The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-24
Correspondence Of the Boston Tran.
script)


Correspondence Of the Boston Tran
script)
Washington. March 1.-THE United
States Fish Commissions expedition,
sent TO Porto Rico to investigate the
aquatic life of the waters newly acquired
In the ncIghborhood by the United
States, has jest returned in the steamer
Fish Law / bringing much interesting in
formation and lot OF very remarkable
specimens. About two hundred and fifty
species of fishes were secured, including
quite a number that are new to science,
and also many novel forms of crustaoeans
and mollusks. The party, which was
led by Professor Barton W. Evermanp,
divided itself for the sake of convenience
into thres s. ctions. one section devoting
Its attention to the capture of flnny ouri-
osities with seines, the second operating
dredges in dep water, aud the third
study ing the PECULIAR fauna OF the coral
reefs
Incidentally the methods OF Porto Ri
can fisheries were observed, and notes
were made regarding nm extraordinary
plan adopted Tor catching turtles In
Summer there is a great abundance OF
huge sen tortoises in that Vicinity, espec.
tally about Culebra Island, twelve miles
or so of the east coast, and their presence
attracts numerous fishermen from the
Virgin Isles ortola, st. Thomas and
Santa Cruz. Decoys are used to take
them--i. e., counterfeit turtles cut rudely
ogt OF thick board and anchored out.
sometimes, indeed, u picture Of u turtle
Is simply painted ON the upper side of
large Piece Of plank, and the latter Is set
alea. Evidently the big marine tor
toise,, some eli which weigh one
thousand pounds apiece or more, are
remarkably stupid Great ures, inasmueh
as they seek the deooys so prsislently that
ttey hardly can be driven away. They
are secured by passing Lets around them
in the water.
Moliusks are not abundant about Porto
Rico, because there are no extensive shall
lows favorable for their growth; most of
chose found there are univelves, which
are anle to hold on to the rocks, Oysters
ars.common, however, though small, be-
ing Of a different species from the BIZ
valves of the Atlantic coast of the United
States They are very good to eat, but 1t
is doubtful if the fishery for them will
ever amount to much commercially.
small round CLAIMS were brought up by
the dredges in considerable numbers from
Ia depth Of forty fathoms, or two hundred
and forty feet; they were of species
distinct from ours, and were found to be
not edible.
The north shore Of Porto Rico descen IS
preoipitously into Que of the deepest of
known holes in tbs ocean bottom. Where
as the normal floor of the seas all over
the world is only about two and half
miles below the surface waves, this ire
mendous abyss is over five miles In
depth. Indeed, Uncle SGm may fairly
consider this big hole ~ very interest
ing part of his Ee@ territorial acquisition
in that region. Owing To the immense
proluTdity of the chasn, no satisfactory
study has ever been made of the forms of
life which lnhabit it. but this may be
tempted before long with results not
ably valuable to science. Doubtless
smong IT'S denizens are many strange
monsters hitherto unseen by human eye.
No Holsters like ours seem to occur in
Porto RicAn waters but there Is II So
called "spiny lobster" which is eaten "
the natives; it sttains length of about
eighteen inches. Blue crabs of the species
% abundant in the Chesapeake region,
( Many OF the smaller erustaoeans are
covered with little hooks for holding on
20 the rocks 80 that il is hard to pull
them off. Ii addition there are many
fresh water crawiish, some dry these
crawiish may be exported in quantities to
the United States for they are very da-
,icious; but they have to lie tightly
packed for a journey 10 prevent he N from
turning on their backs, else tuey will
work their feet until exhausted, and go
die Porto Rioan erawtish has an inter
esting way of getting IA living by impal'
ing small fishes and little frogs on Its
! "tusk." as tho horn between its eyes Is
| called.
There is no fishery for the manatee in
Porto Rico, though specimens of that
| hugh marine mammal are sometimes
seen in the tidal rivers. The creature is
q near relative o. the extinct Rhyttna, or
sea COW; it attaiIts a length of eight feet
and weight of nearly ton. Columbus
! saw several specimens on his voyages to
America. and in his writings be spoke of
them ns ''mermaids.' lie said: They
are not rs handsome as painted. but their
I faces are somewhat human like. In
I 'sTS there was manatee at the London
! Geological Gardens; III would not eat any
I ming but lettuce, and this had to be- of
| the French sort. Inasmuch as it con-
sumo me hundred pounds day. the
| beasts Board lii was pretty steep These
ANNA are caught in South American
ri. eis ny entaneling them in great nets
ns they are making their way out of the
mouths of streams; the chase is very
| profitable, tie skeleton of the manatee
! being worth sl00 and the skin as much
more Both are in demand for museums.
The expedition found plenty of choice
| cd bic fishes in Porto Rican waters-ss-
pecially snappers. groupers, muilets, tar.
| pou aud gobers. Sharks are scarce. Most
| Of the fishing is done with traps. which
ARE peculiar basket shaped nets. I'M
| baired. The flnny deDizens of that region
seem TO possess an unusual share Of curl