REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 47 
discovered, after which he was to keep track of the movements, habits, 
and abundance of the latter, and to study the conditions of their 
environment as far north as Nova Scotia. The presence of a large fleet 
of purse-seiners on the grounds afforded excellent opportunities for 
learning of the distribution of the fish at all times, and through their 
means it was expected that specimens for examination would be obtain- 
able. The Grampus also made use of the fishing apparatus she had on 
board, and an hourly record of physical determinations was maintained 
day and night, besides which the surface tow nets were frequently 
employed to discover the presence of mackerel food. The natural- 
history observations were conducted by Mr. W.C. Kendall. Mr. B. L. 
Hardin was stationed at Fulton Market, New York City, to inspect all 
arrivals of mackerel there from the purse-seine fleet, as well as from 
the shore apparatus tributary to that market. 
The Grampus sailed from Woods Hole on April 10 and reported at 
Lewes, Del., April 21, having experienced heavy weather up to that 
date. Very few fish had been observed, and the fishing fleet had 
accomplished comparatively nothing. The latter also sought shelter at 
the same place. Poor success, both in the catch of fish and in the 
opportunities to make observations upon them continued thence to the 
close of the season, and by the middle of May nearly all the purse-seiners 
- had left the southern grounds for the coast of Nova Scotia. The small 
catch made this season was partly due to stormy weather, but, even 
when all the conditions seemed favorable, mackerel were either scarce 
or difficult to capture. More light will probably be thrown upon this 
question when the elaborate series of notes obtained have been worked 
up, but the fishermen have failed thus far to recognize any beneficial 
results from the restrictions placed upon their spring fishery during 
the previous five years. 
On May 23, the southern fishery having ended several days before 
that time, the Grampus left Woods Hole, where she had put in for 
supplies, and proceeded to Nova Scotia, to continue the inquiries on 
the same plan as at the south. The entire fleet had assembled there, 
but no fish were taken on this coast, except in trap nets on the shore, 
until after June 1. By June 5 some of the fleet had done fairly well, the 
others poorly. After their first appearance on this coast the mackerel 
moved rapidly eastward, the purse-seiners and the Grampus following 
them as far as Cape North on Cape Breton Island, the former as a 
whole making a good catch to the eastward of Halifax, as compared 
with former seasons. There were 75 seiners on the Nova Scotia shore, 
and their average fare was about 160 barrels each. The Grampus 
returned to Woods Hole the latter part of June, bringing a large 
quantity of specimens bearing upon the breeding habits, food, size, 
etc., of the mackerel, together with very complete records of the daily 
observations. 
Mr. B. L. Hardin remained at New York from April 12 to June 3, 
and examined every fare of mackerel landed from the southern fishery, 
