34 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [32] 



48' 30" N., longitude 70° 54' W. — without success, so far as tile-tisb were 

 concerned. There were, however, several hake and skate taken, show- 

 ing that the line reached the bottom. 



One of the tile-fish taken in the morning was boiled for dinner and 

 served with egg sauce. The flesh was white and firm, bearing a strong 

 resemblance to codfish in texture and flavor, though somewhat coarser. 



Work was continued till G p. m., when the vessel was headed for port. 

 It was evident, from a rapidly falling barometer and other indications, 

 that a change of weather was impending. At nine o'clock the sky was 

 overcast, threatening rain. 



At 1 a. m. on the 14th the wind veered to northwest with thick rainy 

 weather. We made Block Island light at 1.45, and at 2.40 were struck 

 by a furious squall of wind and rain, with incessant thunder and light- 

 ning, followed by a dense fog. Between three and four o'clock, while 

 passing several miles to the eastward of the island, a large pyramid of 

 light was observed on shore, penetrating the dense fog and illuminating 

 our surroundings, increasing the range of vision from a few yards to at 

 least half a mile in every direction, and toward the island to a much 

 greater extent. Wo could not detect a distinct flame or discover the 

 source of light, but learned subsequently that it was caused by the burn- 

 ing of a hotel. The possibility of penetrating and illuminating a dense 

 fog by the use of powerful lights was practically demonstrated by the 

 occurrence above mentioned. 



The wind veered to the northward and eastward, increasing rapidly, 

 till at 7.15, upon our arrival in port, it was blowing a gale, which con- 

 tinued with greater or less violence till the IGth, detaining the vessel in 

 port. 



Friday, September 17, was clear and pleasant, with light winds. 



At 10.17 a. m. we left the wharf with a number of gentlemen on board, 

 and steamed up the bay, where hauls were made with the beam trawl, 

 otter trawl, dredge, and rake dredge. Our system of sounding and 

 taking serial temperatures, the preservation of specimens, &c., were ex- 

 l)lained to the guests, and at 4.15 i). m. we returned to port. 



The 18th and 19tk were occupied by the naturalists in preserving speci- 

 mens, and we were detained on the 20th by fog. 



At 9.15 a. ra. on the 21st we left the wharf and steamed to the south- 

 ward of Block Island, where we took five hauls of the trawl and dredge 

 in from 11 to 19 fathoms water. A heavy southwest swell made it ex- 

 cessively uncomfortable on board, and, at times, almost impossible to 

 carry on the work. We returned to our wharf at 7 p. m., the results of 

 the day's work having been very satisfactory. 



At 11 a. m. on the 22d we left for Wood's HoU with the Commissioner 

 on board, arriving at 4.15 p. m. An inspection was made with the view 

 of establishing an experimental station for codfish hatching during the 

 coming winter. 



We left Wood's Holl at 1.15 p. m. on the 23d, arriving in Newport at 



