46 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [44] 



Stance formed a crust underlying a thin covering of ooze through 

 which it frequently cropped out, as many of the fragments were cov- 

 ered with anthozoa, shells, and worm- tubes. The mud-bag, which Is 

 simply a boat-dredge with a tight canvas bag attached to the end of 

 the trawl-net, was filled with soft foraminiferous ooze, but there was 

 none of the substance referred to above, indicating that it had simply 

 skimmed along the surface without penetrating the dense medium 

 below. There were not many fish taken; a few Macrurus asper, Halo- 

 jaorphyrns viola, and Licodes being the most important. 



A.t 4.37 a. m. on the 12th we sounded in 1,168 fathoms, latitude 38^ 

 27' 00" N., longitude 73° 02' 00" W., and at 5.17 put the trawl over, 

 veering to 1,800 fathoms on the dredge-rope. It was landed on deck 

 again at 8.33 a. m. Three more hauls were made during the day, all 

 of them fairly successful. Enormous loads of mud were brought up, 

 rendering the work of hoisting rather tedious, but it served th(; purpose 

 of x)rotecting delicate specimens, the result being that our catch was 

 as a rule in excellent condition. The result of the day's work may be 

 summarized as follows: ooze, mud, and clay from the trawl-net, mud- 

 bag, and on one occasion even the wing-nets gave us many minute 

 shells, foraminifera, and worms. Several specimens of Octopus Bairdii 

 were taken in good condition. Bentliodytes were plentiful, and Geryon 

 quinquedens were found in large numbers in some of the hauls. 

 Shrimp, worms, shells, starfish, and ophiurans were more or less 

 abundant. Two species of Archaster were taken. As we were operat- 

 ing in comparatively shallow water the number and variety of fish was 

 notably increased. Haloporphyrus viola were found in considerable 

 numbers, and a few specimens of Macrurus asper, Halosaurus macrochiri 

 Ckauliodns Sloani, and Macrurus Bairdii were taken. Phycis Chesteri, 

 whiting, small skates, and i^ole-flouuders were more plentiful, while 

 single specimens only were found of Malieiitcea senticosa, Alepocephalus, 

 the snipe, and long-nosed eels, &c. Three unknown species were taken. 

 Serial temperatures and water specimens were taken in the evening, 

 after which we steamed to the northward and eastward to change our 

 working ground. 



The weather, which had been exceptioually pleasant during the trip, 

 became squally and unsettled in the morning, with brisk winds from 

 KE., moderating, however, toward evening. We were visited during 

 the day by several small laud-birds, a fish-hawk, a couple of small bats ; 

 schools of porpoises and blackfish were seen also. Attemj^ts were made 

 to capture a i)orpoise, but they kept out of reach of our harpoons. 



At 4.30 a. m. on the 13th we commenced work in 810 fathoms, lati- 

 tude 390 09' 00" K, longitude 72° 13' 15" W., making five hauls during 

 the day. All of them were successful except the last, when the net 

 came uj) empty, the lashing having parted. Large numbers of Geryon 

 quinquedens, large soft sea-urchins, shells, shrimps, Flabellum Goodeiif 

 and starfish were taken; also a large quantity of foraminifera and 



