REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XI 



obtaining coal and other supplies, giving- opportunity for a limited 

 amount of work in the Straits of Florida. The customary physical 

 observations were made at all of the sounding stations, in order to de- 

 termine the currents, temperatures, and densities of the water and the 

 character of the bottom. The dredge, beam trawl, and tangles were 

 also occasionally employed to ascertain the abundance of bottom life, 

 but generally with poor results, the white coral ooze which predomi- 

 nates in the deeper waters about the Bahama Islands being compara- 

 tively barren and the shallower spots generally too rough for the suc- 

 cessful working of the dredging appliances. Surface collecting in the 

 same region with the towing nets was equally unproductive, but by 

 allowing the naturalists to land upon the islauds and work along the 

 shore very important results were obtained. The shore work was vig- 

 orously pushed at every place where the steamer made a harbor, and 

 parties of two were occasionally left upon the islands while the steamer 

 continued its sounding operations in the neighboring region. The fish- 

 eries which center at Nassau, including the important sponge fishery, 

 were carefully studied, but no traces were found of the pelagic fishes, 

 whose winter abode, it was thought, might be in this region. In the 

 Straits of Florida and along the line of the Gulf Stream farther north 

 the results of dredging were exceedingly rich. 



From July 8 to October 28 the steamer Albatross was at work upon 

 the offshore fishing grounds of Eastern North America, between New 

 York and Newfoundland, with headquarters at Wood's Holl, Mass. 

 Mr. Benedict having resigned his position, Mr. Thomas Lee acted as 

 chief naturalist during these explorations, and was assisted by Mr. 

 Sanderson Smith. From July 15 to 18 a short trip was made to the 

 outer edge of the submerged continental plateau south of Martha's 

 Vineyard, where the tilefish was formerly abundant. On August 2 

 the Albatross started east on a second cruise to the great cod and hali- 

 but banks lying off the coasts of the British Provinces, the purpose of 

 which was to study the character and resources of the banks in general, 

 and of those areas specially which are but little known ; to search for 

 new or reported banks, the existence or location of which was uncer- 

 tain ; and, partly in the interests of the Navy Department, to investi- 

 gate certain reported dangers lying in the track of ocean steamers and 

 fishing vessels. Diligent search was made for the mythical Hope Bank ? 

 supposed to be located south of Halifax, some distance off Le Have 

 Bank; but although numerous soundings were made over a wide area 

 inclosing its reported position, and thence to Sable Island Bank, no 

 unusual inequalities in the bottom were discovered. A line of sound- 

 ings was run between Banquereau and the Grand Bank to develop 

 the contour of the intervening gulley in which halibut abound. Trials 

 were made for codfish on the eastern part of Grand Bank, the eastern 

 edge of which was found to be incorrectly represented on the published 

 charts. Fruitless search was made for a reported bank of great promise 



