376 REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



grouper, weight 15 to 30 pounds; cabrilla, but few caught; pargo 

 prieto, plentiful in 10 to 25 fathoms of water; toro are taken by hooks 

 near the rocks in from 3 to 10 fathoms; mero ))y line with a single 

 hook in deep water, weight 10 to 20 pounds; mullet are seined. 



Small wooden box-pots are set in and near the mouth of the river, 

 their catch being chiefly the common eel of small size. Eels are also 

 taken with hook and line, and are sold in bunches of about 2i pounds 

 at 15 cents a bunch. 



Commercial fishing of the Rio Grande is of small extent, being con- 

 fined to the season of high water, at which time the river is fished at 

 the mouth and for a short distance above. A little fishing is done 

 higher up the river by the natives for family use. 



AGUADILLA. 



The city of Aguadilla has a population of 6,425, the district of the 

 same name having 99,615. 



Fishing is carried on at all seasons, when the weather is favorable, 

 by 50 fishermen, who have $10,000 invested in boats and fishing 

 apparatus. In 1902 the catch amounted to 160,000 pounds, valued at 

 $10,310. This was largely disposed of by peddlers in filling a local 

 demand from the city and near-by sugar plantations, any surplus find- 

 ing a ready market in Mayaguez. The average prices received for 

 the common species is 6 cents per pound. Spanish mackerel, king- 

 fish, red snapper, and a few others of the best species bring 8 to 10 

 cents a pound for undressed fish. 



The most important apparatus is the haul-seine, 100 fathoms in 

 length and 15 to 20 feet deep, 2 to 3 inch mesh in the wings and f inch 

 in the bunt. The seines are hauled on the beach in front of the city 

 by 8 to 12 men. The catch is chiefl}" made during March and April. 

 Of the species taken in seines, scad are the most plentiful, as high as 

 a ton or more having been taken at a single haul. Salmonete are quite 

 plentiful. A few Spanish mackerel of small size, 1 to 2 pounds, are 

 taken; also a few flying robin. 



Next in amount to the catch by seines is that by the bow- rigged 

 hook and line. These are used as far as 4 miles from shore in 5 to 

 100 fathoms of water. Of the numerous species taken, the following- 

 are the most important: Runner, or Caranx crysos^ very plentiful in 

 8 to 9 fathoms of water; catalufaand toro, plentiful in 6 to 7 fathoms; 

 a few cabrilla or red-hind in 20 to 25 fathoms (by hook and line only); 

 gray snapper, not plentiful; schoolmaster and red snapper, Aveighing 

 from 2 to 25 pounds, are plentiful in 10 to 12 fathoms; yellow-tail of 

 1 to 2 pounds, plentiful in 50 fathoms (only taken by bow-hooks and 

 lines); margate of 1 to 3 pounds, plentiful in 150 fathoms of water; 

 moon-fish, 2 to 3 pounds, in 25 fathoms. 



Fish-pots made of woven bamboo splints are used at all seasons, 

 and are anchored without bait near the mouth of the Culebrinas River, 



