THE FISHERIES AND FISH TEADE OF PORTO RICO. 385 



with a large variety of fine food-fishes, much more so than at any other 

 fishing station. The catch is all disposed of fresh; no salt or ice is 

 used. The small amount of ice received from San Juan is sold to 

 hotels and a few families at 6 cents a pound. Quite an amount of 

 dry salt-cod and some pickled fish are received via San Juan from the 

 United States and Canada. There appears to be an opening for the 

 catch and cure of some of the local species (including the spiny lobster) 

 that would in a measure take the place of imported fish. 



Spanish mackerel and king-fish are plentiful from December to May, 

 but especially during January and Februar3^ Albacore or frigate 

 mackerel are found in large schools during February, March, April, 

 and May, after which they are not seen during the remainder of the 

 year. They weigh from 1.5 to 20 pounds and are taken by seines and 

 by trolling. Red snapper are plentiful; pompano are taken weighing 

 1 to 10 pounds. Numerous other fine table fish, but unknown in the 

 markets of the United States, will be found in the list of species of 

 food-fish taken by the various appliances. The list, while not complete, 

 comprises most of the leading species taken in these waters. 



Spiny lobsters are reported as very plentiful, their weight being 

 from 1 to 10 pounds, those taken in pots being the smaller size. The 

 largest are found on the coral reefs and are taken at night by hand, a 

 torch and forked stick being used. The lobsters, seeing the light, do 

 not move, permitting themselves to be picked up by hand. When 

 hidden in holes they are poked out with the sticks and secured. Most 

 of the lobster catch is secured at night by hand. 



Oysters of small size and good qualit}^ are quite plentiful on the 

 roots and lower branches of the trees bordering the lagoons near the 

 Fajardo light-house and off Ceiba. A few oysters are taken and sold 

 locally at about 1 cent a dozen. 



Clams are found at the mouth of the Fajardo River but not used. 



Of the 80 men of Fajardo that follow fishing more or less about 

 40 give nearly half their time to the sugar plantations. The fishing- 

 grounds being more protected from rough seas by the several islands, 

 less time is lost from rough water than at most places. The catch is 

 all sold fresh to fill the local demand at Fajardo and vicinity. Prices 

 average about 3 cents a pound for all species except Spanish mackerel 

 and king-fish, which average 6 cents a pound. 



After the volcanic eruptions at Martinique quite heavy showers of 

 ashes fell in this vicinity, after which many small-sized fishes were 

 found dead along the beaches. 



Quite an important part of the revenue of some of the fishermen is 

 from the sale of tortoise shell from the hawksbill turtles taken by 

 them. The turtles are taken on and near the beaches of Mona, Vieques, 

 and Culebra islands and those of the main shore. The catch is made 

 from November to May, when the females come ashore to deposit their 

 eggs in the sandy beaches, when they are taken bj^ hand; the males 



F. C. 1902 25 



