BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 301 



REPORT UPOIV A CRUISE MADE TO THE TIEE-FISII GROUND IN 

 THE SMACK "JTOSIE REEVES," SEPTEMRER, 18S4. 



By CAPT. J. W. COLLINS, 



The area of sea bottom lying inside of the Gulf Stream, near the 

 parallel of 40° north latitude, and between the meridians of 70° and 

 71° 20' west longitude, in depths varying from about 90 to 125 fathoms, 

 is where the tile-fish (Lopholatilus cliamcelonticeps) has been found abun- 

 dant during the past three summers, and this locality is known as the 

 "tile-fish ground," and here, as well as much farther south and west, 

 dead fish of this species were seen floating in vast numbers at the sur- 

 face of the ocean last March and April. The object of this trip was to 

 ascertain by practical methods, and as complete a research as circum- 

 stances would allow, to what extent the tile-fish had been depleted by 

 the mortality of last spring, or if they had been practically annihilated 

 in the region where they have heretofore been known to occur. The 

 investigation of this subject was therefore a matter of unusual interest, 

 whether we look at it from a scientific standpoint or whether we take 

 into consideration how much benefit might result to those engaged in 

 the fisheries, should the tile-fish be found in anything like its former 

 abundance, and its commercial value be established. This species has 

 been pronounced a most excellent food-fish by competent judges, and 

 there is reason to expect that its market value might have been fully 

 equal to that of many of our choice fishes had sufficient numbers been 

 taken to place it before the public as an article of food. 



In obedience to the tenor of your orders that I should proceed to the 

 tile-fishing ground and ascertain the presence or absence of the Lopho- 

 latilus cliamcelonticeps, I have the honor to submit the following report: 



I left Gloucester September 15 (1882), to join the schooner Josie 

 Beeves, which was then at Greenport, Long Island, waiting my arrival. 

 I had previously forwarded the fishing apparatus, trawl lines, &c, that 

 I had prepared for the trip. My intention was to have started on the 

 14th, but the prevalence of an easterly storm, accompanied by high 

 winds, together with some difficulty I had in obtaining the lobster-pots, 

 delayed my departure. 



Going by the Fall River line, I reached New York on the morning of 

 the 16th. On arriving at the city I went at once to the office of Mr. E. 

 G. Blackford, Fulton Fish Market, in order that I might learn of him 

 whether all the tanks, jars, and other materials for preserving speci- 

 mens (which articles were sent to his care), had been forwarded to the 

 smack- All of these details had been carefully attended to by Mr. 



