CHA1MT.H V. 



THE ROCK (IKOITER. THE POMPANO. 



TUK HOCK UKO'.TKK -So called by the Florida fishermen. I h:r- 

 \icver seen any account of tins speces, scientific or otherwise 1 . It 

 differs from the common grouper in many particulars. It is a thick- 

 dot, heavily built fish, with a largo head. Inhabits rocky bottoms 

 ind deep holes; r.-'thor sluggish, though a strong and heavy puller, 

 Color, dark brown with lighter marks and lines; scales small. Aver- 

 age weight five or six pounds, and hai been taken in the Halifax Kiver 

 veighing twenty-eight pounds. It is easier handled on a rod than 

 +he common grouper, not running to a hole like that fish, but light- 

 ing in open water. 



It is a rich and well flavored tish, superior, in my opinion, to the 

 last named sp.vies. Sonie years this species is quite common, so 

 that some are taken every day. In other years they may be scarce, 

 and this we find is the ease with many species on the Florida coast. 

 On the northern coast we know that, thesamc thing occurs, and then- 

 it is often attributed to the effect* of pound nets and seines an 1 over- 

 fishing. 



On the Florida coast there have been few of these destrmtm 

 engines, and the cast net is the only not ust-d, and that merely for 

 the needs of the scanty population of those shores. Except in the 

 neighborhood of St. Augustine and Jacksonville, the amount of tish 

 taken by man is very small. Marine birds and fishes of prey are the 

 principal destroyer* t* food fishes. In fact, the waters arc almost 



