FISHF/RIE.S OF KEY WEST. 



33 



Range. — Usual range from the Florida keys to Brazil; recorded 

 from Bermuda, Tortugas, Cuba, and Jamaica. The young are re- 

 corded from Woods Hole, Mass. 



77. Hepatus hepatus (Linnaeus). Tang; Doctor-fish. 



This tang is rather common about Key West, where it is a food fish 

 of slight importance. It is taken with hook and line, in crawfish 

 traps, and with crawfish " grains.'' It is the most abundant of the 

 tangs. Maximum weight, 2 pounds; average, one-half pound. 



Range. — Usual range from North Carolina to Brazil; uncommon 

 north of Florida; recorded from Beaufort, Charleston, Tortugas, 

 Bermuda, Habana, Jamaica, Martinique, and Bahia. The young 

 have been recorded as far north as Woods Hole, Mass. 



78. Hepatus bahianus (Castelnau). Ocean tang. 



The ocean tang is less common about Key West than is either the 

 common tang (H. hepatus) or the blue tang (H. coeruleus). It is 



Fig. 18. — Turbot (Balistes carolincnsis) . 



considered a good food fish but is seen only occasionally in the local 

 markets. Throughout the West Indies this species is the most im- 

 portant of the tangs. Maximum weight, about 4 pounds; average, 

 1 pound. 



Range. — Usual range from North Carolina to Brazil; rare north 

 of Florida ; found throughout the West Indies and common in Ber- 

 muda. The 3'Oimg have been recorded as far north as Woods Hole, 

 Mass. 



79. Balistes carolinensis Gmelin. Turbot; Trigger-fish; Leather- 

 jacket. 



The turbot is common about Key West, where it is caught with 

 hook and line throughout the year. It is nearly always present in 

 the live cars about the wharves, and is a food fish of importance 

 locally. Maximum weight, 2 pounds; average, 1 pound. 



