FISHERIES OP KEY WEST. 19 



pounds are often seen in the water, but fish of this size are seldom 

 caught. The maximum weight is said to be 18 pounds. 



Range. — Usual range both coasts of Florida to the West Indies. 

 The young, a few inches long, have been recorded from North Caro- 

 lina, lower Chesapeake Bay, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Woods 

 Hole, Mass. ; common in Bermuda. 



40. Lutianus jocu (Bloch and Schneider). Dog snapper. 



This snapper is not common about the Florida keys. It is caught 

 chiefly in the fall and winter, and only an occasional fish is seen 

 throughout the summer. It is taken with hook and line along with 

 other snappers and grunts and is a good food fish. Maximum 

 weight, 20 pounds; average, 2 pounds. 



Range. — -Usual range Miami to Bahia, Brazil. The young have 

 been taken at AVoods Hole, Mass. 



41. Lutianus apodus (Walbaum). Schoolmaster. 



This species is rather common in the vicinity of Key West, but its 

 commercial value is relatively small. The young are abundant about 

 the shores of Key West and all the Florida keys. Small fish are 

 sometimes found lying motionless at the base of rocks close to shore. 

 Fish of about one-third to one-half pound are taken on the shallow 

 reefs along with grunts, porgies, etc. Larger fish, weighing 2 to 6 

 pounds, are taken in small numbers in deeper water. Maximum 

 weight, 8 pounds; average, three-fourths of a pound. 



Range. — Usual range Florida to Bahia, Brazil ; Bermuda. It 

 occurs as a straggler north of Florida. The young have been taken 

 at Beaufort, N. C, and Woods Hole, Mass. 



42. Lutianus aya (Bloch). Red snapper. 



The red snapper is one of the most abundant and valuable fish 

 caught within the State of Florida, but near Key West it is com- 

 paratively scarce. At times a few are taken in deep channels near 

 certain of the keys. Several million pounds are caught annually in 

 the Gulf of Mexico, where the greater part of the catch is landed at 

 Pensacola. It is caught with hand lines in 15 to 50 fathoms of 

 water, and the bait used generally consists of pieces of meat or fish. 

 The red snapper bears transportation well and is shipped to all the 

 important fish markets of the north. It is considered a choice food 

 fish. Maximum weight, 79 pounds; average, 6 pounds. 



Range. — Woods Hole (Mass.) to Brazil; Bermuda; rare north 

 of North Carolina ; taken in commercial quantities off Cape Fear 

 (N. C), Georgia, eastern Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Porto Rico, and 

 Central America. 



43. Lutianus analis (Cuvier and Valenciennes). Muttonfish; Pargo. 



The muttonfish is one of the most important species of snappers 

 caught about Key West, ranking close to the yellowtail (Ocyurus 

 chrymrus). It is found throughout the year but is scarcest during 

 July and August, which is the spawning period and at which time 

 it schools. The muttonfish is an excellent food fish and is always 

 in demand. It takes the baited hook freely and is quite gamey. 

 Near Key West it is taken on rocky or coral bottom in 3 to 9 fathoms 



