FISHERIES OF KEY WEST. 



35 



83. Lactophrys tricornis (Linnaeus). Trunkfish; Cowfish. 



This species, sometimes called cowfish because of the two horn-like 

 spines extending from the head, is about equally as common as L. 

 triyonuSj with which it is closely associated, and its habits and food 

 qualities are very similar to the latter species. Maximum size, about 

 15 inches; average, 9 inches. 



Range. — Usual range from Florida to Brazil and eastward to the 

 Cape of Good Hope; recorded from Jamaica, Porto Rico, and Pan- 

 ama. The young have been taken in Katama Bay, Mass. 



Table 1. — Estimated catch of various sjieeies of fish landed in Key West during 



1918 and caught within about 50 miles of the city. 



Species. 



Amberflsh 



Angelfish 



Barracuda 



Bluelish 



Boiiito 



Cowfish, or trunkfish. . 



Groupers 



Grunts 



Hogfish 



Houndfish 



Jewfish 



Jurel, runners, or jacks 



Kingfish and cero ' 



Margate-fish 



Moonfish 



Mullet: 



White 



Striped 



Muttonflsh 



Pounds. 



2,000 



5,000 



3,000 



16,614 



350 



1,000 



200,000 



150,000 



10,000 



500 



15,000 



20,000 



373, 500 



1,000 



300 



27,313 

 85,000 

 25,000 



Species. 



Parrot-fish 



Pigfish 



Pompano 



Porgies 



Porkfish 



Sailors' choice 



Sheepshead 



Snappers: 



Mangrove 



Red 



Others 



Spadefish 



Spanish mackerel l 



Tang 



Tarpon 



Turbot 



Yellowtail 



Miscellaneous 



Total 



Pounds. 



500 

 2,000 



545 

 60,000 

 10,000 



500 



300 



15,000 



9, 000 



5,000 



1,000 



734, 200 



600 



500 



4,000 



50,000 



1,000 



2,829,722 



1 Winter of 1918-19. 



Table 2. — Estimated catch and first value to the fishermen of various products 



landed in Key West during 191 8. 2 



2 The total catch given herewith varies somewhat from that listed in the Bureau of Fisheries statistical 

 report for 1918, owing to the inclusion of the kingfish and Spanish mackerel catches for the season 1918-19 

 instead of for the year 1918 alone. 



MULLET FISHERY. 



The striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) is not caught in large quan- 

 tities in the immediate vicinity of Key West, but it is one of the 

 principal fish to be found in the local markets during the late sum- 

 mer. The season when this mullet is abundant generally lasts from 

 July until November. In 1918 about 85.000 pounds, worth $3,000 

 to the fishermen, were landed during this period. The total catch 



