28 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



A few turtles are caught about the adjacent islands, chiefly with gill 

 nets 15 feet long, which have wooden decoys attached, representing 

 turtles. During 1898, 400 pounds of hawksbill-turtle shells Avere taken 

 and sent to New York, where the best brought $5 a pound in gold. 



Small oysters are found attached to the roots and lower branches of 

 the mangrove trees that border the islands, but none are gathered. 



VIEQUES ISLAND. 



Vieques Island is the largest in size and population of the several 

 outlying islands belonging to Porto Eico. It is 17 miles long by 5 miles 

 in greatest width, its western end being 11 miles from Porto Rico. 

 The population in 1897 was about 5,200. 



A small amount of fishing is carried on at several places. The 

 following table gives all the statistics obtainable: 



Trolling lines and a few nets are used, but most of the fishing is by 

 set pots. The pots are anchored by ropes made of vines. The catch 

 is peddled through the several small villages and at the plantations, 

 selling at 5 cents a pound. A few turtles are taken at the southern end 

 of the island. Small vessels from the neighboring British and Danish 

 islands at times visit this section on their trips for turtles. 



Isabel Segunda, on the north side of the island, has several good- 

 sized stores, and is the leading port. Its harbor is much exposed, and 

 dangerous with northerly winds. At this port the fishing appliances 

 are 50 jiots, 25 cast nets, and 1 haul seine. The latter is 150 feet long 

 and 10 feet deep. 



CULEBEA ISLAND. 



Culebra Island is 10 miles north of Vieques Island, and 14 miles 

 from Porto Rico. It is rough and mountainous, and is but little cul- 

 tivated by its 7.30 inhabitants. It is of very irregular shape, with 

 an extreme length of 8 miles and a width of 3 miles. The harbor is 

 one of the very few good ones found in this section. It is nearly sur- 

 rounded by high hills and has a good depth of water. The narrow 

 entrance is bordered with coral reefs. On the harbor is a small settle- 

 ment of about 100 inhabitants, with a few small stores. 



Fish are reported plentiful around the island, but scarce inside the 

 harbor. Very little attention is given to fishing, only 2 or 3 men being 

 engaged. They use 12 fish pots, 24 nets for turtles, and occasionally 

 trolling hooks and lines. Imported dry cod is much more used than 

 fresh fish. 



