APPEISDIX. 31 



the subject. It is evident that a large amount of material, consisting 

 of observations systematically taken for a number of years, must now 

 be in the hands of the Commission ; but up to the present neither the 

 detailed observations made during the last few years, nor any general 

 discussions of the habits and movements of the mackerel, based upon 

 the recent work, have been published. 



Report for 1887, p. 54. — "From the latter part of April until the last 

 of May, 1887, while in command of Captain D. E. Collins, and with Dr. 

 T. H. Bean as naturalist, she [the Gramims\ was engaged in cruising on the 

 early mackerel grounds between Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and Cape Cod, 

 Massachusetts, for the purpose of studying the schools of mackerel as they 

 approach the coast, and their subsequent movements with relation to tem- 

 perature, the abundance of food, etc. The schooner was well equipped with 

 the necessary scientific and fishing appliances, and succeeded in obtaining 

 many valuable observations, which have been published in the Fish Com- 

 mission Bulletin for this year. A part of the time she kept company with the 

 fishing fleet, and at others was cruising independently, with the view of 

 ascertaining whether the mackerel could be found in advance of the fishing 

 centres or in other directions. During the first part of the season the 

 mackerel were scarce and small. Sea birds, cetaceans, and various other 

 marine forms, which generally accompany the schools and indicate their 

 position and size, were less abundant than usual. Bad weather also prevailed 

 most of the time, and this undoubtedly interfered with the schooling of the 

 fish at the surface. Most of the schools sighted, even during the latter part 

 of the cruise, were too deep in the water to be reached by seining, and it 

 is probable that a large proportion of the fish passed northward unobserved. 

 They also appeared to move nearer the land than has generally been recorded. 



"During the following summer, beginning the first part of July, the 

 Grampus extended its researches respecting the distribution and abundance 

 of mackerel along the coasts of the British Province as far north as Labrador. 

 She was then in charge of Captain J. W. Collins. The principal object of 

 the trip was to verify the recent reports concerning the appearance of mackerel 

 off the north-east coast of Newfoundland. Following the coast of Nova 

 Scotia as far as Canso, the Grampxis entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and 

 sailed as far north as the Magdalen Islands. Thence she proceeded to St. 

 John's, Newfoundland, and along the outer side of Newfoundland to the 

 Straits of Belle Isle. No mackerel were observed at this point ; but many 

 natural history specimens and physical observations were obtained. Mr. F. A. 

 Lucas and Mr. William Palmer, of the U.S. National IMuseum, accompanied 

 the schooner as naturalists, and in addition to the regular work of the cruise 

 they were allowed to land and make shore collections at the difl'erent 

 harbours visited. 



"The work begun in the spring of 1887 was continued by the Grampus 

 during April, May, and June, 1888, Captain D. E. Collins being again in 

 command, and Dr. T. H. Bean acting as naturalist. The cruising ground was 



