life, turtles, mullet, sheepshead, and squeteague being especially numerous. 
IMPORTANCE AND NATURE OF THE FISHERIES. 
The fisheries of eastern Florida rank next to those of North Carolina in impor- 
tance. The special branches in which the State takes precedence over others in this 
section are unimportant, the rank of the State depending on a generally flourishing 
condition of the river and coast fisheries. The most prominent fisheries of eastern 
Florida are the shad and mullet; the value of these is considerably more than that 
of all other products combined, and the shad alone represents nearly half the total 
output of the fisheries. 
The principal means of capture employed are gill nets and seines, with which the 
largest quantities of the most valuable products are obtained. Cast nets, lines, and 
minor forms are also in use, and recently pound nets have been introduced in limited 
numbers. The absence of vessels employed in the capture of fishery products is a 
unique feature of this coast. 
Since 1880 there has been a steady increase in the fisheries of eastern Florida, 
until, at the present time, the value of the product is nearly three times greater than 
ten years ago. The advance has been marked in both the salt-water and the fresh- 
water fisheries, but is especially noticeable in the shad, mullet, oyster, and sque- 
teague fisheries; the value of the shad catch is five times greater than in 1880; the 
yield of mullet is more than twice as large, although the value is relatively less; the 
quantity and value of oysters taken is about three times as great, and the value of 
the squeteague over three times as much. The advance is due to an increase in the 
number of fishermen and to an increased interest in the industry. 
* Eastern Florida and its Fisheries, by R. Edward Earll. <^The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of 
the United States, section ii. Geographical Review of the Fisheries. 
