OFFSHOEE FISHING GROUNDS OF GULF OF MEXICO. 
301 
midwaj between the coast and the 100-fathom curve, and has an average width of 
about 70 miles, nearly one-half that of the plateau itself. 
The present survey can only be regarded as preliminary in its nature and results, 
indicating the principal resources of the new fishing grounds and proving their great 
value from an economical standpoint. Owing to the shortness of the season, the Oram- 
pus was obliged to work along straight courses, not deviating to one side or the other, 
even when it was apparent that the fishing spots encountered would yield suitable 
returns if carefully followed out. Good fishing was found in a number of places, but 
it is probable that had the fishing trials been continued longer, and the weather been 
more suitable at all times, the location of many additional fishing spots could have 
been definitely determined. 
The total number of fish of each of the principal kinds taken was as follows : Eed 
snappers, eighty-eight; red groupers, twenty-eight; black groupers, twenty-five; or 
about one and three-fifths times as many red snappers as groupers, indicating that the 
grounds are richest in the first-mentioned species, which is also the most highly prized 
for food. The red snappers were found in all depths from 15 to 48 fathoms, but the 
largest catches, one of thirty-one, the other of thirty- two fish, were made in depths of 
15 and 25 fathoms. Three red snappers only were taken between 30 and 40 fathoms, 
and five between 40 and 48 fathoms, but this can not yet be taken as evidence that 
the red snapper does not occur abundantly in the deeper jiarts of the area examined. 
The range of these fish in weight was from 5 to 20 pounds. 
The red grouper was found in depths of 15 to 37 fathoms, but only once in a greater 
depth than 26 fathoms. The largest catch, nine fish, was secured in 19J fathoms. This 
species was taken at thirteen different stations, often in connection with either the red 
snapper or the black grouper, and sometimes with both. The black grouper was caught 
at only nine stations, in depths of 19J fo 48 fathoms, nineteen individuals being from 
between 19^ and 25 fathoms, and six from between 38 and 48 fathoms. Ten individuals, 
being the largest number taken at any one place, were obtained from a depth of 24 
fathoms. The weight of the red groupers was from 5 to 31 pounds, and of the black 
groupers from 10 to 23 pounds. 
The results obtained on each of the lines may be summarized as follows : * 
Line A . — The bottom along this line consisted chiefly of white mud, sand, and broken 
shells and corals. The fish were found principally on bottoms of broken shells. The 
catch consisted of thirty-nine red snappers, three red groupers, three black groupers, 
and one grouper the species of which was not determined. All of these fish were taken 
in depths of 18 to 38 fathoms. At station 5053, thirty-one red snappers and three 
groupers were caught in about twenty-five minutes by the use of six hand lines. 
LineB . — The bottom on line B, where tested, was composed mostly of broken shells, 
with sand, some gravel, etc., and not much life was brought up in the dredge. Fish 
were taken at only two places, one red snapper in 36 fathoms, and three red snappers 
and twelve groupers in 19J fathoms. Concerning both this line and line A, Captain 
Adams is of the opinion that, had he been searching for fish only, he could have found 
an abundance of both red snappers and groupers in a number of places by sounding 
for hard bottom. 
Line G . — The bottom consisted chiefly of broken shells, but there was also considera- 
See also tables of dredging stations and fishing trials, pp. 311-312. 
