The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 88, July 1984 - April, 1985 Page: 48
476 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
was worth about fifteen dollars in the 188os, but nets became pro-
gressively cheaper in the 189os). The nets were anchored in channels
frequented by sea turtles in such a way as to snare the head or flippers
of a passing turtle in the meshes, which were fourteen inches by six-
teen inches. Turtlers often set several nets together; each one swung
freely in nine feet to fourteen feet of water. The months from June to
September were considered the best times for catching green turtles in
Aransas Bay, an important site, and elsewhere; catches could be ex-
pected, though, as early as March and as late as October. Turtlers
judged two or three reptiles a day to be a satisfactory catch, although
it was possible to secure as many as twenty animals daily. The best
catches were made at night or during daylight when the water was
choppy. Ordinarily turtle nets proved successful. Less than 3o percent
of the Texas green turtle catch was taken in seines, which were imple-
ments of more general purpose than were nets and which snared a
variety of sea creatures. Aransas Bay men, however, used to attach
chains to the leadlines of haul-seines to snare turtles. They did not
spear these reptiles.'4
In 1890, per capita income from bay seines approximated $325 per
annum. Texas fishermen augmented their incomes in the winter by
shooting waterfowl for the market. In the spring they shot into the
rookeries of gulls, terns, and egrets for the millinery trade. Addi-
tionally, sixteen of the nineteen men engaged in the Aransas Bay
turtle fishery tonged for oysters in winter. Three others were reported
to be working as full-time turtle fishers in the Laguna Madre and
lower Rio Grande.15
The turtle catch in Texas reached a record high in 1890. The take
of green turtles that year increased more than twentyfold over that of
188o and led the takes of other Gulf states, including Florida, in the
poundage reported (see appendix). Engaged in the trade were 890
white Americans, 30 black Americans, 58 from Italy, Spain, or Portu-
gal, 4 Germans, 12 Mexicans, 3 from Norway or Sweden, and 35
others. They crewed sloops, catboats, and schooner-rigged boats in
order to ply inshore areas for fish, turtles, and oysters. Activities were
concentrated in Aransas Bay, where a cannery had been established at
14Stevenson, "Report on the Coast Fisheries of Texas," 380, 411; C. H. Townsend, "Sta-
tistics of the Fisheries of the Gulf States," United States Commission of Fish and Fish-
eries, Report of the Commissioner for the Year Ending June 30o, 1899, p. 161, H. Doc. No.
692, 56th Cong., Ist sess., 1899-19oo (Serial 4oo0).
15Stevenson, "Report on the Coast Fisheries," 378, 416-418.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 88, July 1984 - April, 1985, periodical, 1984/1985; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101210/m1/70/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.