INLAND FISHERIES. 101 



In 1885 the same vessel seiirclied from Newfoiiiullaiid to the 

 Gulf of Mexico without discovering' the least trace of the tile-fish, 

 though MAniidd, a species of crustacean upon which the fish Avas 

 known to have fed, was found in abundance. 



In 1880, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, and 1891 nothing- new was 

 learned. 



In 1892, at the suggestion of Professor Wm. Libby, Commissioner 

 McDonald fitted out the " Grampus," and on August 5th trawls 

 were set on the old tile-fish ground. No fish A\^ere taken. On the 

 Gtli the trawls were set again, and one specimen, weighing seven 

 pounds, was brought to the surface. This was the first specimen 

 that had been seen since the mortality of 1882, ten years before. 

 The " Grampus " continued her work, and in about two weeks 

 caught a second specimen, whi('h weighed thirteen pounds. On 

 September 17th one specimen was caught, and on September 18tli 

 three specimens were taken. No more were caught until October 

 8th, when two were found off the ])elaware coast. Thus, in 1892, 

 a search of two months yielded only eight specimens. 



In 1893 the "Grampus" resumed the search throughout the 

 months of July, August, and Sei^tember and caught scattering 

 specimens. 



During 1884, 1895, and 1896 no additional information relative 

 to the fish was secured. 



On February 8, 1897, the Schooner "Mabel Kenniston," of 

 Gloucester, was overtaken by a gale on George's Bank and blown 

 120 miles toward the southwest. After the gale, trawls were set 

 in sixty-five fathoms of water, and thirty tile-fish were caught. 

 These weighed from six to fifteen pounds each. They were landed 

 at Gloucester on February 16th. 



On August 12th, of the present year, the " Grampus" left Woods 

 Holl with a small party of scientific men, and sailed to a point 

 about seventy miles south of No Man's Land. At the first set of 

 the trawl, eight beautiful tile-fish were taken. The boat, in- 

 sufficiently eqviipped with lines and bait, at once returned to the 

 " station." New trawls were purchased and on August 30th, ice 



