BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 307 



desirable to pull them in again before they have been sufficiently long 

 on the bottom to secure the best results.* 



After hauling oar trawls we ran to the westward about 10 miles and 

 hove to for the night, with the "jib to themast."t 



During the day the wind had backed easterly, and at sunset was 

 southeast, blowing a moderate breeze. The weather at that time was 

 fine, but the sun "setting in a bank" gave us reason to suppose that it 

 might be less favorable on the next day. 



Friday morning, the 22d, there was a fresh southeast breeze, with 

 indications of stronger wind and, possibly, rain before night. Orders 

 had been given the previous night to exercise considerable care to keep 

 our position, and so well was this attended to that at daylight we 

 sounded in 140 fathoms. At this time the men were called out to bait 

 the gear. One man was sick, therefore we set only one string of trawl, 

 which we put out at 8.30 a. in., in 125 fathoms, latitude 40° V north, 

 longitude 71° 2' west, by dead reckoning. 



We hauled the gear at noon, three men going in the dory. At this 

 time there was a strong and increasing wind with a choppy sea going. 

 As there was little probability of its moderating enough to set again in 

 the afternoon, we took the dory on deck, took care of the catch, and 

 stowed the trawls below. 



On this occasion ("Lot No. 3") we caught twenty-five or thirty hake, 

 several silver hake, and eleven specimens of the remarkable red fish 

 which we had first seen the day before. One of the latter was so badly 

 eaten by slime eels that it was thrown away. Several of the finest 

 specimens were put on ice, while the rest, with the exception of two, 

 which we ate, were put in alcohol. Mr. Phillips, believing the species 

 might be new to science, and deeming it an important matter to deter- 

 mine its qualities as a food-fish, suggested that we should eat one, as 

 no one could say when another opportunity might offer to obtain fresh 

 specimens. Fully concurring in his opinion, I had two of them cooked, 

 and we found them most delicious, with firm crispy flesh, and a delicate 

 flavor that would be hard to equal. 



In the lobster pot only slime eels were taken. These were placed in 

 alcohol. 



It is perhaps worthy of remark that in all the fish which were eviscer- 



* On the ground where we were fishing it would probably have made little dif- 

 ference, for the slime eels (Myxine) were so plenty that they invariably consumed 

 the bait when the pots were set at a later date, and it is very likely that their presence 

 in such great numbers would have prevented the entrance of other and more desir- 

 able species, which might otherwise have been captured. 



tThis is a favorite method of heaving a vessel to on the fishing ground among the 

 market fishermen from New York to Portland, Maine. The jib is trimmed flat so that 

 its clew is nearly amidships, or it is held in about the same position by a " tail rope" 

 from the weather bow. The helm is then secured in such a manner that the vessel, 

 by lying first on one tack and then on the other for greater or less time, will hold 

 her position much closer than would be expected. However, to accomplish this 

 successfully, requires the peculiar knowledge of these vessels, and the skill to manage 

 them possessed by the fishermen, and which only long experience can give. 



