FISHERIES OF KEY WEST. 17 



37. Mycteroperca falcata plienax Jordan and Swain. Scamp. 



This sjDecies is rather common about the Florida keys, akliough much 

 less so than the red grouper. It is caught with hook and line and 

 is present in the markets throughout most of the year. Another 

 species {M. falcata) closely resembling this one is conunon in the 

 Habana markets. As a food fish it is well regarded and ranks higher 

 than many of the other groupers. Maximum weight, 10 pounds; 

 average, 2 pounds. 



Range. — Southern Florida. 



38. Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch). Triple-tail. 



This hsh is rare at Key West but occasionally is seen in the 

 markets. A 20-pound individual was observed in the market during 

 January, 1919, and was considered an oddity by the fishermen, who 

 had no name for it. The triple-tail is considered a good food fish, 

 but it is not common anywhere. A specimen 6 inches long was 

 caught near the Bureau of Fisheries' biological station at Key West. 

 Maximum weight, about 35 pounds; average, 8 pounds. 



Range. — Massachusetts south to Uruguay; taken sparingly in 

 lower Chesapeake Bay pound nets, where it is called " strawberry 

 bass." 



39. Lutianus griseus (Linnaeus). Gray snapper; Mangrove snapper. 



The gray snapper is the most abundant species of snapper found 

 at Key West. The fish alwaj^s travel in schools, generally contain- 

 ing from a few hundred to a thousand fish of various sizes, and prefer 

 the sloping ledges of reefs and channel ways. If not alarmed, they 

 will hover in one place for hours and afford a beautiful sight in the 

 clear water. Under certain conditions it is extremeh- difficult to 

 catch adult gray snappers with hook and line, but fish of less than 

 6 inches are less wary and can be taken without difficulty. Many 

 attempts to catch one were made by the writer, with various lures. 

 Pieces of bait thrown into the water were readil}' taken by the larger 

 fish, but as soon as fishing tackle was introduced the fish looked 

 askance at the bait and kept their distance. A tiny hook and black 

 sewing thread were tried without much success. The best snapper 

 fishing was found to occur when the weather was cloudy and the 

 water not very clear. 



This snapper has the peculiar habit of lying in a few inches of 

 water among the roots of the mangroves, especially where the tide 

 flows swiftly between small islands, hence the name " mangrove 

 snapper." The writer has found five or six fish within half an 

 hour under such conditions. 



The gray snapper is an abundant species but because of its wari- 

 ness is not caught in large quantities by the fishermen. Enough are 

 caught, however, to make it an important market species. It is a 

 good food fish and is taken throughout the j'ear. It is caught along 

 the west coast of Florida as far north as Bay County and is especi- 

 ally common on the southwest coast. It is also found along the east 

 coast of Florida and as far north as Woods Hole, Mass. It is rare 

 above North Carolina, however. Market fish usually- range in 

 weight from one-half to 5 pounds. Large fish weighing fully 10 



