VIII -REPORT OF OPERATIONS OF THE U. S. FISH COMMISSION 

 STEAMER FISH HAWK FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 

 31, 1886. 



By Mate James A. Smith, U. S. N., Commanding. 



The following is a general report of the operations of this vessel for 

 the year 188G : 



On January 1 the vessel was moored to the wharf at the U. S. Fish 

 Commission Station at Wood's Holl, Mass. The crew and some of the 

 batching equipment of (he vessel were utilized in the codfish hatching 

 work then being conducted at that statiou. This continued until Feb- 

 ruary 14, when the vessel proceeded to New Bedford, Mass., to procure 

 coal and stores, returning to the station at Wood's Holl on February 

 16. The next few days were spent in building a live-fish car, and other- 

 wise preparing for a trip to the cod fishing-grounds in Ipswich Bay, for 

 the purpose of procuring spawn for propagating purposes. On Feb- 

 ruary 21 left station at Wood's Holl and proceeded down Vineyard 

 Sound, bound for Gloucester, Mass., arriving there at 8 a. m. the next 

 day. 



On February 21 got under way from Gloucester Harbor, steamed to 

 Ipswich Bay, and in that vicinity boarded several fishing vessels in 

 search of codfish spawn, but did not succeed in procuring any, and pro- 

 ceeded to harbor of Portsmouth, N. H. Came to anchor in the road- 

 stead at 4 p. m. 



On February 25 got under way at 5 a. m., steamed out towards the 

 Isles of Shoals, boarded several fishing vessels, and succeeded in pro- 

 curing about 8,000,000 of codfish eggs. Then proceeded to Portsmouth 

 Harbor and came to anchor off New Castle. Shipped 4,000,000 cod eggs 

 from Portsmouth, N. H., to Wood's Holl Station. A severe gale of wind 

 from SSE. shifted to NW., in which some slight damage was done to 

 vessel by two schooners fouling while at anchor. Steam-launch of the 

 vessel was also sunk, and at times there was great danger of the vessel 

 dragging on the rocks, which was happily averted. Weather moder- 

 ating on the 27th, at 3 p. m. slipped starboard and port chains, steamed 

 up the river, and arrived at Kittery navy-yard, where the vessel was 

 made fast to the wharf and remained until the gale was over. 



On March 3, at 3 p. m., steamed down the river and picked up the 

 buoy; unshipped anchors and chains, which were both secured. Swept 

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