FISHERIES OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES. 
335 
GENERAL STATISTICS OF EASTERN FLORIDA. 
In the three following tables the extent of the fishery interests of the eastern part 
of Florida are shown in condensed form. The figures include the fisheries of the 
coastal waters, lagoons, and rivers as far south as Lake Worth, and the basin of the 
St. Johns Fiver to Lake Monroe. The inquiry was not addressed to the alligator 
industry, as the time available would not permit a canvass of the interior waters 
where most of the alligator hunting is done. In other respects the fisheries of eastern 
Florida are completely exhibited. 
From Table 42 it will be seen that 1,244 persons in 1889 and 1,404 in 1890 were 
engaged in the fishing industry, of which 1,059 and 1,108, respectively, were employed 
in the shore or boat fisheries. The two vessel fishermen in 1889 and the six in 1890 
found employment in transporting fishery products caught by shore fishermen. The 
shoresmen are mostly connected with oyster-canning establishments and wholesale 
fish-houses. 
The investment in the fisheries of eastern Florida, as shown in Table 43, was 
$128,434 in 1889 and $142,105 in 1890. The principal items in 1890 were $29,858 for 
boats, $27,730 for gill nets, $6,110 for seines, $49,919 for shore and accessory property, 
and $22,600 for cash capital. 
The yield of the fisheries amounted to 5,982,375 pounds in 1889 and 7,463,531 
pounds in 1890, for which the fishermen received $199,043 and $219,870, respectively. 
The increase in 1890 over the previous year was made up chiefly of mullet, shad, and 
oysters. Shad, the most important product, was valued at $104,283 in 1890, after 
which came mullet, worth $24,441; oysters, $14,850; black bass, $9,832; sheepshead, 
$8,358; and squeteague, $7,895. The species of fresh-water sunfislies other than black 
bass had a value of $20,235. 
42. — Table of persons employed. 
How engaged. 
1889. 
1890. 
2 
6 
1, 059 
1,168 
230 
’ 183 
1, 244 
1, 404 
43. — Table of apparatus and capital. 
Designation. 
1889. 
1890. 
No. 
Value. 
No. 
Value. 
Vessels transporting 
1 
10. 29 
$1, 000 
3 
39. 25 
$1, 750 
20 
28, 304 
260 
29,858 
570 
6, 110 
27, 730 
1,370 
1,028 
630 
280 
49, 919 
22, 600 
668 
716 
5 
105 
468 
254 
203 
Apparatus of capture: 
86 
357 
234 
216 
4, 685 
25, 475 
1,475 
1,083 
323 
234 
47, 695 
18, 140 
52 
59 
128, 434 
142, 105 
