46 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. 



tainly known what species these may be, but it is more than likely that 

 they are the Alabama shad. An actual examination of specimens from 

 these rivers will be necessary to determine the matter, and the United 

 States Fish Commission would be glad to receive specimens from any- 

 one who has an opportunity to collect them. 



SALT-WATER SPECIES. 



The great majority of Florida fishes are, of course, salt-water species, 

 there being not fewer than 495 species, distributed among many fam- 

 ilies and genera. On the east coast approximately 175 species are 

 found, among the Florida Keys 290, and on the west coast about 300. 

 Several important species are found throughout these three regions. 

 Key West is the most important and interesting of all Florida local- 

 ities as regards the number of species, about 250 species being known 

 from there, of which about 100 are food-fishes of greater or less impor- 

 tance. 



The richness of Key West in food-fishes will be seen when we recall 

 the total number of food-fishes in each of the other important fishery 

 regions of the United States, as shown in the following list : 



South Atlantic States 55 



Middle Atlantic States 50 



New England States 48 



Pacific States 40 



Great Lakes 16 



Gulf States (Florida excepted) 42 



The more important species handled at Key West are the grunts 

 (6 species), the porgies (5 species), the groupers (8 species), the snap- 

 pers (4 species), the hog-fish, king-fish, Spanish mackerel, the carangoids 

 (8 species), and the mullets (3 species). Besides these there are some 

 60 or 70 species which for one reason or another are less important but 

 are nevertheless handled to some extent. 



The method of handling fish at Key West is unique, and calculated 

 to conserve the fisheries of that region to the fullest extent. Prac- 

 tically all of the fishing is done with hook and line, and every fishing 

 boat has a well into which the fish are placed. All salable fish are 

 brought to market in the wells of the vessels and kept alive until sold. 

 The prospective purchaser visits the fish wharf, selects from some one 

 of the boats the fish he desires, and it is then killed and dressed by 

 the fisherman. This excellent method insures perfectly fresh fish to 

 the purchaser, and few or no fish are lost or wasted. 



There is no other place in the United States where one can study 

 live fishes so satisfactorily as at Key West. Fishing boats are lying 

 at the fish wharf at all times and in their wells may be seen specimens 

 of numerous species, many of them of brilliant coloration; and by 

 going out with the fishermen upon the bars and coral reefs one may, 

 by the aid of a water glass, spend many hours observing and studying 

 a multitude of fishes and other interesting forms as they disport them- 

 selves in the clear waters beneath the boat. 



