334 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
found practically only in one State, and the fyke net is employed only in very small numbers and in 
isolated localities. The possibility of introducing new forms which will develop the fishing resources, 
increase the income of the fishermen, and at the same time mitigate their labors, seems worthy of 
serious attention. Both the pound and fyke nets are adapted to the capture of almost every species 
of marine, fresh-water, and anadromous fish occurring in the region, and the topography of the shores 
is extremely favorable to their employment. Their inexpensiveness, as compared with seines, recom- 
mends them, and the possibility of employing them in connection with seine, gill-net, and other fish- 
eries without special increase in the working force is an important consideration. (Report on the 
Fisheries of the South Atlantic States. Bulletin U. S. Fish Commission, xi, 1891.) 
Fyke nets are at present found in only two of the South Atlantic States, viz, 
North Carolina and Georgia. They are more numerous and take larger quantities of 
fish in the former State, but yield the greater money returns in Georgia, as shown in 
the following statement of the extent of the fyke-net fisheries of this section in 1890: 
Fyke-net fishery of the South Atlantic States. 
States. 
No. of 
Fyke nets. 
Boats. 
Products . 
fisher- 
men. 
No. 
Value. 
No. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
North Carolina '. 
27 
36 
$384 
4 
$60 
24 885 
$716 
Georgia 
10 
li 
285 
5 
70 
20| 190 
898 
Total 
37 
47 
669 
9 
130 
45, 075 
1,614 
NORTH CAROLINA. 
Fykes are used in this State in only Dare and Sampson counties, and in these in 
very small numbers. The nets are of simple types and have a value of $5 to $25. The 
forms met with have from 2 to 5 hoops and have wings and leaders, or only wings. 
In Dare County the nets are fished from Eoanoke Island, and the catch consists 
chiefly of striped bass, squeteague, and mullet. The nets have an average value of 
$17. The fykes proper are from 4 to 7 feet long, have 5 hoops, and usually have 
leaders about 50 yards long. In Sampson County the nets are set in a branch of the 
Cape Fear River, and only fresh-water fish are caught. No boats are used, as owing 
to the shallow water the fishermen are able to set and lift the nets by wading. The 
nets are cheaper than those used in Dare County, having an average value of only 
$5. The yield is made up of perch, suckers, and catfish. 
Of the 27 fyke-net fishermen reported in this State in 1890, 19 were in Sampson 
County, where 19 of the 36 nets were set. The fishery represented an investment of 
$444, while the catch was valued at $716. The quantities and values of the principal 
species taken were as follows : 
Products of the fyke-net fishery of North Carolina in 1890, specified by species and counties. 
Species. 
Dare. 
Sampson. 
Toti 
a. 
Pounds. 
V alue. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Catfish 
3,000 
$90 
3. 000 
6, 300 
5. 000 
275 
$90 
36 
245 
11 
Mullet 
Perch 
Sheepshead 
Squeteaguo 
Striped bass 
Suckers 
Other fish 
6, 300 
$36 
5, 000 
245 
275 
11 
3, 700 
74 
3, 700 
74 
1,310 
79 
1, 310 
79 
4,000 
140 
4, 000 
1, 300 
140 
1, 300 
41 
41 
Tot^l 
12,885 
241 
12, 000 
475 
24 885 
716 
