AMERICAN FISHES. 



food even from the hand when offered, and always injuring such other 

 species offish as may be its fellow-captives." 



It is often taken in the Gulf of Mexico and about the Florida Keys, 

 and it is said also to be abundant along the whole coast of East Florida, 

 and is often taken on the St. John's bar. Mr. S. C. Clarke writes that 

 it occurs in the vicinity of New Smyrna, Fla., where it spawns in bays 

 and inlets in the months of May and J'-Hie, as does also the Black Grouper. 

 The only reliable study of its habits which has been made we owe to Mr. 

 Silas Stearns, whose biographical sketch of this species may here be quoted 

 in full : 



"• The Red Grouper is extremely abundant in the Gulf of Mexico in com- 

 pany with the red snapper. It is most abundant on the South Florida 

 coast, and is found throughout the year on the ' grounds ' at sea, and in sum- 

 mer in some of the bays. It probably spawns in both places, and in Jnne 

 and July. The young are often caught in Pensacola Bay. In June, iSSo, 

 I obtained a young one about one inch in length. The Grouper is more 

 of a bottom fish than the red snapper, for it swims much more slowly and 

 very seldom rises to the surface. It is very voracious, consuming, as is 

 shown by an examination of the contents of its stomach, enormous quan- 

 tities of crustaceans and small fish. Large horny crabs, in almost perfect 

 condition, are often found inside of it. Its movements are rather slow, 

 and when hooked it is hauled up more like a dead-weight than like a live 

 fish. In South Florida it is extensively eaten when procurable, and at Key 

 West it is particularly important, since a large fleet of smacks is constantly 

 employed in carrying fares of Grouper to Cuba. In West Florida, where 

 red snappers are more abundant, Groupers are not in demand and have but 

 a small market value. After being taken from the water, the Grouper is 

 remarkably tenacious of life, and will live several hours, even though ex- 

 posed to considerable heat. This is one reason why the Key West fleet 

 prefer Groupers for transportation to Cuba, since they are obliged to go a 

 long way to market and through warm water, and no other fish of the kind 

 would bear crowding and chafing in the wells of the smacks. The Grouper 

 attains the weight of forty pounds, and is an excellent food fish." 



In Cuba, this fish is called by the Spanish name " Cherna." The name 

 "Grouper" is a corruption of Garoupa, a name given by the Portu- 

 guese to similar species. In DeKay's time, as has been remarked, this 

 fish was not unusual in the New York market, where it sold for from six to 



