96 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AKD FISHERIES. [94J 



pod was taken from its retreat iu a piece of coral. It was not over two 

 inches long. Its body was thickly sprinkled with reddish brown spots, 

 interspersed with inunraerable specks of the same color. The spots 

 extend in a double row part way to the ends of the arms, and some specks 

 the entire length. Among the crustaceans was one related to Gallia 

 nasm, also a spider-crab with a long, slender sponge growing to its 

 carapace. Station 2147, in 34 futlioms, the same day was made with the 

 tangle-bar, taking several species of slender gorgonian corals, bryozoa, 

 comi)ound ascidians, small crabs, brittle stars, &v,. Station 2148 was 

 also made the same day, in 130 fathoms, with the tangle-bar and dredge. 

 Some soft mud adhered to the tangle and dredge, but no animals came 

 to the surface. 



During the afternoon of April 3, a school offish was seen with a large 

 flock of birds hovering over them. Occasionally the fish made the water 

 white with foam. Mr. Nye observed them through a glass and had a 

 fair view of their forms, as now and then one jumped from the water. 

 In his opinion they closely resembled the common bluefish of our coast. 

 In the evening of the same day, when the ship stopped to sound, several 

 flying-fish were caught with the aid of the electric light. These fish 

 were uninjured when taken and moved their fins with great rapidity 

 through a small arc, while in my hands. Station 2149, in 992 fathoms, 

 April 4, witli the beam-trawl, taking in the net two shrimp, but no speci- 

 mens from the bottom. 



The Albatross dropped anchorin the harbor of Old Providence Island 

 late in the afternoon of April 4. Like most of the islands we have 

 visited on this cruise, it is hilly and rough. Cocoanut groves occupy 

 the occasional strips of low land near the water. Grass is abundant 

 and the cattle ai^e the best we have seen. In one place the hillside is 

 covered with a cotton-bearing shrub G to 8 feet in height. The cotton 

 is said to bring 8 cents a pound. 



The shores are in some places low; in others great rocks and ledges 

 extend out into deep water. The rocks are for the most part a con- 

 glomerate from the surface of which the softer substances have been 

 eroded by the action of the waves, leaving holes and recesses into 

 which chitons, neritas, and turbas hide in large numbers. Far-outlying 

 reefs protect the shores and surrounding waters from the severity of 

 storms, making a large area of good feeding-ground for fish, upon which 

 the inhabitants depend for a. large proportion of their food. 



A vohmteer crew composed of oflicers and men made several hauls 

 with the caplin seine, taking fish enough to supply the whole ship's 

 companj^ for some time. In one haul taken near the landing there were 

 four or five bushels of a small fish called ''sprat." After we had picked 

 out all we wanted for food and bait, the people living near by carried 

 away all that they could use. From the different hauls Mr. Miner 

 picked out many s[)eciniens for preservation. The small mosquito net 

 was used whenever piacticable. Some species of small fish living about 



