THE GROUPERS AND THE JEW FISH. 51 



have not known of its occurrence in the bays, and believe that it spawns 

 at sea. Specimens weighing fifty pounds have been caught, but that is 

 fully four times the average size. It is seen daily in the Key West market 

 and sells readily, but at Pensacola, Mobile and New Orleans it is hardly 

 marketable. Its color \aries very considerably with the different colored 

 bottoms on which it lives." 



The Coney of Key West, Epinephelus apua, the " Hind " of Bermuda, is 

 an important food-fish which occurs throughout the West Indies. Speci- 

 mens have been sent by Mr. Stearns, who remarks that it is common in 

 South Florida among the reefs, and is often seen in the Key West market, 

 where it is readily sold. 



The Bermuda Grouper, Epinephelus striatus, one of the most important 

 food-fishes of those islands, is sure to be found in the vicinity of Key 

 West, and will probably prove to be one of the important fishes of our 

 own southern coasts. About Key West and in the Gulf there are several 

 species of the sub-genus Mycteroperca, which may be grouped together 

 under the name " Rock-fish," the name by which all fishes of this genus 

 are also known in Bermuda. They are large fishes of excellent food 

 quality, similar in habits to the others of the family which have already 

 been discussed. The material at present on hand is not sufficient to ad- 

 mit of satisfactory identification of all the species. The " Black Grouper" 

 of Pensacola, which has been variously named Mycteroperca hi'unnea, AI. 

 microlepis, and M. stofnias, is said by Mr. Stearns to be common in com- 

 pany with the Red Grouper, although not so abundant. It spawns in 

 June and July, at sea and in the inlets. As a food-fish it is considered 

 superior to the Red Grouper, although it is not more readily sold. It at- 

 tains a weight of fifty pounds. Professor Jordan is of the opinion that 

 the form recently described by Goode and Bean as Af. siotnias, the " Gag " 

 of Key West, is the adult of that previously characterized by them under 

 the name J/, microlepis. 



The Rock-fish of Key West, which has not yet been identified, is said 

 by Mr. Stearns to be very common, and is sold almost every day in the 

 market. The average weight is four or five pounds, the maximum twenty- 

 five to thirty. There appear to be at Key West, as well as at the Bermu- 

 das, various forms known as "Rock-fish." 



An allied species, Mycteroperca fa/cafa, is called at Pensacola by the name 

 " Scamp." It is common off the Florida coast, living near the bottom in 



