FISHERIES OF PORTO RICO. 19 



$1,200, Spauish money. It measures 7J tons and is the only vessel used 

 in the fisheries of the island that is of suflBcient tonnage to require 

 registry at the custom-house. It was built soon after the close of the 

 late war and had made but three short trips up to the last of January, 

 1899. It is 30 feet long, 9^ feet beam, with 5 feet depth of hold. In 

 the center is a well 7 feet long, with 31 1^-inch holes on each side, to 

 admit the water. Aft of the well is a small compartment for sleeping 

 quarters, and forward is a small galley for cooking. Her fishing gear 

 consists of 40 set pots, by which most of the catch is made, a small 

 trawl with 100 hooks being used occasionally. 



The catch of the fishermen of this place is made aloug the coast, the 

 sloop going as far as off Mono Island, 42 miles distant. One haul seine 

 is used along the beach by 5 men; this is 80 fathoms long, 3 fathoms 

 deep, mesh in the wings 1 and 2 inches, and in the bunt f -inch square 

 mesh. Ten pots and a trawl with 80 hooks are used just off the beach 

 in 6 fathoms of water. Sardines are used for bait on the trawl, the 

 pots generally being set without bait. 



SABANITA. 



This settlement is a few miles north of Algarrobo. From 30 to 40 

 men carry on more or less fishing, in which they use 2 haul seines, 60 

 to 75 pots, and trawls. The apparatus is similar to that at Algar- 

 robo. Two boats are used in seining, 5 in fishing pots, and 6 in trawl 

 fishing. The two last-mentioned appliances employ 2 men in a boat. 



Other small fishing-places in the vicinity of Mayaguez are Ahasco, 

 Arribo, and Corega, each with a few men who fish in the vicinity of 

 their homes. The catch is sold to the neighboring villages and planta- 

 tions, and the fish market of Mayaguez is better supplied than that of 

 any other place on the island. Fish are peddled along the route to the 

 city, being suspended from poles carried on the shoulders. 



No fish are cured and any surplus is thrown away. 



BAYAMON. 



This place is 5 miles southwest of San Juan, with which it is con- 

 nected by rail. The population is given as 2,500. It has a number of 

 stores that carry quite large stocks of goods, including dry fish, bought 

 from the importers at San Juan. The Bayamon Eiver flows through 

 the town, with its outlet at the entrance to San Juan Harbor. This 

 stream, although small, is of some value for its fisheries, the most 

 extensive being at Palo Seco at its mouth. At Bayamon the river is 

 only 25 feet wide, with from 3 to 10 feet depth of water, according to 

 the seasons. Near the mouth it widens out to some 75 feet. 



Bayamon is supplied with fresh fish taken from the river by 6 resi- 

 dent fishermen, and by others that live along the river banks to the 

 north and south. Other persons fish only for their family use. None 

 of these men give more than a part of their time to fishing. The catch 

 is taken with hoop nets, cast nets, gill nets, and haul seines, all netting 

 being hand-made by the fishermen. A few fish pots are also used. 



