6G REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [12] 



erly wind was encountered, and on the 9th a moderate northeast gale 

 with mist, rain, and thick fog at times, the weather clearing during tlie 

 latter part. We passed Moutauk at 1.15 a. m. and arrived at Wood's 

 Holl at 8.10 p. m. on the 10th. On the morning of the 11th we went to 

 Bristol, where we left the steam cutter for repairs, returning on the fol- 

 lowing day. 



At 7.28 p. m., July 15, we left Wood's Holl, with the naturalists on 

 board, for an offshore trip. Speed was reduced between Gay Head 

 and Xo Man's Land to allow surface towing. 



At 4,10 a. m. on the 16th we cast the trawl in 44 fathoms, latitude 40° 

 2l" north, longitude 70° 42' west. Ten casts were made during the day 

 between the above position and latitude 39° 55' north, longitude 70° 47' 

 west, in from 44 to 229 fathoms. There was some delay in preparing 

 for the first ca^t, but with that exception everything worked smoothly 

 and the results of the day's work were very satisfactory. We started 

 for port at 6.30 p. m., arriving at 6.15 the following morning. 



The naturalists were employed in the laboratory during the 18th and 

 and 19th preserving specimens, and on the 20th we made eight hauls of 

 the dredge and trawl in the sound between Gay Head and Vineyard 

 Haven. 



The naturalists were engaged in the laboratory until the 23d and un- 

 favorable weather detained us in port till the 29th, when we went to 

 New Bedford for coal, returning the following day. We were again 

 detained by unfavorable weather till 5.40 p. m. on the 3d of August, 

 when we left for another off-shore trip. There was a thick fog during 

 the night, but it cleared towards morning, and at 8.14 we cast the trawl 

 in 782 fathoms, latitude 39° 45' north, longitude 69° 44' 45" west. The 

 trawl came up foul and several fathoms of the dredge-rope Avere badly 

 kinked. Seven hauls were made during the day in from 782 to 95 

 fathoms, between the above position and latitude 40° 01' north, longi- 

 tude 69° 56' west. We started for port at 8.30 p. m., and arrived at 

 8.3i> a. m. the following morning. 



The naturalists were emi^loyed in the laboratory on the 0th and 7th. 

 At 5 p. m. on the 8th we left for an off-shore trip. A dense fog pre- 

 vailed during the night, with moderate breezes from northwest to 

 southwest, the weather clearing towards morning. 



At 6.15 a. m. we set the trawl-line for tile-tish in 138 fathoms, latitude 

 4(P 01' north, longitude 71° 12' 30" west. 



A ship's boat was reported adrift about 9.30 a. m., which proved to 

 be the wreck of a mackerel seine boat having on one quarter the name 

 G. M. Hopkins, and on the other, Hingham, Mass. 



At 11.30 a. m. picked up our boat and found that they had taken 157 

 pounds of tile-fish, the largest specimen weighing 29 pounds; several 

 whiting, and large numbers of hake, skate, &c., were taken. Six hauls 

 of the trawl and dredge were made during the day in from 138 to 319 

 fathoms between the position given above and latitude 39° 53' 30" north, 



