THE FISHERIES AND FISH TRADE OF PORTO RICO. 887 



The village of Ceiba is 5 miles south from Fajardo and 2 miles 

 inland from the water front and tishing-camp. The 15 lishermen take 

 three-fourths of their catch b}^ pots and one-fourth by cast-nets. The 

 men divide their work between fishing and work on shore at the 

 sugar plantations. Their catch meets with a ready local demand. 



The manatee is occasionally taken off the beach near Ceiba. A few 

 are taken each 3'ear, usually b3^ means of haul seines. The weight is 

 said to run from 500 to 1,200 pounds. The flesh is highly prized and 

 resembles beef in flavor. 



LUQUILLO. 



Luquillo, near the eastern end of the island, is one of the very few 

 places on the north side of Porto Rico in which the fisheries are repre- 

 sented. Eight men make a small catch with pots and cast-nets. A 

 ready home demand exists for all fish taken. 



VIEQUES ISLAND. 



Of the several islands belonging to Porto Rico, Vieques is the largest 

 in size and population. It is 17 miles long by 5 miles at its greatest 

 width, its western end being 11 miles from the eastern shore of Porto 

 Rico. The island has several thousand population, with many quite 

 large sugar plantations. The fisheries are represented by a few fisher- 

 men on the north and south sides of the island who find a ready local 

 demand for their catch. Fish are plentiful in the near-by waters, yet 

 receive but little attention, dry cod imported from far distant waters 

 being more in demand than fresh fish taken in their own home waters. 



CULEBRA ISLAND. 



This island has no fishery business of importance. A few fishermen 

 supply the few hundred inhabitants with fresh fish at times. Some 

 fish pots are used and some attention is given to the turtle fishery, the 

 latter furnishing 800 pounds of tortoise shells in 1902. The turtle- 

 shell catch was sold at Fajardo at $3 per pound. 



