THE FISHERIES AND FISH TRADE OF PORTO RICO. 379 



their doors. The men report tish fairly plentiful, and of the following 

 species and weights, in pounds: Red grouper, 10 to 50; toro, 1; pargo, 

 5 to 30; dog snapper, 2 to 20; schoolmaster, 5 to 15; red sna])per, 5 to 

 30; mutton-lish, 1 to 20; lane snapper, 1 to 4; margate-fish, 1 to 6; red 

 parrot, 1 to 5; blue parrot, 1 to 5; rock heaut}^, 1 to 2; mariposa, 1; 

 spotted trunk-fish, 1 to 5. 



PORTO REAL. 



This small settlement, near the southwestern eiid of Porto Rico, 

 well represents the fisheries by its 30 fishermen who make it their 

 entire business. Their catch during 1902 amounted to 175,000 pounds, 

 all of which was sold fresh. The harbor is small and shallow but 

 ample for their small draft boats. In this vicinity many species of 

 food-fishes are quite plentiful, particularly during January, February, 

 and March, at which time they are nearer land and the weather is most 

 favorable. After March the fish draw away from the shore into 

 deeper water, when the sea becomes too rough for the small lioats. 



Haul-seines were formerl}^ used but have been discontinued. The 

 bulk of the catch is now taken by pots that are anchored and buoyed 

 in from 1 to 13 fathoms, no bait being used. 



Pots are, as a rule, set singh", but occasionally in trawls, or a num- 

 ber are connected by a line. One trawl with 80 hooks is used in 7 to 8 

 fathoms. Trolling is chiefly carried on as the men go to and from the 

 pots and trawls. 



Fishing is done in the early hours of the day, pots and trawls being 

 visited only once. The catch is then removed to the wells on their 

 boats, the pots replaced, and hooks rebaited. On reaching the home 

 harbor any fish not at once disposed of are removed to floating fish-cars 

 and kept alive until such time as needed. 



Buyers from Mayaguez visit Porto Real and purchase the bulk of 

 the catch, paying 2i cents a pound; the remainder of the catch is sold 

 locally, at the village of Cabo Rojo, and at the sugar plantations of the 

 vicinity. From the latter •! to 5 cents a pound is received. 



Spiny lobsters are scarce and of small size, i to 2 pounds each. 

 They are taken in 10 to 15 fathoms of water and sold at the same price 

 as the fish. 



Spanish mackerel are fairly plentiful, those taken near shore aver- 

 aging 1 to 3 pounds; 5 to 10 miles from shore larger sizes are found, 

 the largest seen being 8 to 10 pounds. The mackerel and the king-fish 

 are caught with trolling hook and line. 



Hawksbill or tortoise-shell turtle are taken by hand on the beaches 

 of Salinas and Mona Island, and by turtle gill-nets set ofl' the same, 

 each net having attached a wooden decoy turtle. This is said to attract 

 the turtle and also helps buoy up the net. Turtles are reported scarce, 

 the total catch of 1902 by the fishermen of Porto Real being 10 by hand 

 and 12 liy nets. The turtles weigh from -10 to 100 pounds each, having 



