GENERAL REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS IN PORTO RICO. 
17 
San Antonio Bridge. — At its east end the little island upon which San Juan is 
built is connected with the mainland by the bridge of San Antonio, which crosses 
the San Antonio Channel. Several trips were made to the vicinity of this bridge 
and the shores of the channel just east of it proved to be excellent collecting-ground. 
At the north end the bottom is of clean, compact sand, with patches of algse, and the 
depth soon increases to a fathom or more, while the south shore has a bottom of 
sand and mud and the depth increases less rapidly. The seine could be operated 
very well except on the south side, where it would occasionally till up with mud. 
Palo Seco. — Across the bay from San Juan, at the mouth of the Bayamon River, 
is the little fishing village of Palo Seco. The fishing-grounds are in the river near 
its mouth, where the water is almost fresh, though dirty from the muddy bottom 
and debris. The commercial fishing here is principally with gill nets set across the 
mouth of the river. These are used chiefly for £ 'liza” (mullet). Seines and cast 
nets are also used to some extent, the principal species taken in the former being 
“sardina” ( Opisthonerna oglinum ), Garanx hippos , Hyporham phus unifasciatus , 
Oligoplites saurus , Polydactylus virginieus , Selene vomer , Trachinotus , Spheroides. 
Gobiesox , and Lobotes surinamensis. The species taken in cast nets were “mojarra” 
( Gerres lineatus) and mullet. 
Gatano. — Across the bay, southwest from San Juan, is Catafio, a small village, 
the shore terminus of the railroad leading to Bayamon, where some fishing is carried 
on. The shore between this place and Palo Seco is sandy and the depth of water 
increases moderately. This shore was not particularly good as a collecting-ground, 
though some species were secured which had not been taken before. 
Seashore near San Juan. — The seashore or wall of the little island upon which 
San Juan is built was examined throughout its entire length, from Mono Castle to 
Escambron Point and on around to Fort San Cteronimo. This coast is chiefly a high, 
rocky wall, upon which the waves and breakers are constantly thundering. In a few 
places, chiefly toward the east end, are tide-pools in which, at the proper stage, some 
small fishes can be found— principally mariposas ( Evpomacentrus and Abudefduf) 
and gobies. In the little cove between Escambron Point and Fort San Geronimo is 
a short stretch of sandy beach, the depth increasing moderately and the bottom with 
a liberal supply of algae, where fair collecting can be had. 
San Geronimo. — The shore between Fort San Geronimo and San Antonio Bridge 
is also good collecting-ground. This locality was visited frequently by Mr. George 
M. Gray, of Woods Hole, Mass., during the winter of 1899-1900, and a collection of 
about 37 species of fishes obtained. Mr. Gray has kindly permitted us to examine 
his collection and to include the species in the present report. All specimens credited 
in this paper to San Geronimo belong in the collection made by Mr. Gray. 
San Juan market. — During our stay at San Juan (January 2 to 17) it was our 
custom to visit the San Juan market every morning to learn what species of fishes 
were handled there, the relative abundance of each, the methods of handling the fish, 
and the price at which each was sold. Market here, as well as elsewhere in Porto Rico, 
begins very early in the morning and is practically over by 7 or 8 o’clock. It was 
therefore necessary to reach the market as early as possible to see the fish stalls at 
their best. A large number of food-fishes were seen and many valuable specimens 
were obtained. During the winter of 1899-1900 Mr. Oscar Riddle, in charge of the 
biological work in the Model and Training School at San Juan, made frequent visits 
F. C. B. 1900—2 
