154 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
is also common at Key West. It is taken by the line fishermen at moderate depths near the coral reefs, 
and displays good game qualities. Anglers going to Key West or Porto Rico will find the red-hind 
one of the most beautiful and interesting of the game fishes. 
Until recently this species was identified as E. maculosus (Cuvier & Valenciennes), but Dr. Giin- 
lher, in a paper received since the colored plates of this report were printed, shows that the red-hind 
is evidently the Perea guttata of Linnaeus. The name on plate 13 should therefore be Epmeplielv. < 
guttatus (Linnaeus). 
Cngupuguacii brazil, the Hind, Catesby. Nnt. Hist. Carolina, etc., pi. 1 1 , 1743, Bahamas. 
Cabrilla, Parra, Dif. Piezas, Hist. Nat. Cuba, 1787, Havana. 
Perea guttata Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. X, 292, 1758, Brazil ? 
Serranus catus Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1. c., II, 373,1828, Martinique. 
Serranus arara Cuvier <& Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., II, 377, 1828, Havana. 
? Serranus anguslifrons Steindachner, Verb. Ges. Wien, XIV, 18I14, 230, pi. VI I . tig. 213, Cuba. 
Epineplielus cubanus Poey , Repertorio, 1 , 202, 1S67, Cuba. 
Epineplielus maeulosus, Jordan & Evermann, 1. e., 1158, 1890, and 3197, 1900. 
Epineplielus guttatus,.) ordan & Evermann, l.e., 3197, 1900. 
110. Epineplielus morio (Cuvier & Valenciennes). 
“ Cherna” ; “ Mero” ; Cher na Americana; Cherna de Vivera; Negre; lied Grouper; Jaboncillo. 
(Plate 14.) 
Head 2.5; depth 2.7; eye 5.5; snout 4; maxillary 2.1; mandible 1.8; interorbital 7; preorbital 9; 
D. xi, 16; A. iii, 9; pectoral 2; ventral 2.1; caudal 1.7; scales 20-130 to 140-60. 
Body deeper than in the other species of Epineplielus, and more compressed; head large, pointed, 
with a large mouth and projecting lower jaw; maxillary reaching past eye; 2 pairs of canines in front 
of each jaw, lower pair the smaller; preopercle finely serrate, teeth at the angle enlarged, a slight 
emargination above; dorsal fin with a moderate notch, the spines rather slender, but stiff and sharp, 
first less than half length of second, which is the longest, 2.5 in head; middle rays of soft dorsal 
highest; caudal lunate, upper rays produced slightly beyond lower; pectoral reaching beyond tip of 
ventral, latter not reaching vent. 
Color in life: Olive-gray or olive-brown, clouded with pale-olive; lower part of head and breast 
usually salmon-color, with some red shades; irregular blotches of grayish-white over body; preorbita! 
and adjacent regions with round points of dark orange-brown, becoming brown in spirits; inside of 
mouth posteriorly bright-orange; iris golden; vertical fins like body, soft parts with a broad edge of 
blue-black and narrow pale border; spinous dorsal black-edged; ventrals dusky; pectorals light-olive. 
In spirits, uniform light-brown with pale blotches. With age this species becomes more and more of 
a flesh red, especially below and on mouth, and the pale spots and blotches become less distinct. 
An easily recognizable species, separated from all the others by the elevation of second dorsal 
spine. Found on the Atlantic coast of America from Virginia to Rio Janiero, and probably common 
about Porto Rico. Two fine specimens, each about a foot in length, obtained at Puerto Real and 
Isabel Segunda, where others were seen. 
This is a very handsome fish, bearing some resemblance to the Nassau grouper, but the warm 
browns on the head and side are richer, while the general appearance is somewhat coarser. It is one 
of the largest and most important food-fishes of our tropical waters. It reaches a length of 2 to 3 feet 
and a weight of 20 to 25 pounds, or sometimes even 40 pounds. It is very abundant on the west coast 
of Florida in company with the red snapper. It is most abundant on the south Florida coast and is 
found throughout the year on the “grounds” at sea, and in the summer in some of the bays. It 
probably spawns in early spring in both places. Silas Stearns says the young are often seen in Pensacola 
Bay, where in June he obtained examples about an inch long. The red grouper is more of a bottom 
fish than the red snapper. It swims more slowly and seldom rises to the surface. It is very voracious, 
consuming enormous quantities of crustaceans and small fish. Large crabs in almost perfect condition 
are often found in their stomachs. On the “ Snapper Banks” off the west coast of Florida it is caught 
by the red-snapper fishermen and in the same way, which is with hook and line, a piece of bone-fish 
or other fish being used as bait. It does not rank high as a game fish, its movements being slow, and 
when hooked it is hauled up almost as a dead weight. It will take almost any kind of bait. When 
red snappers were more abundant the red grouper did not find a ready sale in the Northern markets, 
though it has always been in good demand at Key West and Havana. The maximum weight of those 
taken at Key West now probably does not exceed 25 pounds and the average is only 8 to 15 pounds. 
