Reports to the Colonial Office, I'^y 



Under the heading Oysters we find that the West Indies have an., 

 oyster in abundance, Ostrea parasitica, Gmelin, which grows on the roots 

 of mangrove trees. There is no system of cultivation at present. They 

 are much appreciated and find a ready sale. Many other edible mollusca 

 occur, including the Mussel (M>/tiliis exnstus, Linn., the Scallop {Pecten 

 zigzag, Chemn.), various " ark " shells. Area- spp. ? and C'odahia tigerina. 



Lobsters, shrimps and crahs are also amongst the marine resources, the 

 most abundant lobster being PaUntirus arg^s, Latr. They and other 

 species are caught in fish-pots from amongst the coral. It is pointed out 

 that successful cultivation of lobsters might be carried out just as in 

 Newfoundland and Canada. 



Sea-eggs. Barbados occupies an almost unique position in having an . 

 important industry founded on the marine forms of life called sea-urchins, 

 or sea-eggs. Its annual value is estimated' at nearly £4,000. The roe or- 

 reproductive organs, are the part used as food. There is unfortunately a 

 great decrease in the number of these Echinoderms. The chief species is. 

 known as Hijyponoe csculenta, Leske. They form a stapJe food for a few 

 months along the coast. Before any remedial measures can be adopted, it 

 is necessary to know the life-history of this sea-egg. 



Hohthurians, Beche-de-Mer, Trepaiig, etc. (It'eat numl)ers of these 

 echinoderms occur on the floors of the seas in. the W'est Indies. The 

 species have not been identified, but the Jamaican ones are of the genera 

 Holothnria and SticopJtus. Experimental shipments of Be'che-de-Mer were 

 carried out a few years ago at the Caico? Islands with the object of 

 supplying the American Chinese with their favourite article of diet. To . 

 show the importance of this marine animal, the report mentions that the 

 annual export value to Queensland is about £23^000. 



SpON&ps, 



The West Indies and Florida, along with the Mediterranean, are the 

 principal sponge producing areas of the vforld ;.but fine bath sponges also, 

 come from Australia. 



The shores around the Bahamas ai-ie the best known sponge grounds in 

 the West Indies. They form the greatest industry of that Colony. 

 Dredging and diving for them have been prohibited. They are gathered 

 by means of two-pronged forks attached to staves 2.5 feet in length. The 

 sponge exchange is at Nassau. The annual value is nearly £100,000. 

 The United States Government has undertaken the investigation of the 

 Florida sponge grounds with a view to the l)etter development of the 

 industry. Successful experiments in , the artificial propagation of sponges 

 by transplanting and by cuttings have been carried out in the Mediterranean 

 and in Florida. 



Amongst other industries mentione.d in the report are the whale oil 

 industry, still carried out in a small degree around isome of the islands of 

 the Lesser Antilles. Ambergris is occasionally found on the coasts of the 

 Bahama Islands. 



Companies of dolphins are often sepn, traversing the length of 

 Kingston Harbour, but no attempt is ever made to secure them. The 

 Manatee is also sometimes caught and the flesh sold,^ byt they breed too, 

 slowly to become of n^uch ep.onomic, importance. 



