SOME MONSTERS 91 



seldom seen except when thus captured. They are much 

 esteemed as food." 



Of the latter, Brown Goode wrote ^ : " It is a fair question 

 whether this great fish be not the adult of the common black 

 grouper or some closely allied species, the appearance of which 

 has become somewhat changed with age. A large specimen, 

 weighing about 300 pounds, was taken near the St. John's 

 bar in March or April 1874 by James Arnold. It was 

 shipped by Mr. Hudson, a ship dealer in Savannah, to Mr. 

 Blackford, who presented it to the Smithsonian Institution. 

 A fine cast of this specimen graces the Fisheries Hall of the 

 National Museum. Professor Poey, by whom the species was 

 named, states that in Cuba it attains to the weight of 600 

 pounds. An old Connecticut fisherman, who was for many 

 years engaged in the Savannah Market fishery, states that 

 the Havana smacks often catch Jew-fish. They are so voraci- 

 ous that when put into the well with the groupers they would 

 do much damage. The fishermen have found it necessary, 

 therefore, to sew their jaws together before placing them with 

 other fish." 



* American Fishes, p. 50. 



