EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 51 



of about 1,000 tons of displacement. Lieut. Z. L. Tanner, U. S. jS"., at 

 the time in charge of the steamer " Fish Hawk," was assigned to the duty 

 of the superintendence of its construction, and subsequently to its com- 

 mand. The vessel was actually completed in December, 1882, and 

 started on its trial trip to Washington on the last day of the year, ar- 

 riving in Washington a few days later. This trip, while bringing to 

 light some points in which alterations and improvements were neces- 

 sary, i^resented a very remarkable success in all essential respects, the 

 boat being extremely stable in the sea-way and promising to answer 

 admirably the purpose of her construction. 



After receiving in Wilmington the necessary alterations the vessel 

 returned to the Washington navy-yard, and is now being fitted out for 

 her first trip off the Middle Atlantic coast. It is proposed to devote the 

 early spring to the special investigation of the movements and habits 

 of the mackerel and menhaden, with a view of facilitating the search 

 for these fish on the part of the many fishing vessels of the Atlantic 

 coast. 



The establishments of the Commission, summer by summer, at differ- 

 ent points on the coast have been already referred to. As this inshore 

 survey may be considered as practically completed, it was thought desir- 

 able to establish a permanent station at some convenient point on the 

 coast, from which the vessels of the Commission could extend their re- 

 searches to distant points of the ocean, and to which they could return 

 for the delivery of their collections and material, and for a permanent 

 harbor. Weed's Holl, on the south coast of Massachusetts, was chosen 

 for this purpose, as it otfera a convenient center at which to carry on the 

 work of hatching the sea fish, such as the codfish, the mackerel, hali- 

 but, and other species on a large scale. For this purpose a point on the 

 Great Harbor was selected, on which it is proposed to construct the neces- 

 sary buildings. There being no appropriation by Congress available 

 for the purpose, liberal friends of science, desirous of seeing the Com- 

 mission established at Wood's Holl, contributed the necessary funds 

 to purchase the land and presented it to the United States ; and in ad- 

 dition to this a large tract of ground forming a part of the water line 

 was presented by Mr. Joseph S. Fay, so that the control of the Commis- 

 sion was assured over all parts of the shore of the Great Harbor where 

 there was any danger of erection of buildings or factories likely to emit 

 poisonous refuse inimical to the work of the Commission. It is hoped 

 that the next report will chronicle the successful occupation of this 

 station for the purpose in question. 



By the courtesy of the Light-House Board, the laboratory buildings on 

 the light-house wharf at Wood's Holl were made use of, as in previous 

 years; and the "Fish Hawk," under command of Captain Tanner, 

 made numerous visits to the adjacent off-shores, bringing in many inter- 

 esting collections. The most noteworthy result was the ascertaining of 

 what appeared to be the entire destruction of the tile fish (leferred to 



