FISHERIES OF PORTO RICO. 29 



Kets for taking turtles are 27 feet long, 8 to 12 feet deep, of 12-iucli 

 square mesh ; they are home-made, the twine being worth 50 cents a 

 pound at St. Thomas. A few turtles are taken on the beaches, but 

 most of the catch is by nets, which, with their wooden decoy turtles, 

 are anchored near the coral reefs; the nets are visited once or twice a 

 day during the turtle-fishing season, which is said to be in May, June, 

 July, and August. The hawksbill, green sea, and loggerhead turtles 

 are reported more plentiful in this vicinity than elsewhere in the region. 

 The local catch is small, only 75 hawksbill turtles being caught in 1898. 



The shell of the hawksbill is said to average from 3 to 5 pounds, and 

 brings from 75 cents to $4 a pound in gold at St. Thomas. The logger- 

 head turtle is used only for its oil. Turtle meat of the other varieties 

 is sold for food at G cents a pound. 



Under Spanish rule fishing privileges around the island were free to 

 the natives only. The natives claim that their fisheries have not been 

 protected, the islands being visited by numerous small fishing craft 

 owned at St. Thomas and other Danish and British islands. Since the 

 change in government these vessels when in this vicinity fly the Ameri- 

 can flag, and their crews claim to be citizens of the United States, 

 although the natives say most of these boats are owned at the British 

 island of Tortola. 



The fish are salted and poorly cured on board by drying in the sun, 

 and are disposed of chiefly at St. Thomas and other ports in the West 

 Indies. The catch is obtained by pots and trolling lines. 



The turtle catch is said to be considerable. 



The harbor of Culebra Island has numerous small inlets that are 

 bordered with mangrove trees, on the roots and lower branches of which 

 small-sized oysters are abundant, but are too small to be of much value 

 for food. 



STATISTICAL TABLES. 



Imported fishery products being next to the largest in amount and 

 value of the imports of Porto Rico, the statistical tables presented on 

 pages 30-33 are of much interest and value. The records are from the 

 original entries at the several custom-houses of the island. There 

 the various species are not shown, but by reference to pages 4, 5, and 

 12, an analysis of the imports will be found, giving species and full par- 

 ticulars of imports. 



In all cases where values are given it is on a basis of Spanish paper 

 money, which has had a fluctuating value, the average during the time 

 shown in the tables being some 60 cents on a dollar for gold. 



