172 First Report on Economic Zoology. 



would be regarded with respect and confidence l)y scientific men in this 

 "country were he further employed in connection with this subject. 



I am of the opinion that the carryini«: out of the investigations 

 ■Suggested by Dr. Duerden's Report, under the auspices of the Imperial 

 iDepartmeht of Agriculture for the West Indies, would lead to economic 

 l-esults of practical value and justify the expenditure of public funds in 

 that direction. 



I have, etc., 



(Signed) E. Rav Lankester. 



Abstract of Dr. Duerden's Report on the Marine 

 Resources of the West Indies. 



In an extra number of the West Indian Bulletin issued in 1001, Dr. 

 J. E. Duerden reviews the chief marine resources of the British West 

 Indies. In this he gives an account of the fisheries of the West Indies, 

 Und points out that in a few instances only are the marine products of any 

 export value to the Colonies, whilst on the other hand there is an enormous 

 import trade in dried and preserved fish. 



The principal marine resources are as folloAvs : Turtles, Jamaica being 

 the chief centre of the West Indian turtle trade, the exports for lOOO 

 being about £10,000. The industry is concerned with the two well-known 

 species, the Green Turtle {Clielone mkias) and the Hawksbill {Chelone 

 imbrkata). The supply is chiefly ol)tained from around the Cays and 

 Mosquito coast of Central America. The Report shows that there is an 

 evident diminution in the supply, merchants never being able to obtain 

 sufficient to meet the export demands. The two subjects dwelt upon 

 concerning turtles of great importance are their artificial rearing so as to 

 produce them in greater numbers to meet the demand and the best method 

 of shipping them. The mortality from capture to landing in England 

 varies from as much as 2b to oO per cent. ! 



Under the heading of " fishing " is given a general account of the 

 industry, and stress is laid on the primitive methods adopted by the 

 fishermen : " fishing as adopted elsewhere is comparatively neglected and 

 undeveloped." The amount of coral prevents trawling, and moreover 

 there are evidently not enough flat fish to make this method pay. The 

 use of seine and other nets along the shore and shallow banks is very 

 profitable ; but unfortunately the habits of the schools of migratory fish, 

 such as June fish, herring, sea mullet, etc., are not known, nor the best 

 means of catching them, nor of preserving them when caught. The fishing 

 industry appears to be mainly in the hands of natives. Amongst the chief 

 fish of good quality are various species of Snappers {Mesoprion), Yellow 

 Tail {Ocyunis chrysurus), Grunts (Rmmdo/i), Silks {J'ropidiurus dentatus), 

 King and June fish, river and marine mullet and CaUperus {MugiT), and 

 Snook iCentropomus). They occur around Jamaica, where the average 

 price of fish is ^^d. a pound. Barbados is celebrated for its large flying- 

 fish industry. The Flying-Fish {Exococtus roberti) is estimated to yield 

 annually £13,000. Snappers and Brines {Centropristes ocidatus) are also 

 taken in numbers by line fishing around Barbados. 



