134 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



menhaden, young herring, and another small fish, perhaps another vari- 

 ety of herring, a few shrimp, one craw-fish, and a few small shells. 



Having examined this locality to my satisfaction, we started for Tan- 

 gier Sound, but finding it would be late in the evening before we could 

 arrive, I set four nets off Smith's Point and two off Point Lookout, 

 anchoring at the latter place for the night. A thick fog shut down be- 

 fore the last nets were out, and the weather generally had an unsatis- 

 factory appearance. 



At 4 a. m., March 1, it was blowing a gale from southeast with thick 

 fog and rain. Our anchorage beiug exposed to winds from that direc- 

 tion, we soon had a heavy swell. The steam cutter was down and thrash- 

 ing about in the most lively manner, and the ship was somewhat uneasy, 

 so much so that 1 did not consider it prudent to attempt to take the cutter 

 on board. I ordered steam raised as soon as things begau to get uncom- 

 fortable, and when ready we got under way ; felt our way around Corn- 

 field Point with the lead and anchored off Smith's Creek, where we 

 found comparatively smooth water till about 10 a. in., when, the fog 

 lifting, we went into Smith's Creek for a harbor. The wind moderated 

 during the afternoon, and went round to northwest during the night. 

 To-day the weather has been simply perfect. 



We were under way soon alter daylight this morning, and started for 

 our nets, which had been out since the evening of the 28th ultimo. In 

 passing the oyster beds off Smith's Creek, I observed that they were 

 entirely abandoned by the dredgers, and as we had done some work 

 there last season (finding oysters plentiful) I was curious to know the 

 reason. A few hauls of the dredge demonstrated the fact that they 

 were practically exhausted, our average being but a bushel to a haul, 

 and these of a small size. We found the nets off Point Lookout in good 

 condition, but no sign of fish in them, the only catch being a good 

 quantity of bryozoa, medusaB, and grass. They stood the pile in their 

 exposed condition remarkably well. Those at Smith's Point, on the 

 contrary, were entirely demoralized, one end having broken adrift from 

 its anchor, we found the entire lot in a " snarl " around the lee moorings, 

 no sign of fish having been near them. Two of the four nets out at this 

 place arc expended; the others will be repaired. 



The dredge and trawl were used in deep water off the point, but the 

 waters were barren as usual. 



Arriving off the Sound early this afternoon we used the rake dredge 

 in order to see if there was anything burrowing in the sand and mud 

 of the bottom. We found nothing but half a dozen common worms, a 

 few shrimp, and dead oyster shells. 



We are at anchor for the uighl in Cod Harbor, and our nets are set 

 across the entrance to the Sound. 



March .">. — We took the nets up at daylight. There were no fish in 

 them, but they were loaded with great masses of grass, bryozoa, &c. As 

 soon as the nets were on board, we got under way and started for Fort- 



