18 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Under Spanish rule fishing and fish lauded were free of tax or duty 

 at this port, but fishermen and boats were recorded by the captain of 

 the port. This officer fled on the approach of the United States forces 

 and left no records of the previous business. At present fishing is free, 

 but no record of persons or boats emi^loyed or any account of the catch 

 has been made up to the time these notes were taken. 



The fishing-grounds for haul seines and cast nets are along the beach 

 near the city landing; in the harbor and open sea, to a distance of 8 to 

 10 miles, hooks and lines and set pots are emiiloyed. Two haul seines, 

 each 450 feet long and 12 to 15 feet deep, are hauled by 6 to 8 men. The 

 nets are handmade, and have a nominal value of 150 pesos, or Spanish 

 dollars, each. Many species of fish are taken in the haul seines. 



Wicker pots or traps are anchored in from 18 to 25 fathoms of water. 

 Six boats, with from 12 to 25 pots each, are used near the landing and 

 as far out as 10 miles. 



Spiny lobsters are reported as found at all seasons, but mostly during 

 April and May. They weigh from 2 to 10 pounds- each. 



Cast nets, of which the local name is tarraya, are fished along the 

 beach for sardines and other small fish ; their value is from 5 to 8 pesos 

 each, and there are 14 in use. 



Three trawls are fished by six men in three boats, in from 8 to 100 

 fathoms of water, some 8 to 10 miles west from the city landing of 

 Mayaguez. From 75 to 200 hooks are used to each trawl, and these are 

 fastened to snoods 3 feet long and 1 fathom apart, with 1 hook on each. 

 Trawls are baited with sardines and anchored. They are often under- 

 run, and are taken up as soon as a sufficient catch has been made or 

 the time has arrived for a return to market. The trawls are valued at 

 from $3 to $5 each. 



Trolling lines are used to some extent, with single hook baited with 

 sardines. The hooks used are Nos. 1 to 9; the largest. No. 1, retail for 

 6 cents each; while No. 9 hooks, used on trawls, are worth 50 cents 

 per 100. Twine for trawls is worth 25 cents per pound. 



The catch is sold by peddlers, who buy the fish or are hired by the 

 fishermen, and to fish-stands in the large market of the city. The 

 fishermen receive, on an average, the equivalent of 6 cents a pound, the 

 consumer paying about 10. All fish are sold undressed, at so much a 

 bunch for those of small size ; large fish are cut into strips and sold by 

 the piece. 



Fish are most plentiful in the harbor of Mayaguez from August to 

 December, but are abundant outside of the harbor at all seasons. None 

 of the catch is in any way cured. 



AX,GARROBO. 



Algarrobo is a small fishing settlement iu the suburbs of Mayaguez. 

 The fishermen's houses scattered along the beach are surrounded with 

 cocoanut trees and banana plants, the leaves of which form the roofs 

 and sides. This settlement has 14 fishermen, who use 4 dories and 1 

 sloop. This sloop, the Francisca, was built at Algarrobo at a cost of 



