ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. 243 



I have visited the Naples (Italy), Brighton (England), and New 

 York aquariums, and the U. S. Fish Commission's aquarium exhibits 

 at the National Expositions at Philadelphia, New Orleans, Chicago, 

 Atlanta, and Buffalo ; and have looked through the fish markets of 

 London (Billingsgate), New York (Fulton), Boston, Philadelphia, 

 New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola, San Francisco, Portland, Ore., 

 Victoria, Columbia, Quebec, Havana, Cuba, Nassau, Bahamas, Amster- 

 dam, Vienna, Venice, Catania, Genoa, Palermo, Naples, Messina, 

 Nice, Marseilles, Malta, Algiers, Tunis, and those of many smaller 

 places, and must say I think that during any one week of good 

 weather several of the most expert fishermen of Key West each catch 

 a greater number of species than were in any one of the above- 

 mentioned collections. 



Nearly all the fish are sold by the fishermen direct to the con- 

 sumer, there being no so-called "Fish House," or "Factor," in 

 the city. Many Kingfish are, however, sold, or shipped for sale, to 

 Cuba, the fishermen receiving written tenders or bids for them, 

 selling to the highest bidder. 



Localities for bottom fishing : About one -fourth mile northwest 

 of the "Small Fleet Harbor" and continue about six miles in same 

 direction on the edge of, in, and near the northwest channel : for 

 Grunt, Porgies, Sailor's Choice, Snappers of all kinds, Cavalles, 

 Runners, etc., and occasional Pompanos, Bluefish, and Spanish 

 Mackerel. Also for same fishes, Pearl Channel, American Banks, 

 Target Bank, about northwest of city ; Crawfish Channel, and Head 

 and Pebble Channel, about west ; and Bluefish Channel, three miles 

 due north. 



Trolling, called in Key West " towing," for Kingfish, Barracuda, 

 Amber Jacks, Large Permits, etc., in the channel leading out to the 

 sea, and in front of the city, south and southeast. 



For Yellow Tails, especially : At the red buoy off Fort Taylor ; 

 on the edge of Crawford Bar ; and in the ship channel to the western 

 dry rocks, on the patches. All sorts of fish are caught on the various 

 reefs. 



Owing to the coral formation, which precludes the use of seines, 

 and the peculiar methods of fishing and sale of the fish, it would 

 seem they cannot be so easily partially exhausted as they have been 

 in some localities on both the western and eastern coasts. 



In view of all of the above, I wonder why Key West has not 



