REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 127 



The steamer Blake, not being dependent npon favorable winds for 

 carrying on the share of work allotted to it, was able to make mnch 

 more rapid progi-ess than the Gramjms and to ocenpy a larger nnmber 

 of stations. The area covered was the same as in 1889, except that the 

 lines rnn by the Blake were carried ont to sea a distance of 150 miles, 

 those of the Gramjrus being restricted to 130 miles as before. The 

 vessels were kept as far apart in an east and Avest direction as was 

 feasible in conformity with the plans, in order that, so far as possible, 

 ])aral]el lines of observations might be made more or less conjointly in 

 different parts of the field. The Blale was on the western side of the 

 ground during the early part of July, and the Grampus on the eastern 

 side, these relative i^ositions being subsequently changed. Ten north 

 and south lines, 10' of longitude apart, were marked out as the courses 

 to be followed by the vessels, but each of these Avas gone over two 

 or more times, and the actual number of lines run was 27, with 382 

 stops or stations for observation. The total number of observations 

 was, for serial temperatures, 4,000 j for specific gravity, 850, and for 

 meteorology, 14,000. The temperature of the water Avas not taken this 

 year at greater depths than 200 fathoms, but a complete meteorological 

 record Avas made every hour Avhile the vessels Avere at sea. 



On the light-shij) meteorological observations Avere taken continu- 

 ously, amounting to 18,000 separate entries for the season, the tempera- 

 ture of the water Avas noted regularly at the surlace and at depths of 

 5, 10, and 15 fathoms, and the changes in the surface specific gravity 

 Avere recorded hourly. The direction and velocity of the tidal currents 

 were also determined by means of a Ritchie-Haskell meter. 



An account of the investigations made in 1889 has been publislied 

 in the Fish Commission Bulletin for the same year,* but Prof. Libbey 

 has not yet completed his report for 1890, and any discussion of his 

 conclusions must be left for a future time. In connection Avith the 

 data obtained by the two expeditions, Prof. Libbey has also utilized 

 the meteorological records for Boston and New York City, AAiiich have 

 been kindly furnished by the Signal Otfice. Information of this char- 

 acter has, therefore, been supplied from three stationary positions, two 

 u])on the land and one upon the sea, the latter being distant some 20 

 miles from shore. It aflbrds an excellent opportunity for comparing 

 the relations of atmospheric variations Avith those observed in connec- 

 tion Avith the waters, and by continuing the study of the same for a 

 term of years it will be possible to determine whether there is any co- 

 ordination of conditions betAveen the tAA'o elements, and if a change in 

 one produces any etlect upon the other. Some such relationship has 

 been shown to exist, but its full ex^,ent can not yet be establislied. 



* Report upon a physical investigation of the waters off the southern coast of 

 New England, niado dining- the summer of 1889 bj^ the IJ. S. Fisli Commission 

 schooner Grampus. By AVilliam Libbey, Jr. Bull. U. 6. Fish Comm., vol. ix, 1889, 

 pp. 391-459, pis. cxxiA'-cLAaii. 



