618 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [14] 



fathoms, with the bottom of white coral ooze as found throughout the 

 Bahamas. 



The naturalists landed as soon as we came to anchor, hoping to get 

 a few specimens of sea birds, numbers of which were seen on the wing 

 hovering over the rocks. They returned in about an hour with two 

 specimens of boobies, the only species of bird they saw. We then got 

 under way, and at 9.46 lowered the tangles in 97 fathoms off the west 

 side of Green Cay. It was an exceedingly rough bottom, and we ex- 

 pected a rich haul, but found nothing but a few gorgonian corals, bar- 

 nacles, and sponges. The dredge was then lowered in 140 fathoms, 

 coral sand bottom, but it soon caught on a coral lump and parted the 

 rope at the hoisting engine. The end caught under the guard on the 

 dredge-block, which for the second time held the rope till we could 

 clamp and secure it. The bottom was found to be exceedingly barren, 

 a few small shells being the only specimens brought up by the dredge. 

 We anchored off Green Gay at 11.30 a. m., and landed the naturalists. 

 They returned at 1.30 p. in., when we got under way and resumed our 

 work of sounding, finally anchoring for the night on the bank in lati- 

 tude 24° 29' N., longitude 77° 15' W. 



We were under way the following morning at daylight and continued 

 the soundings. The weather was clear and pleasant with light airs 

 and calms during the forenoon, but later in the day the wind increased 

 to a moderate gale from north with thick rainy weather and heavy sea. 

 We continued work until dark, then hove to under the lee of Thompson's 

 Gay until daylight the following morning, when a line of soundings 

 was run to the west end of New Providence Island, completing the 

 work in Tongue of Ocean. 



The gale continued with a heavy and exceedingly uncomfortable sea. 

 The bar at the entrance of Nassau Harbor was breaking so heavily 

 that we were unable to enter, and were forced to make an anchorage 

 in Southwest Bay to leeward of the island. 



The weather appearing to have moderated somewhat on the 17th, 

 we got under way and steamed to the vicinity of the bar which we found 

 still impassable, and were obliged to return to our anchorage in South- 

 west Bay. Another attempt was made to enter on the 19th, but the 

 bar was still breaking heavily and it was not until the 21st that we 

 succeeded in passing it. We reached the harbor at 11.30 a. m. on that 

 day, received the usual visits, and, during the afternoon, accompanied 

 by the United States consul, I made an official call on the governor. 



The naturalists continued their work while we were detained at 

 Southwest Bay, and, after our arrival in Nassau, the fishing and sponge- 

 ing industries of the Bahamas were investigated as thoroughly as our 

 limited time would permit. The results of their inquiries will be found 

 in the naturalist's report. 



During the prosecution of our work among the islands we have en- 

 countered brisk to strong winds from various points of the compass, 





