662 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [58] 



The character of the surface and the growth at Rum Cay are about 

 the same as at Watling's Island, and the collections made at each 

 island were made up largely of the same things. 



The land snails, Helix, however, on Rum Cay were found clinging to 

 the bushes, in low, wet places, in vast numbers, much greater than 

 observed on any other island, and a very large collection was made. 



The inhabitants of Rum Cay fish almost entirely with hand-lines, 

 though occasionally using basket traps. They never attempt to do 

 more than catch fish enough for immediate use. 



We left Rum Cay March 10, and anchored off Cat Island for the 

 night. Next morning we landed and made quite extensive collections. 

 Near the shore, and running parallel with it, were several low ridges 

 covered wirh thick scrub growth and separated by partly open glades. 

 Further inland were fields of millet bordered by quite heavy timber. 

 Had it not been for a high wind our collection of birds here would 

 undoubtedly have been much larger and comprised many more species, 

 as this was one of the best collecting grounds visited during our cruise. 



March 12 we landed in the morning on Eleuthera Island, and worked 

 over a low country which stretches from the shore to high land about 

 a mile inland. The day was perfect and our collections comprised a 

 number of birds and a good representation of the shore fauna. 



In the afternoon two hauls with the tangle, at stations 2G30 (244 

 fathoms) and 2G31 (280 fathoms), brought up only a few glass sponges 

 and a few small pieces of coral. 



March 13 a haul with beam trawl, near the head of Exuma Sound, 

 at station 2632 (79L fathoms) showed a bottom of white coral ooze with 

 no apparent animal life. 



We anchored in Nassau Harbor, New Providence, on the morning of 

 March 15, and remained till March 24. 



To Governor and Mrs. Blake we are indebted for much assistance in 

 our work of making collections, as their knowledge of the character of 

 the country, and of the localities in which certain things could be found, 

 was a great help to us. 



Mrs. Blake had a very fine collection of stone implements, from 

 various islands, and a lignum-vitai stool from a cave on Rum Cay, of 

 which we got very fair negatives. 



The fish-market at Nassau afforded an opportunity for making a 

 large collection of fish, as the fishermen are compelled to sell all their 

 fish through the market. The fishing industry is a large one, and I give 

 a few detads from data collected upon the subject by Mr. Benedict. 



There is no record of the number of vessels employed in fishing, but 

 it is estimated at 120 sail. The vessels are principally of two classes — 

 schooners, measuring 28 to 30 feet on the keel, and sloops of about 18 

 feet keel. 



The schooners carry a crew of 7 men and do most of their fishing with 

 seine of 1-inch mesh, 30 fathoms long, and 80 meshes deep. The sloops 



