[49J HISTORY OF THE TILE-FISH. 285 



finding the wind too strong down Gardner's Bay, began working up 

 by Greeuport under reefed sails, towards the more sheltered waters of 

 the Great Peconic Bay. Altogether the prospect of getting a supply 

 of bait was not promising for that day. Towards noon, however, the 

 appearance of the weather changed very much, and the afternoon was 

 fine, with a moderate southwesterly wind. 



We were reluctantly compelled to wait for our lobster-pots until the 

 arrival of the steamer from New London at 11.30 o'clock a. m. We then 

 got under way, but seeing no indications of the presence of menhaden 

 as we ran down Gardner's Bay, we decided to work up the sound, feel- 

 ing confident that we should have a better chance there to meet the 

 fleet of steamers that had gone tn that direction ; there was also a 

 probability of getting menhaden from the pounds on the Connecticut 

 shore. When off Cornfield light-ship we saw several " bunches " of 

 *' bunkers," but as there were no seiners in sight we kept on our way. 

 The pounds along the shore, which we approached quite closely, had 

 met with the same fate as those at Greenport, being rendered unfit for 

 fishing by the late gale. At about 8 o'clock in the evening, having 

 reached the vicinity of Guilford, where there is an oil and guano factory, 

 we came to anchor near Falkner's Island, exjjecting to have an oppor- 

 tunity the next morning to secure bait from some of the fishing gangs 

 which were thought to be at that place. Another reason for our anchor- 

 ing was that the tide had turned against us, and, the wind being light, 

 we could not hold our own under sail. 



The morning of the 19th was calm and fine, and after daylight we 

 saw numerous "bunches" of menhaden playing at the surface near 

 where we lay anchored. At that time there were the two sloops of a 

 " sailing gang " lying at anchor close inshore, but they did not get under 

 way until some time after sunrise, when they began working oft" shore, 

 taking what advantage they could of the occasional "cat's-paws," 

 which, later, became more steady, though the wind continued very light. 

 The boats gained little, however, and feeling anxious to secure their as- 

 sistance in procuring bait, and fearing that they might go in some other 

 direction if the wind breezed up, I, with two of the smack's crew, 

 started to board them in one of our dories. We had about 2 miles 

 to row, but the distance was soon passed over, and we boarded the 

 larger of the sloops — the one having the fishing gang on board — the 

 other being the carryway boat. 



Having first told the captain of the gang that there seemed to be 

 an abundance of fish near our vessel, I asked him if he would sell us 

 bait enough for our trip, telling him for what purpose the cruise was 

 undertaken. Though entirely willing to furnish us with bait, so far as 

 he was personally concerned, the captain explained that he was not per- 

 mitted to sell any menhaden for such a purpose, but said that if I would 

 go ashore and get the consent of Captain Fowler, one of the proprietors 

 of the factory, and who, we were told, is president of the Oil and Guano 



