BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 285 



84.-kxa;?iii*ation of the iimii i:ii> in toe gulf oi- MEXICO. 



By SILAS STEARNS. 



Ill the Gulf of Mexico an expedition should be at work the whole year 

 in order to observe and investigate anything that Diight be important. 

 The advantage of having a Gulf force entirely distinct from that of the 

 Atlantic coast would be that it would be doing its most valuable work 

 at the seasons when the latter would be needed at its stations, and also 

 when most northern investigators would object to going to warm and 

 sickly regions. 



There would hardly be sufficient gain to compensate for the greater 

 expense in having steam-power for a vessel engaged in this work, espe- 

 cially as the loss of time and the trouble in procuring fuel and in repair- 

 ing machinery would probably bring the steamer to a level with a sad 

 ing- vessel. Xor would it seem advisable to employ a large vessel. The 

 offshore work, such as beam-trawling, sounding, and the general fishing, 

 is done mainly during the best weather, and could be done by a small 

 vessel. Besides, a small schooner would do proportionately more than 

 a vessel of several times her size, on account of her conveniences to 

 handle. And then the schooner would be so much better adapted for 

 duty in the bays and estuaries, by beiug able to carry the party and out- 

 fit to the near neighborhood of the oyster-beds, the bayous, and lagoons, 

 aud even into some of the rivers. It seems sufficient to say that the 

 fishes of the Gulf coasts live mainly in shoal waters, and that if we 

 are to study them in their element we must have a light draft ves- 

 sel to do so thoroughly. For the purpose I would select a center-board 

 schooner of about 50 tons, which would draw but little Mater and have 

 comfortable quarters for eight persons. Such a vessel, well equipped, 

 would cost, new, about $5,000, and probably one could be bought for con 

 siderably less at second hand. 



There is a schooner, named the Matchless, belonging to the Quarter- 

 master's Department of the Army, now lying at the Pensacola navy 

 yard, which is soon to be sold to the highest bidder. She is of about 

 00 tons (new measurement), and is admirably adapted in every respect 

 to the uses of the Fish Commission. Her draft is light (but G feet) 

 and her accommodations are excellent. As she has been in constant use 

 by the Army, her on f fit is complete and in good condition. They sell ber 

 because there is no longer any duty requiring her at Dry Tortugas. 

 Probably there will be but few bidders, and none prepared to pay more 

 than §2,000. The monthly expenses of running a schooner of about 50 

 tons would be as follows: Mate. $50; cook, $40; four fishermen, at $25 

 each, $100; boy, $10; provisions, 6150; chandlery bill, wear and tear, 

 iucludiug also dockage aud repairs, average, $75 ; total, $425. It would 



