80 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



but which seem to indicate the deUmitations of the areas of possible 

 tuiia fishery. At the close of the year plans were under consideration 

 for a more adequate prosecution of this investigation in the hope and 

 belief that another year would not pass without a definite and prac- 

 tical contribution to the solution of some of the principal problems 

 now appearing as obstacles to a continuous and entirely successful 

 •prosecution of the tuna fishery and the industries dependent there- 

 upon. 



SURVEYS OF FISHING GROUNDS. 



For a short period during the early winter of 1916-17 the Grampus 

 was employed in surveying banks in the vicmity of Cape Fear of 

 whose exact location, extent, and productivity the fishermen have 

 been unaware. Unfavorable weather permitted the survey of but 

 two grounds. The larger of these lies in 12 fathoms of water 9 miles 

 southwest one-half south from the Cape Fear River entrance buoy, is 

 easily found and will support an important fishery for sea bass or 

 blackfish. The smaller ground, locall}^ known as the ''snapper 

 bank," lies in from 12 to 13 fathoms of water 1| miles west southwest 

 from the offshore light buoy 2 A at the end of Frying Pan Shoal. It 

 is entirely surroundt^d by a large area of scattered patches of rock 

 and affords good fishing when a vessel is allowed to drift over it. 



The investigations of the same vessel in the Gulf of Mexico later 

 in the winter, although seriously interrupted by storms, fog, and 

 other circumstances, yielded information valuable to the fishery 

 interests of iVlabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Shrimp were taken 

 in abundance in the otter trawl on mud bottom, in 5 fathoms of 

 water, off the entrance to Mobile Bay. In February experimental 

 liauls off the southeast side of Ship Island, Miss., developed a pro- 

 ductive area at least 4 or 5 miles long on which shrimps v/ere found in 

 nbmidance equal to the best fishing off Fernandina, Fla., but with a 

 much smaller proportion of small fish and trash. Another ground 

 producing large shrimp in abundance was found in 9 fathoms, on 

 mud bottom, about 9 miles southeast of Barataria Pass, La. These 

 results indicate that a productive winter fishery for these valuable 

 crustaceans may be developed offshore on a considerable stretch of 

 the Gulf coast. 



OCEANOGRAPHY. 



The same causes which have contributed to a temporary diminution 

 of activity in studies of marine fishes led before the close of the year 

 to the interruption of some of the important oceanographic investiga- 

 tions. 



The Grampus was, however, able to make a series of observations 

 beginning with a cruise from Gloucester, Mass., to Norfolk, Va., 

 early, in the fiscal year. The vessel then made a line of hydrographic 

 stations from Cape Henry to the Gulf Stream and thence to Cape May, 

 N. J. Going later to Gloucester, Mass., a few stations were made in 

 the Gulf of Maine, whence she proceeded to Southport, N. C, for 

 investigations of fishing grounds as already mentioned, and later to 

 Key West. In the Gulf of Mexico the vessel cruised over the con- 

 tinental shelf (within the 100-fathom line) from Key West, Fla., to 

 Aransas Pass, Tex. 



Some oceanographic data have also been gathered in connection 

 with the tuna investigation on the Pacific coast. 



