Game Fishes of the Colonies . 407 



foot across the instep with three deep cuts to 

 the bone, made by the serrated spines. 



In Porto Rico the kingfish, or " sierra," occurs 

 with the Spanish mackerel and the great picuda, 

 and on the reef the moray, or "morena verde," 

 an ugly creature often six feet in length. One 

 which I inadvertently brought into my boat in 

 Florida charged me so ferociously that I sprang 

 up the mast to avoid it, while my companion 

 went overboard, the water being shallow, leaving 

 the monster in full possession, which finally 

 made its way into the water again. 



So far as mere angling is concerned Porto 

 Rico offers no advantage over Florida, indeed, 

 is not to be compared to it. The fishes are 

 about the same. On the reef of the latter the 

 weather conditions are more favorable, the heavy 

 winds which pile the sea in so continuously at 

 Porto Rico are lacking ; yet in both localities in 

 midsummer the angler may expect heat of an 

 intense and monotonous variety. 



