412 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



have been caught. The smaller fish are quite- choice, but large ones are too coarse and tough to 

 be salable. 



There is another fish whicli is also called "Jew-fish," or "Warsaw," and "Black Grouper," of 

 which only enormously large specimens have been obtained, and which is entered ui)on our cata- 

 logues under the name Promicrops guasa. It is a fair question whether this great fish be not tLe 

 adult of the common Black Grouper or some closely allied species, the appearance of which has 

 become somewhat changed with age. A largu specimen, weighing about throe hundred i)onnds, 

 was taken near the Saint John's bar in March or April, 1874, by James Arnold. It was sliijjped by 

 Mr. Hudson, a fish-dealer in Savannah, to Mr. Blackford, who i)resented it to the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution. A fine cast of this specimen in papier-mache graces the cast-room of the Naticmal 

 Museum. Professor Poey, by whom this species was named, states that in Cuba it attains to the 

 weight of six imndred pounds. An old Connecticut fisherman, who was for many years engaged 

 in the Savannah market fishery, states that the Savannah smacks often catch Jew-fish. They are 

 so voracious that when put into the well with the Groupers they would do much damage. The 

 fishermen have therefore found it necessary to sew their jaws together before placing them with 

 other fish. 



The Spotted Hind— Epinephblus Deummond-Hati. 



The Spotted Hind of the Gulf of Mexico, Upinephelus Drummond-Hayi, has been but recently 

 discovered, and has been observed only in the Gulf of Mexico and at the Bermudas. It was 

 observed at the Bermudas in 1851 by Col. H. M. Druminond-lTay, of the British army. Specimens 

 were sent to the National Museum in 1876 and 187.7 by Mr. Blackford and Mr. Stearns. It is one 

 of the many important species which have been brought to notice by the labors of the United 

 States Pish Commission. Although it is an excellent food-fish, it is even now not well appreciated. 



Mr. Stearns records the following facts concerning its habits: "The Spotted Hind is common 

 in company with the Grouper and the Jew-fish, and is most abundant in South Florida about the 

 reefs. Off Pensacola it lives in the deep fishing grounds, in seventeen, nineteen, and twentj'-two 

 fathoms. It swims close to the bottom, and is of sluggish movements. I have not known of its 

 occurrence in the bays, and believe that it spawns at sea. Specimens weighing fifty pounds have 

 been caught, but that is fully four times the average size. It is seen daily in the Key West 

 market and sells readilj% but at Pensacola, Mobile, and New Orleans it is hardly marketable. Its 

 color varies A'ery considerably with the different colored bottoms on which it lives." 



The Coney, Hpinephehts aptia, of Key West, the Hind of Bermuda, is an important food- 

 fish which occurs throughout the West Indies. Specimens have been sent by Mr. Stearns, who 

 recorded that it is common in South Florida among the reefjs, and is often seen in the Key West 

 market, where it is readily sold. 



The Banded Geoupbr — Bpinephulus striatus and others. 



The common Grouper of Bermuda, Epinephehis striahts, one of the most important food-fishes 

 of those islands, is sure to be found in the vicinity of Key West, and will probably prove to be 

 one of the important fishes of our own southern coasts. About Key West and in the Gulf there 

 are several species of the sub-genus Myctrroperca, which may be grouped together under the name 

 "Rock-fish," the name by which all fishes of this genus are also known in Bermuda. They are 

 large fishes of excellent food quality, similar in habits to the others of the family which have 

 already been discussed. The material at present on hand is not sufficient to admit of satisfactory 

 identification of all the species. The "Bhick Grouper" of Pensacola, which has been variously 



