XII.— REPORT OF OPERATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES STEAMER 

 SPEEDWELL IN 1879, WHILE IN THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED 

 STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



By Lieut. Z. L. Tanner, U. S. N., Commanding. 



All bearings true. Distances in geographical miles. 



Prof. S. F. Baird, 



United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, Washington, D. C. : 



Sir : I hav*e the honor to submit the following report of the opera- 

 tions of the Speedwell during the season of 1879 : 



The vessel was put in commission at the navy-yard, Washington, D. C, 

 at meridian July 1, and sailed for Provincetown, Mass., on the 9th; 

 passed the capes of the Chesapeake on the morning of the 10th, New 

 York at meridian of the 11th, arriving in Provincetown at 0.30 p. m. of 

 the 12th, three days nine hours from Washington. 



July 10, at 9.45, left Provincetown for Gloucester to get the dredging 

 apparatus which was in store at that place. Having taken the neces- 

 sary articles on board we left for Provincetown at 0.30 p. m., arriving at 

 12.30 a. m. the 17th. Experienced a violent gale and heavy swell while 

 crossing the bay. The apparatus was landed at the wharf during the 

 day, and at 5.40 on the 18th we left for Boston to procure coal. Arrived 

 at the navy-yard at 11.45 a. m. the same day. Took on board 73 tons of 

 coal on the 19th, and left at 9 a. m. on the 20th for Provincetown, arriv- 

 ing at 2.50 p. m. 



Preparations for the work of dredging having been completed, we left 

 the wharf at 9.30 a. m. on the 21st and lowered the dredge at 11 .30 a. m. 

 in 13 fathoms, Wood End light-house bearing jST. 15° E. KM', the current 

 number of the haul being 239. Five hauls were made during the day 

 with satisfactory results, except the temperature observations, which 

 were incomplete, owing to our deep-sea thermometers (Casella Miller's) 

 being out of order. 



I shall not attempt to mention the various specimens taken, as I have 

 not sufficient data at hand, and, in fact, their description falls legiti- 

 mately to the scientific corps who had charge of the dredging operations. 



We left the wharf at 10.30 a. m. July 22 and lowered the dredge at 11 

 a. m. in 25 fathoms, Pace Point bearing S. 50° E. 1'. Four hauls were 

 taken with dredge and trawl during the day in from 25 to 30 fathoms. 

 The work was somewhat retarded by a heavy swell from the gale of last 

 night, giving the vessel an uncomfortable motion and making it a mat- 



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