[20] CONSTRUCTION AND WORK OF FISH-HAWK. 31 



l)urpose of testing the mechanical aijpliances, which were mostly new. 

 Three hauls of the dredge and three of the trawl were taken in the 

 channel to the westward of Canouicut Island, in from 8 to 12 fathoms 

 of water, returning to port at 3.58 i). m. 



Slight modifications were found necessary in the arrangement of lead- 

 ing blocks, accumulator, &c. The sounding apparatus was easily oj^era- 

 ted by one man, doing its work satisfactorily. In fact, the experience 

 of the day satisfied us that with the modifications mentioned above, 

 the apparatus would answer the purpose for which it was designed. 



Six hauls of the dredge and trawl were taken on the 7th, in the 

 channel between Fort Adams and the Dumplings, in from 17 to 27 fath- 

 oms of water. Great numbers of specimens were taken, sufficient to 

 keep the scientific corps fully employed " in the laboratory- for several 

 days. 



On Friday, the 10th, the weather being favorable, the ship was swung 

 under steam, and azimuths taken on every point to determine the devi- 

 ation of compasses. 



Thursday, August 12, took six hauls of the dredge and trawl in the 

 sound, about three miles to the southward of Brenton's Eeef light-ship, 

 in from 10 to 19 fathoms. The trawl fouled a wreck during the day, 

 detaining us several hours in vain efforts to clear it. Failing in this, we 

 liove in all slack line and backed the engines till the dredge rope parted, 

 losing the trawl and about 15 fathoms of rope. 



Five hauls of the trawl and dredge were taken on the 13th, about 5 

 miles to the southward and eastward of the light-ship, in from 18 to 20 

 fathoms; and seven hauls on the 14th, in the vicinity of Point Judith, 

 in from 18 to 19 fathoms. Four hauls were taken in various localities 

 in Xarragansett Bay on jMonday, the 16th, and on the 17th, eight hauls 

 on Brown's Ledge, from 8 to 12 miles S W. by W. of the Vineyard Sound 

 light-ship, in from 11 to 22- fathoms. 



Wednesday, August 18, took four hauls of dredge and trawl, about 

 20 miles S.SE. of Block Island, in from 27 to 29 fathoms of water. 

 Thursday and Friday, the 19th and 20th, the naturalists were occupied 

 in the examination and preservation of specimens, Saturday, the 21st, 

 was foggy and rainy, the weather clearing during Sunday, and on 

 Monday, the 23d, three hauls were taken between Karragansett Pier and 

 Point Judith. A heavy swell i)revailing in that locality, we ran into 

 Narragansett Bay, where four hauls were taken in from 11 to 15 

 fathoms. 



Thiu'sday, the 21th, five hauls were taken from 1 to 3 miles to the 

 eastward of Block Island, in from 13 to 22 fathoms, and on the follow- 

 ing day one haul in the same vicinity, when, being overtaken by a heavy 

 squall of wind and rain, we were forced to stop work and start for port* 

 We had heavy rain and a dense fog all the waj^ in, the weather clearing 

 after we reached the harbor. We were detained in port the following- 

 day by a heavy swell in the sound, and, on the 27th, finding an uncom- 



