78 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



hind {E. ascensionis), and the Coney {JEpinephelus guttatus). The com- 

 mon "Porgies" are the Jolt-head Porgy {Calamus hajonado); the Little- 

 head Porgy {C. pennatula); the Saucer-eye {C. calamus); the Little- 

 mouth Porgy {G.penna); and the Shad or Grass Porgy {C. arctifrons.) 



Among the Grunts, besides the common Hwmulon plumieri, we find 

 the Sailors' Choice or Ronco prieto {Haimulon parrce)) the Yellow Grunt 

 or Eonco Amarillo {H. scinrus); the Tom-tate {H. aurolineatum), and 

 the French Grunt or Open-Mouth Grunt {H. fiavolineatum). The little 

 Striped Grunt {H. tceniatum), although common enough, is not brought 

 into the market. The Hog-fish {Lachnolcemus suillus), the Pork-fish 

 [Pomadasys virginicus), the Turbot [Balistes caroUnensis), the Jack 

 {Garanx hippos), the Horse-eye Jack {Caranx latus,) and the Eunner 

 {Garanx chrysos), are also rarely wanting from the market. 



Other " bottom-fish " less abundant, but still frequently seen in the 

 markets, are the Pudding Wife {Platyglossus radiatus); the Spanish 

 Hogfish [Bodianus rufus) ; the Tangs {Acanthurus chirurgus tractus and 

 cceruleus) ; the Black Angel {Pomacanthus aureus) ; the Yellow Angel, 

 {Holacanthus ciliaris) ; the Goat-fishes ( Upeneus halteatus and U. macu- 

 latus) ; the Breams [Biplodus unimaculatus and B. rhomboides) ; the 

 Sheepshead [Biplodus prohatocephalus) ; the Whiting {Pomadasys chrys- 

 opterus); the Blue-fish {Pomatomus saltatrix); the Old-wife {Trachynotus 

 glaucus); the Pompano {Trachynotus carolinus) ; the PamiJa or Permit 

 {T. rhodopus); the Eound Pompano or Palometa (T. rhomboides); the 

 Sun-fish {Garanx crinitus); the Moon-fish {Selene vomer); the Eobalo 

 ("Eavallia") or Snooks {Gentropomus undecimalis) ; the Sand-fish {8er- 

 ranus formosus) ; the Cavia {Elacate Canada); the Spanish Mackerel or 

 Pintadilla {Scomberomorus regalis and 8. maculatus); the Silver fish 

 {Trichiuruslepturus); the Hound fish {Tylosurus crassus); the Moray 

 {Sidera moringa), and the Ten-Pounder {Elops saurus). 



All these fishes are brought to the market alive in the wells of the 

 smacks. When a bargain is made, the fish is taken out with a scoop- 

 net and killed with a blow on the head, or by an iron spike being driven 

 into the brain. It is then strung on a strip of palmetto leaf and deliv- 

 ered to the purchaser. Fish are very cheap at Key West ; three grunts 

 usually sell for a dime, and it takes a fish of considerable size to be 

 worth ten cents. King-fish, worth $1.50 to $2 at the beginning of the 

 run, fall to one-tenth that sum before the end of the season. 



In deeper water the larger smacks make a somewhat different catch and, 

 these large fishes are usually taken alive to Havana instead of being 

 sold at Key West. With these vessels the Eed Grouper ( Gherna ameri- 

 cana) is the leading fish. Next in importance comes the Eed Snapper 

 {Lutjanus campechianus), the Black Grouper {Epinephelus bonaci), the 

 "Gag" {Epinephelus microlepis), the Margate-fish {Hcemulon gibbosum), 

 theEock-fish {Epinephelus vetienosus), and the Gigantic Jew-fish or Guasa 

 {Epinephelus itaiara). 



