Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-19
FISHER FOLK OPEN
DRIVE IN FLORIDA
Season Begins for 49, Pound
Tarpon and Other Phe-
nomenal Catches.

This is the season when the amateur
Florida fisherman goes out for his 49,
pound tarpoon while the professional
Florida fisherman concentrates on
catching $50 million pounds of other
kinds of fish.
Forty years ago Florida marketed
less than a million dollars worth OF sea
products. Today she occupies COM
manding position among Southern
States fisheries. shipping annually
to broadening market catches valued
at S5.750.000
1.-THE key to Florida's fisheries can
be found at the Key West wharf mar
ket." says a bulletin from the National
Geographic Society.
"A householder can buy q string of
20 different edible fish at Key West.
Modern Innovations an Aid.
Until artificial ice manufacture be-
gan it was necessary to 60 South to
feast on the many citizens Of the warm
seas. Now a person with an active
imagination can give his order in a
New York restaurant. and In vision.
warm sun, throw a line, feel q jerk,
hear the buzz Of q reel, and 10. the
waiter serves the very fish that was on
the envisioned line. Spanish mackerel.
a delicious meal for the catcher and
consumer who has not ventured q mile
from Manhattan.
Various ports Of Florida specialize on
certain fishery products: Pensacola for
red snapper and grouper; Kew West
and West Palm Beach for singfish and
Spanish mackeral Key West alone for
spiny lobster and sea turtle; Fernandina
for shrimp: Tarpon Springs for sponges
Apalachicola for oysters; Marco for
clans. and Okeechobee for catfish
Other important fishing centers are
Bradentown. Miami. Punta Gorda and
Tampa.
Assumes Boston Mantle.
But Jacksonville has assumed the
nections west. northwest, and north
enable Jacksonville to gather into its
municipal arms ten million pounds of
Florida sea products annually and ship
them out in some six million carloads.
The warm gulf stream waters are
Dickensian In the variety and curious
ness of their inhabitants when COM
pared with Northern waters. Even the
names of the fishes suggest Dickens:
Pongy is a native Of the reefs: mullet
1t much sought after BY net fishermen;
gr,lnt is good eating despite his noisy
habits: the groupers comprise . large,
middle class family: the sergeant major
proudly wears six black chevrons: cow
fish looks not unlike Mr.. PodSnap. and
swellish can be as round rs Mr.. Pick
wick.
st. Louis Likes It's Catfish.
Probably the most astonishing Ash
surprise that Florida holds Is the cat
fish. Although salt water surrounds
the State. fresh water catfish has
won a commercial reputation. Seven
million pounds Of catfish have been
taken out Lake Okeechobee In one year.
Nearly all the catch goes to St. Louis,
for no matter what other cities prefer.
ST Louis likes its catfish.
Any one who Is willing to work sc
feet under the surface for two hours
at stretch Is eligible for q position
in another of Floridas unusual FISH,
cries. After he has been down two
hours sponge gatherer At Tarpon
Springs on the West Coast gets q well
earned rest before descending for an
other two hours
Greeks gather Sponges In the Medi-
terranean. so many Of them drifted 20
Florida fisheries upon arrival in Amer
lea. The colony has grown 50 much
that it supports q prosperous Greek
Orthodox Church. Key West. the
former sponge city. has been eclipsed
by TarDop Springs"