382 EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. 



dozen rough tables at the shore landing in front of the village. The 

 local demand is poorly supplied, much of the time there being no fresh 

 fish for several days, as was the case at the time of the writei^'s visit. 



The boats are of small size, rough and strong, home-built. Sail or 

 row boats, even the largest and best, do not venture over 3 or 4: miles 

 from shore. No wells are in the boats, no ice or salt is used, and the 

 catch must be disposed of at once on landing. If the catch is larger 

 than needed for local use, it is peddled on the sugar plantations. 

 Sales are usually by the bunch, single fish, or strips of the largest, 

 which are cut up, the price averaging about 6 cents a pound, all 

 species being sold at the same price. About four months of the year 

 are lost to the fisheries from weather that is unfavorable for the small 

 boats used, })ut would not prevent a New England fisherman, with 

 good equipment, from fishing. 



Hawksbill turtles, once plentiful, are now scarce, only 30 being 

 taken during 1902. This small catch was made during January and 

 February, one net being used on the coral reefs, and bv hand as the 

 turtles were found on the shore. 



Spiny lobsters, weighing from 1 to 3 and 4 pounds, are taken quite 

 plentifully in pots set in about 6 fathoms of water and also on the 

 coral reefs at night, when a torch and forked stick are used. The 

 torch attracts the lobsters, and the forked stick pokes them out from 

 holes and impales them when emerging; or when found on the reefs 

 they can be picked up b}^ hand. Lobster pots are baited with refuse 

 fish, either fresh or spoiled, of any kind. The runner, when taken in 

 pots, will soon kill itself if not removed; moray, both black and olive, 

 from 2 to 40 pounds, are plentiful at all times. Over two-thirds of 

 the fresh-fish catch is by unbaited pots anchored in 3 to 6 fathoms if 

 near the shore, and in 8 to 15 fathoms when 2 or 3 miles from land. 



The following species are taken by the apparatus named, the average 

 weight of many species being given: 



Pots: Candil; red goat; yellow goat; zapatero, i to f pound; runner, 1 to 20 pounds; 

 pompano, 1 to 3 pounds; cabra nioi'a, 1 to 3 pounds; Nassau grouper, 1 to 6; 

 cabrilla, 1 to 3; gray snapper, 1 to 6; dog snapper, 1 to 6; schoolmaster, 1 to 3; ' 

 red snapper, 4 to 5; mutton-fish, 1 to 3; lane snapper, 1 to 2; yellow-tail, 1 to 

 2; margate, 2 to 5; boca Colorado, i to 1; chopa amarilla, 1 pound; red parrot, 

 1 to 10; old wife, 1 to 6; spade-fish 2 to 10; blue angel, 1 to 5; file-fish, i to 6; 

 trunk-fish (scarce) ; puffer (not eaten); capitan or hog-fish (4 to 20 pounds). 



Single liooJ: ait'I line: ("abra mora, 1 to 3 pounds; cabrilla, 3 to 30; red grouper, 20 to 

 50 jxninds, in In mi (> to 40 fathoms of water, are taken from July to October; 

 gray snapper, <s to I'O; dog snapper, 8 to 20; schoolmaster, 5 to 20; red snapper, 

 10 to 20; yellow-tail, 2 to 3 pounds. 



Trolling liook and line: King-fish, 10 to 60 pounds; Spanish mackerel, 1 to 10; red 

 grouper, 20 to 50; gray snapper, 8 to 20; pompano, 5 to 10; cabra mora, 2 to 3; 

 Nassau grouper, 5 to 70; gray snapper; dog snapper; si'hoolmaster; barracuda. 



Haul seine: Zapatero, I to Ig pounds; runner; pompano; Nassau grouper; mutton- 

 fish; lane snapper; robalo, ^ to 15 pounds; Siianish mackerel; mullet, 1 to 3 

 pounds. 



Cast nets: Sardines, mullet, robalo. These nets are here used only for taking bait. 



Gill nets: Only 2 species reported, the l>alaju and hound-fish. The latter, weighing 

 5 to 8 pounds, are plentiful, ))ut are not sold for food. 



Bow hook and line (used in 40 to (iO fathoms): Catalufa, yellow-tail. 



Traicis (seldom used): Yellow-tail, red sna])per, cabrill*, Nassau grouper. 



