94 
TRINIDAD. 
lected from their small size. The largest of those eateu 
is the giiabine (Erythrcnus), winch is regarded by some 
as a great treat, but in reality it is neither a savoury nor 
a' delicate fish, as it never loses a certain taste of mud, 
and is, besides, difficult to eat, owing to its flesh being 
crowded with small bones exactly resembling the letter y. 
The best fresh-water fish we have in the carcaradura. 
During the dry season they are offered for sale, being 
chiefly obtained from the ponds of the Grand Savannali. 
The common proverb is that “if you have eaten- casca- 
rad lira you must die in the country.” 
From tlie gulf we get a good supply of salt-water 
fish. The carangue, the S])anish mackei’cl or carite, 
the kingfish or tassard, the garfish or orphie, and a 
smaller species called the calaou ; the barracuta are the 
most common. All these are very fine eating, but the 
kingfish and carangue are considered the best. Under 
the general name of rcdfish are sold several species of 
snappers, redmouths, and sardes, all very good and 
delicate. To the above may be ’ added the griiper, the- 
lebranche, and mullets, and some others. “Tlie dog- 
headed eel {Synhrauclms), though, in my opinion,” says 
Dr. Devertueil, “ delicate eating, is rejected from tlie 
table on account of its resemblance to a snake. 1 con- 
fess, however, that the French jiroverb. ‘ La sauce fait 
manger le poisson,’ is applicalde to a number of our fresh 
and salt-water fishes. ^ladeira or Bordeaux wine, for 
instance, is the best sauce for crapaud and gruper ; king- 
fish and snappers are served either boiled or stewed, the 
dories fried mainly, as also the mullet ; the lebranche 
roasted, with the addition of lime-juice and cayenne 
pepper.” 
Crustacea. — Crabs, crayfish, shrimps, and lobsters are 
common, and largely used, especially the crab, for food. 
The blue crabs are in some localities so numerous that 
they weed the canes, as the people say. Sometimes it is 
dangerous to eat crabs, as they may have been feeding 
upon the fruits of the manchinccl-tree. To avoid danger,, 
