FISHERIES OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES. 
343 
48. — Table showing the yield of the fisheries of eastern Florida in 1889 and 1890 — Continued. 
SUMMARY. 
Apparatus and 
species. 
1889. 
1890. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Seines : 
Black bass, fresh 
77, 973 
$4, 468 
96, 226 
$5, 268 
Bream and sunfish, 
fresh 
343, 893 
11,124 
434, 099 
14, 230 
Channel bass, fresh. 
29, 722 
969 
26, 177 
792 
Mullet, fresh 
61, 316 
1,002 
60, 881 
948 
Pike, fresh 
28, 170 
1, 120 
26, 118 
1,045 
Pompano, fresh 
2, 300 
161 
2, 050 
140 
Shad, fresh 
558, 000 
22, 675 
868, 710 
26, 061 
Sheepshead, fresh . . . 
22, 550 
695 
19, 880 
550 
Spots and croakers, 
fresh 
14, 845 
402 
15, 020 
400 
Squeteague, fresh. . . 
48, 372 
1,527 
31, 339 
941 
Other fish, fresh 
35, 665 
1,039 
46, 722 
1, 386 
Refuse fish 
427, 000 
2, 350 
460, 000 
2, 300 
Total 
1, 649, 806 
47, 532 
2, 087, 222 
54, 061 
GDI nets : 
Bluefish, fresh 
2, 240 
65 
3, 180 
95 
Channel bass, fresh. 
90, 455 
2, 794 
87, 050 
2, 603 
Mullet, fres 1 1 
1,075,700 
16, 930 
1, 398, 766 
20, 933 
Mullet, salted 
0, 000 
230 
42, 600 
1,481 
1, ooo 
150 
Pomjiano, fresh 
10, 134 
557 
28, 085 
1,404 
Shad, fresh 
1, 493, 033 
75, 764 
1,780, 812 
78, 072 
Sheepshead, fresh . . . 
215, 361 
6,671 
204, 043 
6, 144 
Squeteague, fresh . . . 
138, 728 
4, 848 
150,430 
4,779 
Sturgeon, fresh 
40, 620 
820 
28, 055 
560 
Other fish, fresh 
63, 635 
1,975 
69, 698 
2, 164 
Refuse fish 
16, 000 
85 
20, 000 
100 
Total 
3, 151, 966 
110, 739 
3, 813, 719 
118, 485 
Cast nets : 
Black bass, fresh 
3,600 
180 
3, 500 
175 
Bream and sunfish, 
fresh 
38, 280 
1,483 
33, 440 
1,171 
3, 000 
150 
Channel bass, fresh. 
21, 675 
922 
10, 419 
382 
8, 000 
20 
Mullet, fresh 
70| 240 
1,338 
43, 780 
929 
Sheepshead, fresh. . . 
7,040 
261 
6, 680 
229 
Squeteague, fresh. . . 
21, 690 
923 
17, 255 
655 
Other fish, fresh 
24, 836 
896 
15, 588 
523 
Total 
195, 361 
6, 023 
133, 662 
4, 214 
Apparatus and 
species. 
Pound and trap nets : 
Alewives, fresh 
Bream and sunfisli, 
fresh 
Channel bass, fresh 
Drum, fresh 
Shad, fresh 
Sheepshead, fresh. . 
Squeteague, fresh . . 
Whiting, fresh 
Other fish, fresh 
Refuse fish 
1889. 
Pounds. Value. 
Total . 
Lines : 
Black bass, fresh . . . 
Bluefish, fresh 
Bream and sunfish, 
fresh 
Catfish fresh 
Channel bass, fresh. 
Drum, fresh 
Pike, fresh 
Sea bass, fresh 
Sheepshead, fresh. . . 
Spots and croakers, 
fresh 
Squeteague, fresh. . . 
Whiting, fresh 
Other fish, fresh 
Total . 
Miscellaneous : 
Shrimps 
Crabs 
Oysters 
Quahogs 
Terrapins. . . 
Turtles 
Caviare 
Total . 
Grand total. 
73, 860 
3,000 
115, 132 
30, 160 
30, 205 
41, 000 
10, 500 
10, 800 
19, 540 
11, 105 
34, 591 
10,800 
21, 395 
412, 148 
78, 000 
3, 000 
436, 492 
4, 800 
3, 000 
45, 802 
2, 000 
573, 094 
5, 982, 375 
$4, 042 
120 
4,667 
603 
1,320 
390 
400 
444 
681 
505 
1, 553 
420 
745 
15, 890 
2, 805 
115 
11, 123 
300 
750 
3, 541 
225 
18, 859 
1890. 
Pounds. Value 
10, 120 
1, 040 
3, 120 
3, 950 
4,500 
4,080 
3, 985 
1, 020 
14, 900 
40, 000 
86, 715 
81, 920 
4,130 
119, 611 
93, 240 
44, 574 
24, 000 
11, 050 
10, 445 
39, 430 
9, 113 
32, 275 
13, 000 
30, 125 
512, 913 
65, 825 
4,100 
681, 450 
5, 600 
10, 350 
60, 100 
1,875 
829, 300 
199,043 7,463,531 
$150 
40 
90 
80 
150 
120 
120 
30 
435 
150 
1,365 
4, 389 
160 
4, 794 
1,115 
1, 580 
210 
440 
355 
1, 315 
402 
1, 400 
515 
1,082 
17, 757 
2, 557 
185 
14, 850 
350 
1, 425 
4,441 
180 
23, 988 
219, 870 
NOTES ON THE ALLIG-ATOR INDUSTRY. 
As elsewhere explained in this article, in the inquiry on which this report is based 
it was not feasible to make a thorough canvass of the alligator industry, and the in- 
formation at hand is only useful as showing the present condition of the bu siness in 
the localities visited in connection with the regular investigation of the fisheries, and 
as affording a basis for an opinion of its general status throughout the State. 
Florida is the only State in the South Atlantic region in which the hunting of 
alligators is carried on as a regular business. The industry is quite extensive, but 
is much less important than formerly, and in parts of the State where it was at 
one time a prominent business it is diminishing yearly. During the past decade the 
alligators have been systematically and relentlessly hunted in nearly every part of 
Florida; it is within bounds to say that since 1880 not less than 2,500,000 have been 
killed in the State, and it is not surprising that the supply has been greatly reduced 
in view of the non-migratory habits, the remarkably slow growth of the animal, and the 
sacrifice of large numbers before they have reached the reproductive age. According 
to the statements of hunters and others, alligators grow very slowly; during the first 
year of their existence they attain a length of about 1 foot; alligators 2 feet long are 
over 10 or 15 years old; while animals 12 feet long are 75 years old or more. 
