APPENDIX. 37 



observations respecting the natural history of the mackerel do not meet the 

 requirements of a thorough consideration of the matter. To supply this 

 desideratum, so far as possible, has been the object of the inquiries now in 

 progress. 



"These inquiries have been directed so as to cover at least the more 

 essential features in the history of the mackerel during that part of each 

 season when their presence along the coast becomes apparent through their 

 surface distribution, the only period when they can be fished for. It has 

 been attempted to trace their movements and all the principal circumstances 

 connected therewith, from the time of their first appearance in the spring, 

 until cold weather causes their return to winter quarters ; to learn the extent 

 and relations of the schools, the conditions which accelerate or retard their 

 progress, and the factors which influence their swimming at different depths, 

 whereby the great body of the fish may travel long distances unobserved ; to 

 settle definitely their spawning places and seasons, and their habits in that 

 connection ; to ascertain the effect upon the schools of the different fishing 

 methods apart from the simple question of the quantity of fish so captured ; 

 and from the data thus secured, as well as from statistics of the catch, to 

 determine, so far as possible, if the stock is being decimated, and the causes 

 which may be directly responsible therefor. 



" The schooner Grampus started south from Gloucester, Mass., on April 7, 

 to repeat the customary examinations on the southern grounds during the early 

 spring season ; but heavy gales retarded her movements in the beginning, 

 as well as interfered with the operations of the fishing vessels. Lewes, Del., 

 was made the headquarters from April 20 to May 10 ; but the Grampus 

 remained constantly with or in the neighbourhood of the fleet, as the best 

 means of keeping track of the schools of fish, making a careful series of 

 physical observations at hourly intervals, towing for mackerel food, and 

 recording all facts obtainable from the fishing captains, or by personal observa- 

 tions, respecting the positions of the schools each day, their extent, movements, 

 depth, the abundance, size, and condition of the fish, etc. From the extreme 

 south the Grampus followed the main body of the fish to the region off New 

 York, and thence proceeded eastward over Georges Bank to Cape Sable and 

 the iSTova Scotia coast. Here the mackerel were studied during their progress 

 to the Gulf of St. Lawrence as far as Cape North, stops being made at Shel- 

 burne, Liverpool, Beaver Harbour, and North Sidney, in search of such 

 information as could be gained from the local fisheries in the neighbourhood 

 of those places. 



"On June 13, the main part of the down run of mackerel having ended 

 and the spring season closed on the cape shore, the Grampus left North Sidney 

 and returned to Gloucester, first passing around the north side of Cape Breton 

 and through the Gut of Canso in tjuest of further data. Gloucester was 

 reached on June 25, and the remainder of the month was spent in prepara- 

 tions for a summer cruise on the mackerel grounds in the Gulf of Maine. 

 This work was in charge of Mr. E. E. Hahn, master of the Grampus, with Mr. 

 AV. C. Kendall as naturalibt. 



