The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-03-31
FLOR|DA'SF FISH
BIG INDUSTRY
Our State Ranked Fifth Among
the States in 1908
ATLANTIC GULF COASTS
Interesting information Is Given in Spec-~
ial Report Made by the Census
Bureau in Washington

The steady growth in the fisheries of
State product rank fifth in value among
the States in 1909, according to special
United States Census report on the fish
cries of the United States, prepared
under the supervision of William M.
Stuart, chief statistician for manufac-
lures, and soon to be issued by Census
Director Durand.
Florida has natural monopoly of the
sponge fisheries; contributes two-thirds
in value of the mullet product, and was
surpassed in value of its shad product
only by Virginia and North Carolina.
1t has the longest coast line of any
State, with numerous lagoOns, sounds
and bays, often misnamed rivers, on the
Atlantic coast, with shallow waters on
the Gulf coast, shut in from the open
sea by keys and lowland spits; and all
of these waters abound in fish.
The value of the fishery products in
1908 was So, 389, 900 as compared with
81, $40, 900 in 1892 and 81, 081, 200 in 1877
In 1908 there were 9,2l2 persons en-
ployed in the industry; 81, 42l 900 inves-
ted in vessels and boats including out
fit; 1926, 900 in apparatus of capture and
1868, 600 in shore property and cash.
OF the amount invested in vessels and
boats, go per cent pertained to the Gulf
fisheries.
Of 1927 vessels employed, 10 were
steam and motor power of AL tons,
while remainder were sailing vessels.
There were 919 steam and motor boats
1877 sailing boats and 3,2SS row boats;
1l2 for diving and for other purposes.
The Gulf coast fisheries employed
nearly two. thirds of all the fishermen
of the State and SO per cent of those
engaged in the vessel fisheries.
| The catch of mullet in 1908 was less
than in 1902, but it was larger than for
any other y8E for which statistics are
available. The increase in price raised
the value of the 24,7l6,O0O pounds
caught in 1908 to $652, 900, while the
1872, 298, 900 lbs. caught in 1902 brought
only $473, 1000.
The sponge fishery belongs exclusive
" to the Gulf coast district, and is sub
iect to marked fluctuations. The guam
titv caught in 1908 exceeded that for
any prior year, but the value was ex.
ceeded in 1900. The average prices
were lower than for any other year for
which statistics are available. The
sponge fisheries of Florida represent
the entire industry in the United States
and hal value of $545, 900 in 1903.
Two. thirds were caught with diving APP
paratus and One-thrd with hooks.
The red snapper fishery has increased
steadily in value from $500 in 1880 to
| p -, uyit
lines in the Gulf waters.
The shad catch of 1908 represented a
value of 1920, 900, having risen gradually
from 500, 600 in 1880 and S42. 600 in 1902.
The oyster fishery products in 1908
were valued at 1895, 600. showing de-
crease of $69,0O0 since 1902, but this
decrease has all taken place in the At
lantic coast district, while on the Gulf
coast there was an increase from $l24,-
600 in 1902 to $lS7 900 in 1908.
Squeteague, or sea trout, were caught
to the value of Sl96, 900 as compared
with $73, 600 in 1902.
About three fourths of all the alliga-
tors killed in the United States in 1908
were secured in Florida, the product
aggregating 81, 1000 hides, valued at
S4S, 600, as compared with $1,000 hides
valued at SIS, 900 in 1902
More than two-thirds of the otter
skins caught in the entire country came
from Florida. The total number in 1908
was 2, 900 skins of the value of 81, 900
as compared with $500 skins valued at
Sl8, 600 in 1902.
Alewives, amber-fish, angel.fsh, black
bass, bluefish, Dream, catfish, crevalle,
croaker. drum, grunt, hogfsh, Jewish,
ladyfish, pompano, porkfish, sheepshead
sailors choice, spot, crappie, yellow-tail
and other kinds of fish help make up the
SO, 3S9, 900 worth of products of the State
The value of the products of the Gulf
fisheries was S2.l20, 900 and of the At
lantic coast $l.269, 600. Shad led in
value on the Atlantic coast and sponge
in the Gulf fisheries. Shad, mullet and
squeteaque constituted one-half of the
total value of products on the Atlantic
coast, and sponge, mullet and red snap
per more than two-thirds of the total
value of the Gulf fisheries.