[35] CONSTRUCTION AND WORK OF FISH-HAWK. 37 



Lookout; the other held, however, and at 7.25 p. m. we anchored in Corn- 

 field Harbor for the night. The wind had backed to northwest by this 

 time, and was blowing a fresh gale, causing quite a swell, but we rode 

 it out very comfortably. Working parties were kept bailing the water 

 out of the barge during the night. 



We got under way at 6.35 a. m. on the 19th, and, with the barge in 

 tow, started for Washington. 



At 8 a. m. the United States Fish Commission steamer Lookout 

 steamed out of Saint Mary's River, and coming within hail informed us 

 that she had a mail for the ship. It was still blowing fresh, with a heavy 

 swell in our exposed position, so she was directed to follow us under the 

 lee of Piney Point, where the mail was transferred, and she was directed 

 to make the best of her way to Washington. We were obliged to run 

 at about half speed, owing to the bad condition of the barge, and work- 

 ing parties were pumping and bailing during the day. At 5.20 p. m. we 

 anchored off Indian Head for the night. 



At 7.20 a. m. on the 20th we were under way again and arrived at 

 the navy-yard, Washington, D. C, at 1.40 p. m. 



The specimens of natural history and other articles consigned to the 

 Smithsonian Institution were landed on the 22d. We coaled ship on the 

 26th and 27th. 



Arrangements were made with the authorities at the navy-yard to 

 caulk the main deck, and the crew were actively employed refitting ship 

 until 9 a. m., December 4, when we left for the Lower Potomac on duty 

 connected with the artificial propagation of oysters at Saint Jerome 

 Creek. 



At 7.15 p. m. anchored in Saint Mary's River for the night. At 8 p. 

 m. the Lookout arrived and anchored near this vessel. The weather 

 was thick and rainy, with a fresh breeze from the eastward. 



On Sunday morning, December 5, the Lookout went into Smith's 

 Creek, where she could find a more secure harbor, and this vessel fol- 

 lowed her on the morning of the 6th, the weather still rainy and unset- 

 tled, with a heavy swell in the bay. 



The object of the expedition was to dredge a quantity of oysters and 

 plant them at the station in Saint Jerome Creek, for the purpose of in- 

 vestigation and artificial propagation during the following spring and 

 summer ; but unfavorable weather forced us to seek a harbor, and on 

 the 7th the wind veered to northwest, blowing a fresh gale, with very 

 cold weather, ice forming rapidly. On the 9th, when the gale moder- 

 ated, the oyster-i)ond was frozen over, obliging us to abandon the at- 

 tempt to carry out the object of the expedition at that time. 



It was desirable to test the practical working of our dredging appa- 

 ratus, and for that purpose we put it in operation on the banks be- 

 tween Smith's Creek and Point Lookout for about three hours, the result 

 being 75 bushels of oysters, dead shells, &c., and 25 bushels of market- 

 able ovsters. 



