CABANAS 309 



As the pocket approached, a great commotion and 

 flashing of silvery sides gave assurance of a success- 

 ful haul. A heavy catch resulted, principally of 

 ''biajaiba." Among the many species of edible 

 fish brought to the Havana markets the biajaiba 

 {NeomcBnis synagris) is probably the first in import- 

 ance, both in quantity used and in popular estima- 

 tion. A large specimen weighs about four pounds, 

 and the flesh is well flavored. They are taken in 

 great quantities about the mouth of harbors. This 

 is really a beautiful fish of a bright rose color with 

 silvery tinge below. It is the **Lane snapper" 

 of the Florida Keys and not the better-known red 

 snapper so extensively shipped from the Gulf to 

 northern markets. The next in importance among 

 Cuban food fish is the exceedingly pretty little 

 *' yellow- tail" of the Florida Reefs — called here 

 " rabirubia " {Ocyurus chrysurus) . One can never 

 do better when ordering at a Cuban restaurant 

 than to call for rabirubia. The size rarely exceeds 

 two or three pounds. In attempting to describe 

 this or any other fish of tropical waters one can- 

 not avoid the superlatives of beautiful, or bizarre. 

 This one is simply beautiful, the predominating 

 colors, being a vivid yellow and blue. Although 



