216 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
56. Mycteroperca microlepis (Gooclo & Bean). Gag. Common along tLe Florida keys and not 
uncommon on west coast. Taken by trolling, also by bait tisbing on tlio “ banks.” It is a fair 
food-fisb, averaging 6 or 8 pounds, sometimes reaching 25 or 30. The ‘ ‘ gag ” and “ scamp,” and 
all of the “ groupers ” are skinned usually when dressed for cooking ; not skinned like an eel 
or catfish, bixt “ pared,” like a potato, with a very sharp knife. Examples from Key West. 
57. Mycteroperca bonaci (Poey). Black Grouper. Common along the Florida keys and rocky places 
on the coast. Taken by trolling or still fishing. A fair food-fish, averaging 12 or 15 pounds, 
but reaching a weight of 40. It is a gam3r, hard-pulling fish on the hook, and is a favorite with 
the “still-fishing” angler. The “groupers” all si^awn in spring. I obtained specimens at 
Key West. 
58. Mycteroperca venenosa (Linn.). Bockfislt. The var. renenosa is not uncommon about the 
southern keys. It averages 5 to 7 pounds, reaching 12 pounds occasionally. Said to be a fair 
food- fish, and is certainly a handsome one, its colors being quite variegated. 
59. Epineplielus niorio (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Bed Grouper. Very common about Kej^ West and 
on the banks. One of the principal food-fishes. Taken by trolling or still fishing. Agamy, 
vigorous fish, averaging G or 8 pounds, but grows to 20 or more. Sxiecimeus from Kej^ West. 
60. Epineplielus .striatus (Bloch). Xassan Grouper. Not uncommon about the southern keys, and is 
considered an excellent food-fish. It averages 18 to 24 inches in length and 6 or 8 xiounds in 
weight, sometimes reaching 20 xiounds. It is a handsomely marked fish, and finds a very 
readj^ sale in the market. Examxile from Key West. 
61. Epineplielus catus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Bed Hind. Not uncommon at Key West. Avery 
handsome sxiecies, of beautiful coloration, audsaid to be a good food-fish, though small, seldom 
reaching a foot in length or much more than a xiound in weight. Taken by still fishing in the 
channels. Examxiles from Key West. 
62. Epineplielus adscensionis (Osbeck). Bock Hind. Not uncommon about Key West. Is much 
esteemed as a food-fish, though not at all xileutiful. It is a beautiful fish, x>rofusely covered 
with largo red sxiots. It averages a xmiiud or two in weight, and is taken in the channels by 
still fishing. Sxiecimens from Key West. 
63. Epineplielus flavolimbatus Poey. Yellow-finned Grouper. Not common. One sxiecimen from 
Kejr West. A fair food-fish, averaging 6 xiounds, but said to reach 15 x>ounds in weight. The 
coloration is very gay. 
64. Bodianus cruentatus (Lacexiede). Coneg. Not uncommon about the southern keys and reefs. A 
small but beautiful sxiecies, and much esteemed as a food-fish. It r.arely exceeds a pound in 
weight or 10 inches in length. Loves rocky situations, like the “ Coney” of Ploljr Writ, where 
it is taken by still fishing. 
65. Bodianus fulvus (Linn.). Nigger-fish. Not uncommon at Key West. A verj^ gaily-colored 
Xian-fish, though not very xdeutiful. There seem to be several varieties, of which the brown 
(punciatus) is the commonest, and of which examples were obtained at Key West. 
66. Rypticus bistripinnis (Mitchill). Soapfisli. Not common. I caught one small example with 
hook and line from the steamer wharf, which answered fairly well to the description of this 
sxiecies. The coloration was chestnut-brown, with whitish stellate sxiots. Fins all a beautiful, 
intense ultramarine blue. Sxiecimen G inches long. 
PRIACANTHID.a]. 
67. Priacanthus catalufa Poej'. Glass-ei/e Snapper. Not common. I obtained but one sxiecimen of 
tliis beautiful sxiecies at Key Vfest, where it is not often seen. I know nothing of its food 
qualities. Coloration brilliantlj'" scarlet. Ejm xevy large, half as long as head. 
LOBOTIDiE. 
68. Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch). Black Snapper. Not common. I secured a large sxiecimen at 
Tamxia, where it is known as “black snaxixier.” 
SPARIDJE. 
69. Lutjanus caxis (Bloch &. Schneider). Schoolmaster. Not uncommon at Key West. A fair food- 
fish, growing to about a foot in length and a xiound or two in weight. Examxiles from Key 
West. 
