Nassau Grouper; Hamlet; Cherna CrioUa 



The snowy grouper (£. niveatus) is known from the West Indies 

 south to Brazil and occasionally north in the Gulf Stream to Woods 

 Hole. Colour, brown with round whitish spots on body, smaller than 

 pupil, regularly arranged in vertical and horizontal series, 4 in former 

 and 5 in latter, these rows sometimes irregular; no distinct spots on 

 breast; a very large black blotch on upper part of caudal peduncle, this 

 sometimes absent. 



Nassau Grouper; Hamlet; Cherna Criolla 



Epinephelus striatus (Bloch) 



This large species is common from Key West to Brazil. It is 

 common about Key West and many large examples are taken. It 

 attains a length of 3 feet and a weight of 50 pounds, though those seen 

 in the Key West market usually do not exceed 10 pounds. It is a 

 good food-fish and is found all the year round about Key West. 



Colour in life, rather pale olivaceous gray, paler below, sides with 

 obscure whitish cloudings; side with about 4 irregular broad vertical 

 bars dark brown in colour, each enclosing small whitish spots, these 

 bars darkest on back and extending on dorsal fin; a square jet-black 

 blotch on upper edge of caudal peduncle; a dark band from snout 

 through eye to side below origin of dorsal; another on median line of 

 snout, forking opposite front of eye, the 2 bands extending backward 

 and ceasing on occiput without reaching the other band; cheek light 

 brown with whitish blotches; fins colour of body but lighter; dorsal 

 and caudal with narrow pale yellow border. 



The red hind or cabrilla (£. giittatus) is found from the Carolinas 

 through the West Indies to Brazil. It is rare on our coast, but is com- 

 mon at Havana. 



From related species it may be distinguished by its colour, which 

 in life is light yellowish olive above, whitish below; 3 broad, oblique, 

 obscure olive bands running upward and backward on side; spots on 

 body vivid scarlet, those above darker, edges of scales brown; inside 

 of mouth mostly pale, partly scarlet; belly spotted; dorsal olive-yel- 

 low, somewhat clouded, a few red spots on spinous dorsal; soft dorsal 

 broadly edged with black; caudal yellowish, the posterior half black, 

 its edge white; anal like soft dorsal; pectoral light yellow, with rows 

 of small scarlet spots; ventrals red, blackish at tips. 



384 



