38 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [36] 



Tbis was the first accident of the kind for uearly two years. There 

 were a few specimens taken in the folds of the net, and the wing-nets 

 brought up their usual collection of minute forms. At 7.13 p. m. we put 

 the trawl over again in 1,058 fathoms, latitude 39^ 44' 00" N., longitude 

 70° 03' 00" W., and at 11 p. m. landed it on deck after a successful haul. 

 As soon as it was up we steamed to the southward, and at 4.45 a. m. 

 sounded in 1,230 fathoms, latitude 39° 35' 00" K., longitude 69° 44' 00" 

 W., and put the trawl over, landing it on deck again at 9 a. m. after a 

 successful haul. The southerly swell was still rolling in, but had be- 

 come more regular, and as the wind had moderated to a gentle breeze, 

 we concluded to set the trawMiue again, and stood to the northward 

 for that purpose. 



At 11.30 a. m. we sounded and set the trawl-line in 84 fathoms, sand, 

 gravel, and broken shells, latitude 39° 56' 30" N., longitude 69° 43' 00" 

 W., the catch being 15 hake and 8 dogfish. Having failed to discern 

 any sign of the presence of tilefish after examining the whole region 

 where they have been taken heretofore, it would, I think, be safe to as- 

 sume that they have abandoned that locality. Four hauls of the trawl 

 were made while the fishing party was away, in the immediate vicinity 

 of the above position, the material procured being the well-known forms 

 we have dredged from this region in former years. Our bait and alcohol 

 being expended we started for port at 6 p. m. The weather was clear 

 and pleasant, with SW. airs, but at 10 p. m. we ran suddenly into a dense 

 fogbank, seen ahead for an hour or more, and from that time to our ar- 

 rival in Wood's Holl, at 1 p. m. on the 7th, we were groping our way 

 through it. 



We were employed during the 8th in cleaning ship, overhauling ap- 

 paratus, &c., and on the 9th hauled fires to clean and repair boilers. 

 A schooner with coal for us arrived early on the morning of the 14th, 

 and we took on board lOl^^a^iV tons during the day. 



Preparations for a dredging trip were completed on the 16th, and at 

 4 p. m. on the 18th we left port and steamed to the southward for about 

 latitude 39° 40' 00" N., longitude 71° 35' 00" W., where we proposed to 

 commence work at daylight the following morning. The wind was light 

 to moderate from SW., with a smooth sea. At 9 p. m, a thick fog set 

 in, which continued through the night. The usual outlook was kept 

 for surface fish ; none were seen, however, except a school of pori^oises 

 early in the evening. 



At 6.10 a. m. on the 19th we sounded in 538 fathoms, latitude 39° 39' 

 45" N., longitude 71° 35' 15" W., and put the trawl over. Four suc- 

 cessful hauls were made during the day in the same locality, the depth 

 of water varying from 500 to 700 fathoms. The hauls were particularly 

 rich in the large red crabs {Geryon gttrwgite^Zens) peculiar to this locality, 

 between fifty and sixty being taken. Several being prepared they were 

 eaten by the oflficers, who were unanimous in the opinion that they were 

 very sweet and palatable. Several species of cephalopods were taken, 



