BULLETIN OF TIIE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 303 



as we ran down Gardner's Bay, we decided to work up the Sound, feel- 

 ing confident that we should have a better chance there to meet the 

 fleet of steamers that had gone in that direction; there was also a 

 probability of getting menhaden from the pounds on the Connecticnt 

 shore. When off Cornfield light-ship we saw several "bunches" of 

 "bunkers," but as there were no seiners in sight we kept on our way. 

 The pounds along the shore, which we approached quite closely, had 

 met with the same fate as those at Greenport, being rendered unfit for 

 fishing by the late gale. At about 8 o'clock in the evening, having 

 reached tho vicinity of Guilford, where there is an oil and guano factory, 

 we came to anchor near Falkner's Island, expecting to have an oppor- 

 tunity the next morning to secure bait from some of the fishing gangs 

 which were thought to be at that place. Another reason for our anchor- 

 ing was that the tide had turned against us, and, the wind being light, 

 we could not hold our own under sail. 



The morning of the 19th was calm and fine, and after daylight we 

 saw numerous "bunches" of menhaden playing at the surface near 

 where we lay anchored. At that time there were the two sloops of a 

 "sailing gang" lying at anchor closein shore, butthey did not get under 

 way until some time after sunrise, when they began working off shore, 

 taking what advantage they could of the occasional "cat's-paws," 

 which, later, became more steady, though the wind continued very light. 

 The boats gained little, however, and feeling anxious to secure their as 

 sistance in procuring bait, and fearing that they might go in some other 

 direction if the wind breezed up, I, with two of the smack's crew, 

 started to board them in one of our dories. We had about two miles 

 to row, but the distance was soon passed over, and we boarded the 

 larger of the sloops — the one having the fishing gang on board — the 

 other being the carryway boat. 



Having first told the captain of the gang that there seemed to 

 be an abundance of fish near our vessel, I asked him if he would sell 

 us bait enough for our trip, telling him for what purpose the cruise was 

 undertaken. Though entirely willing to furnish us with bait, so far as 

 he was personally concerned, the captain explained that he was not 

 permitted to sell any menhaden for such a purpose, but said that if 

 I would go ashore and get the consent of Captain Fowler, one of the 

 proprietors of the factory, and who, we were told, is president of the 

 Oil and Guano Association, he would most gladly supply us with bait. 

 Accordingly we went to the factory, but learned that Mr. Fowler had 

 just driven off to "town" (Guilford) and would not return for the day. 

 The foreman in charge of the factory, to whom we explained why we 

 landed, thought there would be no objection to our procuring bait, but 

 was not disposed to assume any responsibility. 



As nothing further could be done we returned to tho Josie Eeeves, 

 and, the wind having breezed up slightly in the interim, we got under 



