THE FISHEEIES AND FISH TRADE OF PORTO EICO. 375 



The leading species taken by the several forms of uppai-atus are as 

 follows: 



Trolling: Spanish mackerel, king-flsh, barracuda, hound-li.sh, gray snapper, dog 

 snapper, schoobnaster, red grouper, Nassau grouper. 



Cast-nets: Leather-jack, sardines, robalo, mullet, eels, pargo prieto, lane snapper. 



Weirs: Sardines, pargo, picuda, jurel, liza, robalo, mullet, mojarra. 



Haul-seine: Lane snapper, moon-tish, trunk-fish, toro, barracuda, hound-fish, mere, 

 mullet, pargo prieto, balaju, robalo, leather-jack, sardines, nuitton-fish, spade- 

 fish, margate, runner, pompano, red goat, yellow goat, I'ed snapper, dog snapper, 

 gray snapper, schoolmaster. 



Trawl: Margate, yellow-tail, red snapper, dog snapper, parrot-fish, mutton-fish. 



Hook and line: Candil, toro, pargo prieto, yellow-tail, robalo, cabra mora, red goat, 

 yellow goat, chopa amarilla, mero, lane snapper, cherna, margate, red snapper, 

 dog snapper, schoolmaster, 



ARECIBO. 



Arecibo is located on the northwestern end of the island near the 

 mouth of the Rio Grande. The city is credited with a population of 

 8,008, the district of Arecibo having 102,308. Quite a large amount 

 of imported lish is used. The f resh-lish business is conducted l)}^ .50 

 fishermen who divide their time between fishing and work on the 

 sugar plantations, an average of 2.5 men being engaged in fishing 

 during the year when the conditions are favorable. 



Fish are reported to l)e fairly abundant, yet the aggregate catch 

 for 1902 amounted to only 75,000 pounds, which could have been 

 greatly increased had the needed energy been shown. The catch is all 

 disposed of locally by peddlers, who sell nearly everything by the 

 bunch, averaging 5 cents a pound for undressed fish. A few large 

 fish, among them the mero, are taken by hooks in deep water. These 

 are cut up and sold for 6 to 8 cents a pound. Many cast-nets are also 

 used. Bow hooks and lines have 2 to 4 hooks attached to short 

 snoods, which are fastened near the end of the two long lines that are 

 attached to the bow. These lines are as long as 150 fathoms and are 

 fished 2 to 3 miles from shore in 50 to 150 fathoms of water during 

 the summer; there is no hook-and-line fishing during the winter on 

 account of rough water. These hook-and-line fishermen usually begin 

 the day's work at 4 in the morning and leave ofi' about noon. Fish- 

 pots are used in and near the mouth of the Rio Grande during the 

 high waters of May, June, July, and August. Haul-seines are more 

 or less used at all seasons, from the beaches adjoining the city. 



Sardines are taken by haul-seines during June, Jul}-, and August. 

 The greater part of the seine catch is the jurel, which are most 

 plentiful during November, December, and January, their weight 

 being from 1 to 20 pounds. 



Candil or squirrel-fish are taken by hook and line in 60 fathoms of 

 water, but are not plentiful. Spanish mackerel are taken by trolling 

 and by seines at all seasons, but most plentifully during June and 

 July. A few pompano are taken by seines. The following are taken 

 by hook and line: Cabra mora, in 3 to 70 fathoms; cherna or red 



