The National tribune., 1899-03-23
PORTO RIcHN FISH.
Extensive Collection Made by the Fish Com
mission.

E1t6nSfV6 COIlcCtiOu aiauc ny tHe Ilsh COIu-
mission.
Prof. B. W. Everman, who went to
Porto Rico last Fail in charge of the
scie ltific expedition to investigate the
conditions of the fish industry in that
island, has returned to Washington, bring
ing with him q very extensive collection
of the fishes.
The object of the investigation was to
ascertain whether any trade in fishery
products could be built up between the
United States and Porto Rico. More than
2, coo. 600 dried Goldfish had been imported
annually into Porto Rico from the Cana
dian fisheries, while our own New Eng
land fishermen received no trade what
ever from the island. 1t is very desirable
that the cod fishermen of our New Eng
land coast should receive this trade.
An experienced staff of about 80 mem
bers accompanied Prof. Everman, and
complete scientific equipment was pro-
vided for the expedition. Mr.. A. III. Bald
win, an artist, was taken along to paint
the more important and brightly-colored
species Of the Porto Rican fish.
The work of investigation was system
atically begun in January, and was car
ricd on about two months. The vessel
went entirely around the island, stopping
at all points and important ports, where
the desired information was likely to be
best obtained.
X
commission of all the various species
found, including fine specimens of the
crrstaceans molluSkS and radiates
which were preserved for future study and
reference. In fact. collections were then
made of everything that grows or lives in
the water.
were made also about the two small
islands Bieques and Culibra, which lie off
the east end of Porto Rico. These col
lections are being thoroughly studied by
the various specialists in this line of work
In addition to the work around the
island frequent trips were made to the
interior of the island for the purpose of
studying the life of the fresh water fish.
Porto Rico has about a thousand rivers of
more or less size and length. which con-
tain several species Of fish peculiar to the
localities and a great many fresh-water-
stream curiosities.s Among the fishes col
lected are doubtless number of new
ones that heretofore have never been de-
scribed, and to which species names will
have to be given by the specialists who
work them up.
1t was found that the food fishes of
Porto Rico are in the main the same as
those around Key West, although great
many species that are found in one place
are not to be found in the other. The
snappers, grOupers, porgies and mullets
are among the most important species of
fish obtained i'll the island. The red
snapper, which is such an important food
fish, off the western coast of Florida, has
equal uses and value in Porto Rico. The
three species of tang, or "medico" in
provincial vernacular, although rare at
Key West, are very abundant at Porto
Rico, and they are of considerable com,
mercial value.
The methods employed by the Porto
I}ican fishermen in catching fish are very
primitive. Most all of the fishes are
caught in rather crude traps, which are
anchored on the banks of the waters fire.
quented by the fish to be trapped. Or
dinarily they are not baited.
Some little line fishing is done, but it is
unimportant. Very few of the fish-boats
have ve-wells, and as q result of this
lack of modern fishing boat equipment,
the fishes that are caught have to be
marketed the same day.
Very little, if anything, is done in Porto
Rico in the way OF curing fish, or prepar-
ing them to be saved for future sale or
consumption. A few fishermen come over
from the British islands of Tortola and
Culibre to fish in Porto Rican waters, and
they sometimes corn their catch in a very
crude way, and the fish which is thus