FISHERIES OF PORTO RICO. 23 



It is claimed that the waters in this vicinity have a better and more 

 plentiful supply of fish than is found elsewhere about the island. Fish 

 are reported as being always abundant off the northwest coast of Porto 

 Rico. On account of lack of transportation facilities fishing receives 

 little attention and the inhabitants of the interior depend largely on 

 imported dry fish. A few miles of railroad connect Aguadilla with the 

 city of Mayaguez, yet no fish are shipped away or cured. There being 

 no fish market or dealers, the fisherman ties his catch into bunches or 

 sliced- up pieces, suspends them on a pole, and peddles them among 

 the adjacent jilantations. The average price for fish is about 6 cents a 

 pound. 



Aguadilla is the only port in which the old Spanish system of keep- 

 ing a record of the fisheries is yet in vogue. For many years records 

 were kept by the former captain of the port. He still takes an interest 

 in the business and continues to record the number of fishermen, their 

 apparatus, and approximate catch. He reports at present 40 boats 

 and 100 fishermen at this port and places their aggregate catch during 

 the past year at 80,000 iDounds. Although the time given embraces the 

 period of the late war, the amount reported is so small that it probably 

 does not represent the full catch. 



PORTO REAL,. 



This is a small village of 250 inhabitants, located near the south- 

 western end of Porto Eico. It is the landing-place for Cabo Eojo, 

 which formerly had a second-grade custom-house, permitting exports 

 but no imports. A small amount of fishing is carried on here by 25 men. 



The boats are 12 to 15 feet long, home-made, and are roughly but 

 strongly built; 5 of them are keel boats with a small well in the center, 

 and are valued at $40 each. Seven skiffs, worth $5 each, are used near 

 shore. Boats are of sloop and schooner rig, and carry 2 men each. 



The fishing apparatus consists of 2 haul- seines, used along the beach, 

 150 pots used from 1 to 2 miles from shore, and single hooks and lines 

 used from 5 to 10 miles from the home port. 



The catch is kept alive either in the well of the boat or in cars 

 anchored off the landing, until disposed of in the vicinity or taken to 

 Mayaguez. In this vicinity fish are reported plentiful and many are 

 beautifully colored and have fine food qualities. 



The lagoons or arms of the bay of Porto Real are bordered with 

 mangrove trees that extend back through the adjacent swamps. For 

 several miles on both sides of these lagoons oysters of small size are 

 found in dense clusters attached to the roots and lower branches of 

 nearly all the trees along the banks. These oysters are free from any 

 coppery flavor, but are of poor quality and of small value at present; 

 they are not found on the soft muddy bottoms of the lagoons. Com- 

 mercially there is no native oyster business on the island, and but few 

 imported canned oysters are sold. Occasionally a few of the former 

 are gathered and sent in the shell to the largest cities. 



