XVI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



hitherto unexplored by the Commission, and as furnishing much oppor 

 tunity for investigation the beginning of July was fixed upon for the 

 commencement of the work of the summer. 



With my usual corps of assistants, I left Washington on the 10th day 

 of July, and arrived at Provincetown on the lGth, establishing head- 

 quarters at the hotel of Mr. James Gifford. The berth of the steamer, 

 and the laboratory were at the end of the wharf of Messrs. Bowley & 

 Bros., where all necessary conveniences were readily secured. The 

 Speedwell made her first trip to Gloucester to bring over portions of the 

 Fish Commission equipments, which were stored at that place. 



As in the previous years of the Fish Commission work, Prof. A. E. 

 Verrill was in charge of the department of marine invertebrates, assisted 

 by Mr. Richard Rathbun and Mr. S. Smith. Mr. G. B. Goode, assisted 

 by Mr. F. W. True and Mr. F. Gardener, jr., supervised the collecting 

 of the fishes, and Capt. H. C. Chester was in charge of the actual work 

 of the dredge and the trawl. 



The improvised laboratory at the end of Bowley's wharf furnished a 

 somewhat cramped opportunity for investigation. Much information 

 was gained by the careful study of the various forms of animal life 

 which were brought in by the steamer. 



Prof. Henry E. Webster, of Union College, Schenectady, X. Y., who 

 spent the summer in Provincetown with his assistant, Mr. N. W. Bene- 

 dict, rendered very great service in accompanying and superintending 

 the dredging parties during the temporary absence of Professor Verrill, 

 his own special research being directed toward the Annelida, or worms. 



The Speedwell was ready for sea and placed in commission at the navy- 

 yard, Washington, about noon of July 1. When she had taken on 

 board all necessary stores and supplies she left Washington July 9th, 

 arriving at Proviucetown July 12, and inakiug the trip in a little over 

 three days. On the 10th of July she proceeded to Gloucester for the 

 purpose of obtaining articles of apparatus which had been left in store 

 at that place, returning to Proviucetown on Jul} 7 20. 



The first exploring trip was made on July 21, after which date work 

 continued whenever the weather and the operations of the Commission 

 would permit. The regular routine embraced a sounding and tempera- 

 ture observation both at the surface and at the bottom before lowering 

 either the dredge or the trawl. The vessel experienced no casualties 

 during her term of service beyond the unexpected parting of anew 

 three and a quarter Italian hemp rope. This accident was followed on 

 September 20, by the breaking of a second spare line, bringing the work 

 of the season to a close. 



All the most important points within 20 miles of Provincetown were 

 thoroughly explored with the exception of the coast-line betweeu 

 Chatham and the Cape, which had been left for the last trip, and, tor 

 reasons already given, was necessarily omitted. This region will, how- 

 ever, be the subject of subsequent examination. After one or two trips 



