452 TRINIDAD. 



300 to 400 each subsequent day. One of our grupers (Meso* 

 prion) haunts, in preference, the mouth of our larger rivers the 

 Caroni, the Guataro, &c. : it comes to a very large size, weighing 

 above four hundred pounds ; another species (Olinus) the largest 

 of all is fond of rocky places where it hides in some hole ; the 

 third species (Mesopriori) is also found in such localities. The 

 crapaud (Batrachus) a very ugly-looking fish, particularly about 

 the head, whence its name is found imbedded in the mud-flats, 

 or under large stones, where it is taken at low water. The red- 

 mouths or crocros (Haemulori) are caught in weirs all along the 

 coast ; the snappers are hooked from the sandy banks about the 

 bocas, as also the sardes all excellent fish. The barracuta (Sphy- 

 raena) and conger- eel (Afuracna) generally choose some haunt in 

 the middle of rocky points, and there watch for their prey. The 

 barracuta, when grown to a large size, is nearly as ferocious and 

 voracious as the shark itself ; it attains to seven and eight feet in 

 length, and is abundant all along our shores. There is, on the 

 eastern coast, a rocky point called " Barracuta Point," or " Pointe 

 Becunes," on account of the large number of sphyraenas which 

 are there found : they are reported to be more voracious than in 

 any other place, and it is said there are but poor chances for any 

 one falling overboard, in that locality ; he is soon devoured by 

 these shark-like fishes. The dorie, or lune, the parrot, and para- 

 dise fishes, together with a few others, are caught only by chance. 

 The gros-yeux (Colitis Anableps) is a small fish, about eight 

 inches : they may be seen leaping in shoals above the surface of 

 the water, in the shallows quite close to the shore, with quick suc- 

 cessive jerks ; they are then easily shot, and picked up when 

 dead. The rays are plentiful, but seldom offered for sale ; poor 

 people, and the coolies especially, feed upon the young sharks. 

 Besides the fishes above enumerated, there are three or four 

 others of undetermined genera, viz., the Paoua, rather common, 

 but not generally eaten except by the poorer classes; the 

 Ailer onde, met with at Mayaro chiefly ; it is about the size of a 

 sole, but resembling the dorie in flesh, and is perhaps our most 

 delicate fish ; the Zapatero is also of good quality ; the Crrande- 

 ecaille is common but neglected. Another large fish weighing 

 upwards of 100 Ibs. when of full size is common in estuaries, on 

 the northern and eastern coasts ; it is called by the Spanish peons 

 Bagre-sapo, or toad-pagre, and is excellent eating. 



