BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 309 



The investigation having now continued uninterruptedly for three 

 days, and 50 miles along the edge of the ground having been tried over, 

 with not the slightest indication of the presence of the tilefish, to search 

 for which was the object of the trip, and the appearance of the weather 

 being such that strong winds and a rough sea might be expected for 

 the next two or three days at least,* I concluded that nothing could be 

 gained by staying longer on the ground. One reason for this decision 

 was that our bait, though we had had it on board only five days, had 

 already begun to show signs of deterioration, and it was obvious that, 

 should we have rough weather for three or four days, which was very 

 likely to occur at this season, the menhaden would be entirely unfit for 

 use, and the cruise would have to be given up then even if there should 

 be a return of fine weather. The chances, therefore, were that a longer 

 stay would only add to the expense of the trip without the attainment 

 of any additional results. Other important business, which required my 

 attention, also made it extremely desirable that no time should be 

 wasted. Besides all this the time for which we had chartered the smack 

 had nearly expired, and Captain Eedmond was very desirous of resum- 

 ing his business of lobster carrying, since he feared his trade might be 

 injured by a longer absence. 



I had hoped to continue the investigation for eight or ten days, at 

 least, and to have prosecuted the research some distance farther south, 

 though the probabilities are that little more could have been accom- 

 plished, so far as catching tilefish is concerned. Nevertheless, it would 

 have been more satisfactory if the weather had permitted us to stay 

 long enough to settle all doubts as to the presence or absence of the 

 Lopholatilus within certain limits. However, this not being practicable 

 for the reasons given above, it was decided to run for the land. Accord- 

 ingly we kept off at 5 o'clock p. m. The wind at that time blew fresh, 

 and continued strong and steady through the night. At 2 o'clock Sun- 

 day morning, September 24, we made Block Island light. After getting 

 nearly abreast of the island we hauled up more, and, passing through 

 Buzzard's Bay and Quick's Hole, reached Wood's Holl about 9 o'clock 

 a. m., just in time to escape a dense fog which, coming in from sea, com- 

 pletely obscured all but the nearest objects. The apparatus which we 

 had on board of the Josie Beeves, and as much of the collection as was 

 considered valuable, was landed during the day, and Captain Bedmond 

 was left free to proceed to New York as soon as the weather permitted 

 him to sail, which he did on the following morning. 



Before closing this report it is proper that mention should be made 

 of the efficient aid rendered by the captain and crew of the Josie Beeves 

 in the prosecution of this investigation. The cheerfulness with which 



*The spell of rough easterly weather that hegaii at this time continued uninter- 

 ruptedly for eight days, and there is little probability that the least cbance would 

 have offered to set trawls, especially when we consider that a large fleet of mackerel 

 schooners was kept in harbor during all this time, and many vessels engaged in the 

 cod and halibut fisheries were prevented from sailing by the same cause. 



