GENERAL REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS IN PORTO RICO. 
23 
plaited bark or wooden ropes. The principal fishes seen in these pots at the time of 
our visit (February 7 to 12) were tangs, hog-fish, black grouper, and white grunt. 
On the neck of land separating this cove from the harbor is a small lagoon of 
nearly fresh water, entirely surrounded by such a dense border of mangroves that it 
was impossible to do any seining in it. Such an examination as could be made did 
not show that the lagoon contained any fish. About it were seen a few coots, ducks, 
fishhawks, and kingfishers, as well as various species of land birds. 
The reef on each side of the entrance to the harbor was found to be the richest 
in species of any we visited. Not only were mollusks, crustaceans, annelids, and many 
other groups well represented, but many species of fishes were found, including 
several undescribed forms. That portion of the reef east of the entrance was par- 
ticularly interesting, and the corals there were unusually fine. Our best specimens 
of the stag-horn coral were obtained at this place. 
Dredging stations 6079 to 6095 were made between the islands of Vieques and 
Culebra, and eastward toward St. Thomas, in depths varying from 6 to 25 fathoms. 
The bottom at all these stations was of coral rock or coral and sand, and was exceed- 
ingly destructive to dredging apparatus. The attempts to use the dredge or the beam 
trawl were very discouraging. The net was sure to catch upon or under, ragged, 
projecting rock, and the whole thing would be carried away or the bottom torn out of 
the net. The most satisfactory work done here was with the tangle, which, though 
most exasperating to work with, nevertheless always brought up a considerable amount 
of valuable material, most of which could be saved by exercising unlimited care and 
patience. Many of our most interesting species of mollusks, crustaceans, and fishes 
were obtained at these stations, and this region, in spite of the very rough character 
of the bottom, was our most satisfactory dredging ground. 
Tluca/res. — Some time (February 13 to 16) was devoted to investigations in the 
vicinity of Hucares. This small place is the port of Naguabo, and is only a few miles 
up the coast from Playa de Humacao. This coast is afforded some slight protection 
by Punta Lima and Cayo Santiago, but very little collecting could be done along the 
shore near Hucares, and still less at the playa, on account of the roughness of the 
surf. On the lee side of Cayo Santiago fairly good ground was found; but by far the 
richest collecting in this region was in the little cove just above Point Lima. The surf 
here was comparatively smooth, the bottom was free from rocks, and fishes and other 
animals were fairly abundant, both as to individuals and species. A small brackish 
pool on the shore at this place afforded some additional species, the most interesting 
of which was the tarpon, of which a number of young individuals were obtained. 
Three dredging stations (Nos. 6097 to 6099) were made off Hucares, which yielded a 
good deal of valuable material. 
Faja/rdo. — The last work done by this expedition was off Fajardo, February 16 
and 17. This coast is apparently but poorly protected against the northeast trade 
winds, and during our stay a heavy surf was constantly rolling, precluding the possi- 
bility of drawing a seine. It was even difficult to make landings with rowboats. 
A short distance off the playa are two little islands, Cayo Obispo and Cayo 
Sanqudo, about which was excellent collecting-ground. On the lee side, many parrot- 
fishes, chsetodonts, and cockeye pilots or mariposas, and one fine specimen of the inter- 
esting pipe-fish, Corythroichthys cayorum , were obtained. The water here is shallow 
for a considerable distance from shore, and the bottom is usually smooth and well 
