The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1890-07-04
Fisheries OF JACKSON COUNTY


What people and casual observer
imagine to be a small industry
has grown upon us until busines
men will be surprised when The
statistics appear.
Hundreds of small fishermen
who are unnoticed by the people
at large, have been daily contrib.
uting their little catch, which il
the end makes up the grand total
and which swells the figures into
gigantic proportions, and Jackson
county may be proud of her fish
cry record.
The business is yet in its infan-
cy and there is no doubt but that
it will grow. AT present the par
ties engaged are hampered by an
uncertain supply, and by an mad
equate amount of ice. They are
also taxed with heavy freights
which cramp the business and re-
duce the profits. All the fish and
oyster products of this place go
by express at high rates, while If
reasonable through freights could
be obtained the business would
grow and become profitable to all
Concerned.
The officers of the Louisville &
Nashville railroad have often
been asked to give our shippers
through freight rates, but without
avail, and it is to be hoped for the
interest of all concerned that ac-
ton in this matter will be no long
er delayed. 1t is for the interest
Of all concerned, and there is no
doubt but that an arrangement of
this sort would be of mutual ad-
vantage to the railroad and also to
the shippers.
Nearly a million bushels of oyS-
ters have been taken here by our
fishermen, to say nothing of those
that have gone to the canning fac
tories at Biloxi. Large areas have
been planted at East and West
Grand Bay, at Point Aux Chine
and Bayou Casotte, while the nat
ural reefs are still yielding a good |
supply, which if not equal in
quantity are superior in quality to
those obtained in former years.
In view of these facts, it stands
our people in hand to foster and |
preserve this industry, which is
the only real advantage we pos
seSs oyer the more favored farm
ing regions. The fishing statistics,
which have been so grudgingly |
given, is the life of the business. |
The intention Of the government |
i'll making the inquiry is entirely
benifcent. 1t is for the benefit of
the fishing and the fishermen, and
not for selfish motives. Every
year the United States govern.
ment is placing millions of young
fish in our waters. Oysters are
now being propogated from spawn
and Uncle Sam can plant more
oysters in one week than the av-
erage oyster planter can put down
in one year,
The work has been done here
very thorough, and it will not be
long before the government will
lay the total results before the
people. Jackson county has a bo
lanza in her oyster plants and
natural reefs this year, and there
S no good reason why she should
lot profit by them. 1t is pretty
veil understood that the oyster
,eds at Biloxi are destroyed by
he fresh waters from the Missis-
ippi, and if the report should be {
certified by fact there is no doubt ,
Dut what our fishermen will reap :
rich harvest next winter. {
Our officers here are keeping a I
igid watch upon the natural reefs,
nd if this is well done, there is no
oubt but that our own people (
rill reach a rich harvest when the =
eason opens. I
We have received with the com '
liments of Mr.. George w. Childs, {