126 BULLETIN OF TPIE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



too poor to ovvu a boat, who wade out from the .shore and lisli where the 

 water is three or four feet deep. The best time for this lishiug- is during 

 a rising tide, just about sunset. 



In the deep holes of creeks the mangrove-snapper was seen in such 

 numbers as to mali;e these j)laces resemble the wells of smacks. At one 

 place, under the mangrove roots near the shore, not having a fish-line, 

 I killed 8 of these fish (singly with a shot-gun) that would average 3 

 pounds apiece. 



During the summer months many turt>e of the green, loggerhead, 

 and hawk's-bill varieties are caught, either by being speared at or near 

 the surface, caught with jigs while on the bottom, or in tangle-nets 

 around the reefs. Catching them with jigs was new to me, and is done 

 in this way: The jig is made of three or four hooks, about the size of 

 small shark-hooks, fastened to a line which reaches a few inches below 

 and has a sinker made fast to the end. The fisherman goes out in a 

 boat, and when a turtle is seen on the bottom (say in G or 7 fathems) 

 the jig is let down and dragged along until it brings up against him, 

 when a quick jerk will generally fasten it in some soft spot, and the turtle 

 is pulled to the surface. 



Turtles are found at and around most of the keys and reefs of the 

 Bahama Islands. They come ashore to deposit their eggs during May 

 and June, and the fishermen assert that they generally lay three times a 

 year. These eggs are much sought after by the islanders, and are con- 

 sidered excellent food. If many more than can be eaten are found, 

 they are sent to Nassau, where they bring about 12 cents a dozen. As 

 the eggs begin to hatch, barracouta, sharks, &c., gather around the 

 reefs in large numbers to feed on the young turtles as they venture out 

 into deep water. 



To escape this danger, the young turtles take to the shoals, creeks, 

 and shallow lagoons, where the fishermen catch them during the early 

 fall, pursuing them in boats as they swim along near the bottom. At 

 first it is all that the men can do to row fiist enough to keep one in 

 sight, but after a few minutes the turtle becomes exhausted and is 

 easily approached near enough to be speared. These young turtles are 

 delicious eating. I saw none of the regular turtle pegs, the fishermen 

 using mostly an iron or steel headed spear, the head (with line attachctl) 

 coming off when the turtle was struck; but I noticed they tried not to 

 strike him too hard or near the middle for fear of killing him, and thus 

 preventing preservation for market. If they would use a regular turtle 

 peg this trouble would be entirely done away with. The shell of the 

 hawk's-bill is carried to Nassau, polished, and sold to winter visitors 

 and others, $1.25 being the usual price asked for one 8 inches, and 

 $2.50 for those 12 inches in length. 



New Bedfokd, Mass., 31ay 12, 1S8G. 



