44 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



is said to equal that of the northern lobster. Aside from being an im- 

 portant food for man, it is extensively used as bait by the hand-line 

 and fish-trap fishermen. Besides the name " spiny lobster," this 

 crustacean is known as " crawfish," " sea crawfish," " langouste," and 

 " rough, thorny, or rock lobster." The name in general use among 

 the fishermen is crawfish, but dealers ship the animal under the 

 name " Florida lobster." Spiny lobster is perhaps the most suitable 

 name, but for the sake of brevity the name crawfish has been most 

 generally used in this paper. 



Within recent years the crawfish has found an important place 

 in the fishery industry of Key West. Shipments to Cuba and cities 

 of the eastern United States have steadily increased during the past 

 decade, whereas prior to 1910 few crawfish, if any, were sold outside 

 of the State. 



For many years the crawfish has found a ready sale in the city of 

 Key West, and the price has been as low as 25 to 50 cents for one 

 dozen, according to the season and the weather. The retail price 

 during 1922 ranged from 75 cents to $3, with a general average of 

 $1.50 a dozen, depending upon the available supply. They are sold 

 at retail by the piece or by the dozen and are seldom weighed. 



The average market size throughout the year is 9 to 10 inches in 

 length, exclusive of the long antennse, and the weight of a 9-inch 

 crawfish is about 1 pound. The males grow larger than the females, 

 and adult males are heavier than females of the same size, partly 

 because of the longer legs. A comparison of the following weights 

 indicates the difference: Males, 8 inches. 10^ ounces; 9 inches, 1 

 pound 1 ounce; 11 inches, 2 pounds. Females of these same sizes 

 weighed 10| ounces, 15| ounces, and 1 pound 11 ounces, respectively. 

 During two years of intensive market observations it was found that 

 the weights of about 99 per cent of the crawfish sold for food would 

 fall between the extremes of one-half and 6 pounds. Very small 

 crawfish are common in their natural habitat, but they are used only 

 for fish bait. Crawfish weighing more than 6 pounds are rarely 

 seen. The largest of which the Bureau of Fisheries has an authentic 

 record was caught the latter part of January, 1922, with hook and 

 line in 8 fathoms of water about 8 miles oft' the coast of Sarasota 

 County, Fla. This specimen, which weighed over 8 pounds when 

 caught and the total length of whose body and tail was 17 inches, is 

 now in the United States National Museum collection. 



The crawfish is found close to shore, and most of the fishing is 

 carried on within a mile of land. Rocky reefs and their adjacent ter- 

 ritories are the most favorable fishing grounds. Its range in the 

 United States extends from Beaufort, N. C., to the Florida Keys, 

 principally on the Atlantic side, and among the islands of the Dry 

 Tortugas. However, it is not numerous enough north of Miami, 

 Fla., to be of commercial importance. Large numbers are reported 

 from the Bahama Islands, and it is known to occur as far south as 

 Eio de Janeiro, Brazil. A spiny lobster resembling P. argus in gen- 

 eral appearance is found on the Pacific coast, but it is of a distinct 

 species. 



The same type of boat is employed in the spiny-lobster fishery 

 as that used in the hand-line fishery. Fishing lines are always kept 

 aboard, so that if crawfish fishing proves unsuccessful the fishermen 

 may return to port with a fare of fish. All boats in the vicinity of 



