172 hirst Report on Economic Zoology. 
would be regarded with respect and confidence by scientific men in this 
country were he further employed in connection with this subject. 
I am of the opinion that the carrying out of the investigations 
suggested by Dr. Duerden’s Report, under the auspices of the Imperial 
Department of Agriculture for the West Indies, would lead to economic 
results of practical value and justify the expenditure of public funds in 
that direction. 
I have, etc., 
(Signed) E. Ray Lankester. 
Abstract of Dr. Duerden’s Report on the Marine 
Resources of the West Indies. 
In an extra number of the West Indian Bulletin issued in 1901, Dr. 
J. E. Duerden reviews the chief marine resources of the British West 
Indies. I 11 this he gives an account of the fisheries of the W est Indies, 
and points out that in a few instances only are the marine products of any 
export value to the Colonies, whilst 011 the other hand there is an enormous 
import trade in dried and preserved fish. 
The principal marine resources are as follows : Turtles, Jamaica being 
the chief centre of the West Indian turtle trade, the exports for 1900 
being about £10,000. The industry is concerned with the two well-known 
species, the Green Turtle ( Chelone midas) and the Hawksbill ( Clielone 
imbricata). The supply is chiefly obtained from around the Cays and 
Moscpiito coast of Central America. The Report shows that there is an 
evident diminution in the supply, merchants never being able to obtain 
sufficient to meet the export demands. The two subjects dwelt upon 
concerning turtles of great importance are their artificial rearing so as to 
produce them in greater numbers to meet the demand and the best method 
of shipping them. The mortality from capture to landing in England 
varies from as much as 25 to 50 per cent. ! 
Under the heading of “fishing” is given a general account of the 
industry, and stress is laid on the primitive methods adopted by the 
fishermen : “ fishing as adopted elsewhere is comparatively neglected and 
undeveloped.” The amount of coral prevents trawling, and moreover 
there are evidently not enough flat fish to make this method pay. The 
use of seine and other nets along the shore and shallow banks is very 
profitable ; but unfortunately the habits of the schools of migratory fish, 
such as June fish, herring, sea mullet, etc., are not known, nor the best 
means of catching them, nor of preserving them when caught. The fishing 
industry appears to be mainly in the hands of natives. Amongst the chief 
fish of good quality are various species of Snappers ( Mesoprion ), Yellow 
Tail ( Ocyurus chrysurus), Grunts ( Hcemidon ), Silks ( Tropidiurus dentatns ), 
King and June fish, river and marine mullet and Calipcrus ( Mugd ), and 
Snook ( Gentropomus ). They occur around Jamaica, where the average 
price of fish is 6d. a pound. Barbados is celebrated for its large flying- 
fish industry. The Flying-Fish ( Exoccetus roberti) is estimated to yield 
annually £13,000. Snappers and Brines ( Gentropristes ocidatus ) are also 
taken in numbers by line fishing around Barbados. 
