22 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



in shallow water. Like all the grunts, it is caught witli hook and 

 line, and fish taken for market purposes are at least 7 inches long. 

 Maximum weight, 1 pound ; average, one-third pound. 



Range. — Southern Florida to Panama; known from Bermuda, 

 Jamaica, St. Thomas, Porto Rico, and Panama. 



48. Hsemulon parra (Desmarest). Sailor's choice; Grunt; Ronco 



prieto. 



This is a common species about Key West. It is generally found 

 in schools close to shore in company with the gray snapper. Ap- 

 parently but few are taken offshore as far as even 1 mile. Fish 5 and 6 

 inches in length are very abundant and readily take the baited hook 

 but are too small to be of commercial importance. However, many 

 are taken weighing from one-half pound to a pound, or more. 

 Maximum weight, 2 pounds; average, one-half pound. 



Range. — Southern Florida to Brazil ; recorded from Cards Sound, 

 Marco, Lemon Bay, Biscayi:ie Bay, Tortugas, Habana, Jamaica, 

 Porto Rico, Panama, and Brazil. 



49. Hsemulon sciurus (Shaw). Yellow grunt; Boar grunt; Ronco 



amarillo. 



This species is perhaps the most beautiful of all the grunts and 

 is marked by numerous longitudinal yellow stripes. It is very com- 

 mon about Key West, ranking next^to H. plumieri in abundance. 

 It is generally caught near the roots of mangrove trees in 6 to 

 15 feet of water, but some are taken farther offshore on hard bottom. 

 The best bait is a long worm, which the fishermen get from the 

 stem of a tall grass that grows on certain bars near shore. These 

 " poclworms " are certain to attract yellow grunts if there are any in 

 the vicinity. If the most favorable places to fish are known, it is 

 possible to catch 50 to 100 fish in a few houi-s. One fisherman reports 

 that he has caught as many as 600 yellow grunts in a single day. 

 The best fishing obtains during the summer. The yellow grunt is an 

 important food fish in Key West. Maximum weight, about 1 

 pound ; average, one-half pound. 



Range. — Southern Florida to Brazil ; recorded from Biscayne Bay, 

 the Tortugas, Bermuda, Cuba, Jamaica, Panama, and Bahia. 



50. Haemulon plumieri (Lacepede). Common grunt; White grunt; 



Ronco. 



This is by far the most abundant of all the grunts, and in point 

 of numbers it is probably not exceeded by any other food fish in the 

 vicinity of Key West. It is caught with hook and line baited with 

 crawfish or " sardines " in 8 to 40 feet of water. It is found on 

 bottoms of sand, marl, coral, or rock, which may be open or covered 

 with vegetation. The best fishing, however, is found on rocky 

 bottom. The common grunt is caught all the year round but is 

 particularly^ abundant in the late sununer and fall. After spawning 

 (during August and September), the large schools break up and 

 scatter but the fish are usually found in small schools on the bottom. 

 Maximum weight, 3 pounds; average, one-third to one-half pound. 



Range. — Cape Hatteras and Pensacola to Brazil; recorded fi'om 

 Panama. 



