FISHERIES OF KEY WEST. 



15 



from 10 to 20 feet of water along with grunts, porgies, etc., or it may 

 be caught on the deeper rocky reefs. The fish taken in shallow water 

 usually are small, weighing from one-half to 2 pounds, while those 

 from deeper water generally range from 2 to 15 pounds. Fish 

 weighing more than 20 pounds are not common. The red grouper 

 bears transportation well and is shipped north and to Cuba. It will 

 live for long periods in live cars and fish wells and is one of the 

 favorite food fishes of Key West. Maximum weight, 40 pounds; 

 average, 5 pounds. 



Range. — Massachusetts to Brazil ; common in the Gulf of Mexico 

 and at Bermuda ; uncommon north of Florida, and found only as a 

 rare straggler north of North Carolina. 



32. Epinephelus nigritus (Holbrook). Black jewfish. 



This large grouper is reported as fairly common off the. coast of 

 Florida, but it is rarely seen in the Key West markets. Maximum 

 weight, 500 pounds. 



Range. — South Carolina to Brazil ; Mediterranean Sea. 



Fig. 10. — Spotted jewfish (Promicrops itaiara). 



33. Promicrops itaiara (Lichtenstein). Jewfish; Spotted jewfish. 



The spotted jewfish is the largest food fish caught in the vicinity 

 of Key West and is one of the largest of all fishes. This fish is not 

 plentiful in the Key West region in point of numbers, but because 

 of the large size attained the comparatively few fish taken are of 

 some commercial importance. During the greater part of the years 

 1918 and 1919 from two to six jewfish were brought to the Key West 

 market each week. Spawning occurs during July and August, when 

 the fish become gregarious and are caught in greatest numbers. 

 During six weeks of July and August, 1918, there were brought to 

 market 74 jewfish, ranging in weight from 35 to 350 pounds, with a 

 mean average of 125 pounds. Nearly all of these were taken off 

 Knights Key, about 40 miles above Key West. 



The jewfish is caught with hook and line on very strong tackle. 

 Regardless of its large size, it is placed in the well of the boat 

 after capture and is brought to market alive. At the market the fish 

 are transferred to commodious live cars, and as an extra precaution 

 to preclude their escape, a large hook is placed in the mouth of each 



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