34 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. |_32] 



ner case and Sigsbee clamp, by which the thermometer was secured 

 rigidly to the sounding-wire or temperature-rope, thereby transmitting 

 all vibrations to the instrument, causing the mercury to shake down, as 

 before mentioned. With a view of overcoming this difficulty we sus- 

 pended the thermometer in its metal case by a rubber-lmed thimble 

 and delicate spiral spring at each end, allowing it a free vertical move- 

 ment, intended to absorb all vibrations or jars resulting from surging of 

 the temperature-rope or other causes incident to service under the 

 various conditions of wind and sea. We have taken a large number of 

 temperatures this trip, without a single failure, from causes above 

 mentioned, and congratulate ourselves on our success in overcoming 

 Avhat has been to us a serious obstacle to the rapid and successful ob- 

 servation of serial temperatures. • 



At G35 p. m. we started for Montauk Point, under steam and sad, 

 the weather clear and pleasant, with a brisk SW. breeze, but during the 

 evening a heavy bank rose from the northward, and at 10 p. m. the 

 wind came out from that direction, making it necessary to take m sail. 

 The sky was overcast with drizzling rain during the latter part of the 

 night, and after davlight a thick fog set in, which continued until we 

 passed Montauk Point, about 6 a. m., when it cleared up and we pro- 

 ceeded to Napeague Bay, anchoring at 7.45 a. m. An officer was sent 

 to the Excelsior Oil Factory to collect information regarding the men- 

 haden fishing during the present season. He was cordially received by 

 the superintendent, who made the following statement: "This factory 

 employs two working gangs, running the works night and daj'. Two 

 steamers are employed, and double the number of fish have been taken 

 this season that were caught last year. All the factories in Promised 

 Land are doing equally well. Last year 1,143,000 fish were taken by 

 the two steamers up to July 24, and the present season one boat has 

 taken 2,500,000 ; the other one, being temporarily disabled, has not made 

 so good a record. The fish were taken from Fire Island to the east- 

 ward, also in Long Island Sound, where an ample supply has been ^ 

 found, making it unnecessary to go to the New Jersey coast as we have 

 usually been obliged to do. They are very large and fat, those from 

 Long Island Sound averaging from 7 to 8 gallons of oil per thousand, 

 and those from the south coast of Long Island from 4 to 5 gallons per 

 thousand. We have as much oil now as we made all last season. All 

 the factories of any account in Long Island Sound are in operation this 

 year; namely, seven in Promised Land, two in Sag Harbor, and two 

 in Shelter Island. Edible fish are frequently taken in small numbers 

 with menhaden, and sharks are very troublesome, particularly this sea- 

 son, large numbers of them getting in the seine at times. Mackerel 

 were seen in schools oft' Shinnecock early in June." 



The boat having returned to the ship we got under way at 10.30 a. m., 

 aud steamed to Block Island, anchoring at 2.25 p. m. An officer was 

 sent ashore and called on Mr. Nicholas Ball, who stated that the mack- 



