FISHERIES OF PORTO RICO. 



27 



FAJARDO, CEIBA, AND LUQUILLO. 



Fajardo, located at the northeastern end of the island, with Ceiba, 

 ou the south 6 miles, and Luquillo, about the same distance on the 

 northwest, are represented in the fisheries as follows : 



Locality. 



Fajardo. 



Ceiba . 



Luquillo. 



Apparatus. 



Boats, 24 



Pots, 100 



Cast nets, 12.. 

 Haul seines, 4. 

 Turtle nets, 50 



Boats,6 



Pots, 15 



Cast nets, 4... 



Boats, 2 



Pots, 15 



Cast nets, 2... 



Value. 



220 



Fisher- 

 men. 



Fajardo, with a population of 4,000, is the most important place in 

 this section, and is located 2 miles inland from the play a or lauding. 

 At the latter there are 600 inhabitants, a few small stores, and the 

 custom-house, which, prior to the change of government, was a second- 

 grade office at which no imports were permitted. A large amount of 

 dry and fresh fish is consumed, the former coming from San Juan. 



Fishing is chiefly by set pots; occasionally a few haul seines and cast 

 nets are used in the general fishery, and gill nets for turtles. Trolling 

 hooks and lines are used to a limited extent. Fish are plentiful and 

 are all sold fresh, undressed, at about 4 cents a pound. 



The boats are small, roughly built, with sloop or cat rig, none having 

 wells. Haul seines are 300 feet long, with a bag in the center, and are 

 handmade. The mesh in the wings is 1^ and 2 inch, in the bag J inch. 

 The twine is imported from Spain and is worth 36 cents a pound. 



At certain seasons a light catch of fish is made in the Fajardo River, 

 a few cast nets being used near its mouth. Within 6 miles of the 

 mouth of the river 3 weirs have been fished in the past. The best 

 fishing-grounds, near the mouth of the river, were formerly worked only 

 by holders of special grants from the government. 



Canned fish are not much used. The cost and retail prices of the 

 few found on sale were as follows : 



Description. 



Sardines, i oil 



Salmon, 1-pouiid tall can 



Oysters, 5-ouiice. can 



Merluza (codfish;, 1-pound flat can 



