REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XIX 



The America*' catch of mackerel for 1886 — Continued. 



C. — The Schooner Grampus. 



In previous reports allusion has beeu made to the building - of a sail- 

 ing vessel for the work of the Commission, which was to be named the 

 Grampus. The vessel was completed and went into commission on June 

 5th of the present year. Her operations are fully discussed in a report 

 published in the appendix. 



The purposes for which this vessel was constructed are varied and 

 important. For some time the Commission has felt the necessity of 

 having a suitable sailing vessel, provided with a well, in which marine 

 fishes can be kept alive and transported from the fishing grounds to the 

 hatching stations on the coast where the eggs may be obtained for the 

 purpose of artificial propagation. 



Such a vessel can also serve a useful purpose by bringing in alive 

 marine species, not perhaps in a gravid condition, which can be put 

 into large aquaria and thus afford to biologists an opportunity to study 

 the habits of our ocean fauna under conditions that can not possibly be 

 otherwise afforded. 



Another important duty which it is believed may be performed by a 

 welled vessel, that is seaworthy and swift, is to visit European waters 

 and bring therefrom alive certain species of marine fishes which are 

 held in high repute for food and do not occur in American waters. 

 Among these may be mentioned the sole, turbot, plaice, and brill. The 

 introduction and propagation of these species in our waters must bo of 

 great advantage to the United States, not only in giving to our people 

 additional species of delicate food fishes, but in introducing for their 

 capture the method of fishing with a beam trawl, which is not now in 

 vogue here and might, perhaps, profitably employ many vessels and men. 



The Grampus has been fitted for using a beam trawl to test its 

 utility in American waters in a commercial way. Although we have 

 not the species of flat fishes which constitute the principal objects of 

 the beam trawl fishery in Europe, there are several kinds in our waters 



