REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXXIX 



2170 to 2238) were made. In most of these a. large beam -trawl was used 

 very successfully, even at great depths.* 



Of these dredgiugs five were in depths between 2,000 and 2,G00 

 fathoms (four successful), twenty were between 1,000 and 2,000 fathoms, 

 twenty-four between 500 and 1,000 fathoms, eight between 300 and 500 

 fathoms, and twelve between 75 and 300 fathoms. Another trip has since 

 been made to explore extensively the zone between 40 and 100 fathoms. 

 On this trip about twenty-four additional dredgings were made, but 

 the results are not yet worked out. The first trip was made while the 

 steamer was on her way north from Norfolk, Ya., and some of those 

 stations were off the coast of Maryland, the most southern being in 

 north latitude 37° 57', but most of the others have been made in the 

 region south and southeast of Martha's Vineyard, although several 

 were a long way off the coast. The five stations in depths below 2,000 

 tathoms were more than half way to Bermuda, and nearly east of the 

 coast of Virginia, between north latitude 36° 05' 30" and 37° 48' 30" ; 

 and between west longitude 08° 21' and 71° 55'. 



The results are highly satisfactory, both in physical observations and 

 zoological discoveries. Large numbers of additions have been made to 

 the fauna, including representatives of nearly all classes of deep-sea 

 animals. Many pelagic species were also secured in the surface nets, 

 and especially in the trawlings. Among these there are some new 

 forms, and many that have not previously been observed so far north 

 in the Gulf Stream. 



The most important economical application anticipated for the Wood's 

 HoU Station is the propagation of codfish, under charge of Capt. H. C. 

 Chester, the superintendent of the station. The first take of eggs was 

 on November 14, and amounted to 3,000,000. These were treated, and 

 many important facts ascertained in regard to their development. Un- 

 fortunately the work of dredging in the vicinitj' of the stone pier for the 

 purpose of giving a proper depth for navigation kept the water in a tur- 

 bid condition during all the time that the eggs of the cod were being 

 hatched and militated very seriously against full success, a small per- 

 centage only of the fish being obtained. These, however, were planted 

 in the vicinity. It is hoped that by another year these drawbacks will 

 have passed away and that there will be nothing more to prevent the 

 fall realization of all my anticipations on this point. 



13. — INVESTIGATIONS IN LONG ISLAND SOUND. 



It is well known that the shallow waters adjacent to Long Island 

 Sound, especially those of Great South Bay, abound in a great variety 

 of fish, the flats becoming greatly warmed during the summer season 



* It is but just to say that the unusual thoroughness and remarkable success of 

 these explorations of the Gulf Stream region have been due to the great skill and un- 

 tiring zeal and energy of Captain Tanner, who has personally superintended all our 

 deep-sea dredging operations during the past five years. It is also proper to add that 

 his efforts have been well supported by the other officers associated with him. 



