Peter Roberts

Peter Roberts. Commercial fishing has always been an important part of the Key West economy. For more than sixty years Peter Roberts ran a retail fish market at Curry and Son's dock. Roberts in his always present straw hat was a symbol of the Key West commercial fishing industry and was considered by many to be the best fishermen in Key West. In 1924, Milton Curry had a small aquarium built on the dock at the fish market. Roberts was in charge of this first Key West Aquarium. He also had a collection of more than forty cats he kept at the docks. In sixty years, running the fish market, Roberts only missed fourteen days of work. He was truly representative of a group of hardy and independent men of the sea who have and still provide fish for the tables of the world. In the early days, fishing was done from small sailing vessels called "smackees” with hand lines. In the center of the smackee was a large well open to the sea to keep the catch alive. The live fish were sold here and in Havana, Cuba. Eventually, power boats, refrigeration and the railroad allowed fish to be shipped to other cities but the local catch was still brought in alive. The fish were kept in cages called "fish cars" where a customer could select dinner that would be removed from the water and cleaned for cooking. During the Great Depression, when the economy failed, many Key Westers survived by eating “Grunts and Grits." Grunts are a small tasty panfish. Roberts, when he was 77 years old and still working the fish market, was asked what was the secret of his long healthy life. He replied, "Grits for breakfast keeps me strong, you know. Grits and plenty of fresh air.” , Donated by , The Smith Family/A&B Complex, , 700 Front Street, Key West, FL .