10 



The fishing-boats are built in the English style, drawing five or six feet 

 of water, deep-keeled, sloop or schooner rigged, and usually provided 

 with a large well in the hold, in which the fish are brought in alive. 



The only market is the water's edge. In the large towns, Hamilton 

 and St. George's, the quay is lined nearly every morning at sunrise by 

 a long row of fish-boats. The fish swim in the wells until customers are 

 found for them ; when one is selected, it is taken up in a landing-net or 

 by a gaff-hook, and quickly killed by thrusting a sharp awl into the base 

 of the brain ; it is then bled, skinned (rarely scaled), eviscerated, and 

 delivered into the hands of the purchaser, a loop of palmetto fiber 

 always being attached for convenience in carrying. At an early hour 

 the fares are disposed'of, and the boats are under weigh for the fishing- 

 grounds. At almost any time, however, row-boats filled with small 

 seined fish may be found at the quay. Those who live in the country- 

 parishes watch the return of their neighbors' boats at night-fall, and 

 thus secure their supplies of fish. 



Fish from such a market cannot fail to be fresh, and the excellence of 

 the Bermuda food-fishes is due to this, and to the fact that they are never 

 allowed to die of suffocation in the air, but are killed quickly and bled. 

 The Angel-fish (Holacanthus ciliaris) is perhaps the most highly 

 esteemed ; next in rank are the various species of Pristipomatidce, Ser- 

 ranidce, and Sparidcc, with the Hog-fish (Lachnolcemits falcatus). All 

 others are regarded inferior in quality. The price of fish is fixed by law 

 atfourpence a pound, an advance of one penny having been made within 

 a few years. 



Most of the line-fishing is done among the outer reefs or on the outer 

 banks, twenty miles distant. The favorite baits are the flesh of the 

 " Bermuda lobster" (Palinurus a mericanus) and the " Spanish lobster " 

 (Scyllarus cequinoxialis), and that of some of the larger fishes, such as 

 the " Mackerel" (Orcynus alUteratits), and the Morays (Murcenidce). The 

 Pilchard (Harengula macrophthalma), Shad (Eucinostomus gula and E. 

 Lefroyi), and the Robin (Decapterus punctatus), are used as "full-baits," 

 as are also the various kinds of" fry " (Atherina and Engraulis sp.). The 

 " Scuttle," a large Octopus, very common on the reefs, is also frequently 

 used, its toughness making it a very lasting bait. Many of the choicest 

 and largest species, such as the Pristipomatidw, Serranidce, and Scom- 

 bridcc, are taken exclusively with lines. 



The Sjmridcv, Labridw, Scarifies, the smaller Serranidcc, and many others, 

 with great quantities of the large crustaceans so much in demand for 

 bait, are captured in basket-work fish-pots constructed of split cane. 



