BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
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place the following material was obtained: Barracudas {Sphyrwna jncuda), bone fish 
{Albula 'TwZjjes), cock-eyed pilot ( GlypMdodon saxaiilis), striped grunts {Hcemulon elegans), 
and several species of small fish belonging mostly to the Serranidse. The catch at 
Bird Key comprised a trunk fish {Ostracion trigomim), several small fish, crabs, anne- 
lids, ophiurans, sea urchins, shrimp, and specimens of octopus. Jelly fishes, tunicates, 
holothurians, and aplysia were taken in the moat. 
The Grampus arrived at Key West April 10, and left there for Kew York on 
the 15th. 
SUMMARY OF THE WORK. 
The information that we possessed respecting the red-snapper and grouper fishing 
grounds of the Gulf of Mexico prior to the investigation of the schooner Grampus has 
been summarized in a report by Oapt. J. W. Collins,* from which we take the follow- 
ing extracts : 
The grounds which are now generally visited in winter, and consequently of the greatest import- 
ance, are embraced in a somewhat narrow belt along what is termed the outer edge of the shore 
soundings, between the meridians of 85° and 88° west longitude [Northwestern Florida]. Along this 
stretch of sea bottom, which is more or less crescent-shaped, are various patches of considerable extent, 
with depths varying from about 20 to 47 fathoms, where the red snapper occurs in greater abundance 
during the winter season than elsewhere, so far as is known. The species is found to the southward 
and eastward of this, even so far as the Tortugas, and sometimes the fish are plentiful and bite freely, 
though, according to Stearns, there is this difference between the grounds east of the eighty-fifth 
meridian and those west of it: On the former, groupers are far more abundant than red snappers, out- 
numbering them at least two to one, while on the western grounds the case is reversed, for there the 
snappers are found in large schools, and average about twice as many in numbers as other species. 
The success of the Pensacola snapper fishery is unquestionably due, in a great measure, to the fact that 
this species has been found in such large schools on the western grounds and within easy reach of a 
market.! 
The grounds lying between Cape San Bias and the Tortugas have been worked over, we are told, 
but mostly inshore, in from 5 to 15 fathoms, which region has been thoroughly fished by the Key West 
smackmen. Outside of the 15-fathom line, south of Tampa Bay, it is altogether probable that little 
fishing has been done, and here, r.c well as farther northwest, the red snapper may probably be found 
in abundance. * » * Although it is now [1885] deemed impracticable to go farther from Pensacola 
than the vessels have been in the habit of fishing, there is no doubt but that the men would extend 
their cruises were they sure of fair returns on distant grounds, whenever the supply of fish on those 
now visited grows less.” 
The region examined by the Grampus is the one described by Caj)tain Collins as being 
most distant from Pensacola and the least known, but at the same time it is nearest 
Key West. It comprises the southern part of the submerged continental plateau off 
the western coast of Florida, between the depths of 15 and 50 fathoms. The plateau 
has there an average width of about 150 miles inside of the 100-fathom curve, from 
which line the depths increase rapidly toward the west. The area surveyed lies about 
* Report on the Discovery and Investigation of Fishing Grounds, made by the Fish Commission 
steamer Albatross during a cruise along the Atlantic coast and m the Gulf of Mexico; with notes on 
the Gulf fisheries. By Capt. J. W. Collins. Report U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries for 1885 
(1887), pp. 217-305. 
t The researches made by tbe Albatross between Tampa Bay and Tortugas [in 1885] apparently 
proved that red snappers were even more abundant in this region, in 25 to 27 fathoms, than they are 
farther to the northwest, and while the grouper appeared to outnumber the snapper north of Tampa, 
or between it and Cape San Bias, the reverse was the case on the more southern grounds. 
