THE FISHERIES AND FISH TKADK OF I'ORTO KKX). 881 



Tlic followino- .species coinpri.sc the bulk of the catch ])y pots at the 

 several tishing stations of the district of Ponce: 



Pots: Squirrel-fish, zapatero, red goat, yellow goat, rock hind, red hind, red grouper, 

 toro, gray snapper, red snapper, mutton-fish, yellow-tail, margate, pluma, red 

 parrot, blue parrot, spade-fish, rock beauty, blue angel, medico, trunk-fish. 



Haul seine: Runner, pompano, red hind, red grouper, lane snapper, casabe, barbudo, 

 sardines, and 8i)anish mackerel. 



Trolling hook andluie: Spanish mackerel, king-fish, barracuda, yellow-tail, rock hind, 

 red hind, red grouiier, schoohna.'^ter, mutton-fish, red snapper, lane snapper. 



Casl-))e(.-<: Sardines, pompano, jurel, cutlas-fish. 



Trail:!: Cabra mora, Na.^sau grouper, red hind, dog snapper, schoolmaster, red snap- 

 per, mutton-fish, lane snapper. 



Hand hook and line: JNIadrcgnl, red grouper, pargo prieto, dog snapper, graj' snapper, 

 lane snapper, mutton-lish, pluma, runner, mere, Nassau grouper, red hind. 



Spiny lobsters of 1 to 5 pounds each are taken in pots, but appar- 

 ently are not verj^ abundant. They are sold at same price as the fresh 

 lish, or an averag-e of about 4i cents a pound. 



Tortoise-shell turtles, weighing 20 to 100 pounds, are taken off the 

 beaches of the main shore and the island of ''Cajade Muertos," off 

 the southeastern shore of Ponce, and other small islands. The catch 

 is made by hand as the turtles come on shore to lay their eggs. Not 

 over iOO pounds of shell are taken by the fishermen of the district. 



Mar'ket fishery of Ponce. — ^The fisheries are represented in the large 

 city market of Ponce b}^ one fish stand, w^hich poorl}^ supplies the city 

 demand for fresh fish. No account of the amount of sales is kept. 

 The dealer and market official reported it as being about 200 pounds 

 a day, or some 75,000 pounds a year. On visiting it February 20, 

 about 200 pounds comprised the stock, which represented the follow- 

 ing 14 species: Spanish mackerel, king-fish, runner, cabra mora, Nas- 

 sau grouper, toro, margate, blue tang, medico, squirrel-fish, cabrilla, 

 lane snapper, blue parrot, and file-fish. The fish are sold undressed, 

 usually by the bunch instead of weight, averaging 8 to 10 cents a 

 pound for fresh fish or spiny lobsters. A few small shell oysters 

 arrive from Gua3^anilla in old kerosene tins, the fishermen receiving 20 

 cents a can for them. About 4,000 pounds of crawfish annually come 

 from Portuguese or Dangerous River. These are taken by dip nets 

 and bring at the market 8 to 10 cents a pound. Besides the 200 pounds 

 of fish daih^ sold at the market, about half as much more is sold at the 

 plaj^a or landing and surrounding country by peddlers. 



This port has a population of 2,757, a custom-house, several stores 

 that handle consideral)le dr\^ fish, most of which comes from the larger 

 cities, with occasional direct importations. The home fisheries are 

 represented by 60 men who follow fishing, plantation, and other work. 

 This is about the same number of fishermen as in 1899, though they 

 fish less, work on shore being more plentiful and attractive. 



Fish are reported fairly plentiful. When engaged in fishing, men 

 leave the port at 4 a. m., returning about 8 a. m. of the same day, and 

 as a rule do no more tishing that da3^ The catch is sold from half a 



