380 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



an average of 5 pounds of clear shell. The tishenncn receive $3 a 

 pound for shells and 3 to 6 cents a pound for the meat of the turtles. 



The lishernien keep no record of their catch by species, hut report 

 most of the several species plentiful. Very many Hsh too small to be 

 marketed are cauo-ht. These are o-iven away to the poor and nothing 

 is wasted. 



The following species are reported as being taken ])y the apparatus 

 named: 



Potx or nam: Red ^oat, yellow goat, lane snapper, roek hind, Nassau grouj^er, red 

 hind, rod grouper, red snapper, gray snajiper, inutton-lisli, i)luin?., loro Colorado, 

 blue parrot, candil, niargate, spade-fish, rock l)eauty, blue angel, trunk-fish 

 (little esteemed), lobsters (scarce). 



Cast nets: Sardines, scatl, chopa amarilla. 



Travi {pulain/ra): Runner, cabra mora, grouper, red hind, red grouper, gray snapper, 

 dog snajiper, schoolmaster, red snapper, inutton-fisli. 



TrolUug: Si)anish mackerel, plunia, zapatero or leather-jack, runner, schoolmaster, 

 yellow-tail, lane snapper. 



PONCE. 



The district of Ponce is bordered on the south by the Caribl)ean 

 Sea for some 40 miles, about half the water front of the south side of 

 the island. The long stretch of w^ater front back to the foothills and 

 mountains is largely engaged in sugar culture, back of which the 

 mountainous district is engaged in coffee and tobacco raising. The 

 fisheries are represented by a large variety of fine food-fishes that the 

 fishermen report as quite plentiful. No fish are dried, smoked, or 

 pickled. Fresh fish are in demand at the several cities and villages, 

 and at plantations, and prices arc quite high. The business is appar- 

 ently capable of being largely increased to the benefit of producer 

 and consiuner. The fisheries are represented, from west to east, by 

 a few fishermen at the following places: Guanica, Guayanilla. Ponce, 

 Isabel, and Salinas, the total being 110 men. 



Guanica has 20 fishermen who dispose of their fish to a local demand 

 and at the city of Yauco. The 14 fishermen of Guayanilla also sell at 

 Yauco and to their own neighborhood. 



Ponce has 40 men who fish more or less, about half of the number 

 depending on the fisheries for a living; the remainder divide their 

 time between fishing and other work on shore. Their catch is dis- 

 posed of at the city market and by street peddlers. 



Isabel has 22 fishermen who sell their catch near home and at Coamo 

 by peddling. 



The 14 fishermen of Salinas find a market near home and at Guayama. 



The fishermen of the several places mentioned fish more or less at 

 all seasons of the year. The catch is made in the waters of the home 

 harbors and for 4 to G miles out. Fish are most plentiful near shore 

 during riaimary, Februarv, and March. 



Two-thirds of the catch is made by the use of pots that are anchored 

 W'ithout bait and visited once a dav. 



