20 FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



2. Yellow Grunt or Ronco Amarillo, Hcemulon seierua (Shaw). Less common than 



the preceding species, hut very plentiful. Found in schools on rock hottom. 

 One fisherman reports tbat he has often caught 500 to 600 in a .single day. 

 It is most common in summer: cold is said to affect it seriously. The best 

 fishing for this species is in August. The best bait is a long worm which 

 the fishermen get from the stem of a tall grass which grows on the bars. 

 The yellow grunt reaches a weight of 1 pound or less. Nothing could be 

 learned concerning its spawning habits, except that it probably spawns in 

 August. 



3. Margate-fish, HasmuXon album Cuvier & Valenciennes. The origin of the common 



name of this fish is not generally understood. It appears, however, to have 

 been derived from Margate, a seaport and watering-place in Kent, England, 

 situated on the Isle of Thanet, 64 miles east by south of London. Some of 

 the fishermen of the Bahamas came originally from Margate and applied the 

 name to one of the fishes which they found in the Bahamas. Many of the 

 Bahama fishermen (Conchs) have come to Key West and brought the name 

 with them. The name Margate is, at Key West, sometimes corrupted into 

 "Margat" and "Margaret," while in Biscayne Bay it is "Margat," "Mar- 

 ket,"' or "Margarite." The Margate-fish is a common and important species 

 at Key West. It reaches a weight of 8 or 10 pounds, the average being 

 about 4 to 6 pounds. It is found in deeper water than the preceding species, 

 and is said to be most abundant on the reef. It spawns early in the sunnner, 

 probably in July, on rock bottom, at which time it is said to school. One 

 intelligent fisherman says, however, that it does not school at Key West, 

 though it does at the Bahamas. It is generally found on rock or harry bot- 

 tom, around shoals. At night it conies into more shallow water to feed, crabs, 

 crawfish, worms, etc., constituting the bulk of its food. The bait used for it 

 is crawfish or crabs. Cold is said not to affect this fish to any great extent. 



4. Sailor's Choice, Hcemulon parra (Desmarest). This species, which is not the 



sailor's choice {Lagodon rhomboides) of the south Atlantic coast, is abundant 

 about Key West. It collects into schools in July and August, at which time 

 it spawns on rocky bottom. It reaches a weight of 2 pounds, the average 

 being about half a pound. The best fishing for this species is in summer. 



5. French Grunt, Hcemulon flavolineatum (Desmarest). Not uncommon, but nothing 



of importance was learned regarding it. 



6. Tom-tate, Bathyatoma rimator (Jordan &, Swain). Said to be common. Only a 



few examples noticed, and nothing was learned of its habits. 



7. Porkfish, Anisotremua virginicus (Linnaeus). Common about Key West. It 



schools from .June to August, which is the sjjawniug season; found then 

 about the shoals, but soon retires to deeper water. It spawns all through 

 the channel about the shoals, and is then caught in greatest numbers. About 

 a month after the spawning season immense numbers of young are seen on 

 the shoals. This fish reaches a length of about a foot and a weight of 2 

 pounds. The average weight of those brought to market probably does not 

 exceed one-third of a pound. 



8. Saucer-eyed Porgy, Columns calamus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Common. The 



average weight is about half a pound, the maximum being about a pound. 

 The principal fishing season for this species is in the winter, but it is taken 

 throughout the year. Nothing was learned of its spawning habits. 



9. Little-head Porgy, Calamus proridena Jordan & Cilbert. This species is found 



with the saucer-eye and is equally common. It reaches a weight of 2 pounds, 

 the average being about half a pound. 



10. Sheepshead Porgy, Calamus penna (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Common with 



the preceding, reaching a weight of 4 pounds, the averago being about a 

 pound. It is most abundant in winter. 



