[35] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. o7 



1 dogfish. At 2.07 p. m. we set tlie Hue again in 237 fathoms, green umd 

 and fine sand, latitude 39° 54' 30" N., longitude 71^ 08' 00" W., the catch 

 being 5 large skates and 1 %Yhitiug. We hardly expected to take many 

 fish at the depth in which we set the line, but having tried shoaler water 

 without success, we considered the experiment worth a trial. We were 

 somewhat surprised at the absence of hake on the line, as we were not 

 out of their depth, for we took large numbers of them in the immediate 

 vicinity with the trawl-net. Two hauls of the trawl were made during 

 the day, and a set of serial temperatures and water specimens taken 

 in the evening. 



During the early part of the 4th we had light SW. winds, cloudy 

 weather, and occasional showers. It cleared, however, before noon and 

 ended with a brisk breeze from SSW., and clear, pleasant weather. At 

 4.30 a. m. we sounded and put the trawl over in 600 fathoms, green 

 mud, latitude 39° 49' 30" N., longitude 70© 2G' 00" W. It loaded up so 

 heavily that much time was expended in heaving it to the surface, and 

 then we did not succeed in landing it on board until the bridle-stops 

 parted and relieved the trawl of most of its load. It was a good haul, 

 notwithstanding the loss, several valuable specimens being found in the 

 net. It was lowered again at 10,53 a. m. in 1,180 fathoms, latitude 39'^ 

 40' 00" :N^., longitude 70° 20' 15" W., but failed to reach the bottom, 

 although more than the usual allowance of rope was given it. Several 

 specimens were taken, however, from intermediate depths, and the con- 

 tents of the wing-nets possessed more than usual interest, owing to the 

 y rapid towing. 



The next haul, in 9G1 fathoms, green mud, latitude 39^ 45' 30" K, 

 longitude 70° 17' 00" W., was an unfortunate one, as the trawl buried 

 in the soft mud so deeply that we were unable to clear it, even after 

 hours of careful manipulation, and were obliged to break the rope. 

 Fortunately it parted near the end, the loss being confined to the trawl 

 itself and the wing-nets. A set of serial temperatures and water speci- 

 mens were taken during the evening to a depth of 700 fathoms. We 

 were surrounded by the usual number of petrels during the day, and 

 \ several dolphins were seen about the ship. With the above exceptions 

 no life was seen on the surface. It was our intention to set the trawl- 

 line again, but the sea was rather rough for boat-work, so we decided to 

 pass the time in dredging, which we could carry on in comparative com- 

 fort, even with a moderately heavy sea. 



At 5.30 a. m. the following morning we lowered the trawl in 1,060 

 fathoms, latitude 39° 46' 30" N., longitude 70° 14' 45" W., and made a 

 successful haul. We sent it down again in 1,122 fathoms, latitude 39° 

 44' 30" N., longitude 70° 10' 30" W., at 11.20 a. m., and brought up a 

 heavy load of stones with a fair proportion of specimens. At 3.15 p. m. 

 we sounded in 1,140 fathoms, latitude 39° 43' 45" N., longitude 70° 07' 

 00" W., and put over the trawl. After landing it on deck at 6.55 p. m., 

 we found the tail folded snugly over the beam, closing the net entirely. 



