700 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2] 



From June 11 to the end of the month the vessel was used for several 

 freight trips. 



On June 30 the steamer proceeded to Hawkins Hole, behind Hamp- 

 ton Eoads, and fitted up apparatus for the artificial hatching of crabs. 

 On July 3 several female crabs were secured, the spawn of which was 

 placed in hatching-jars. On July 8 deposited crab spawn in Elizabeth 

 Eiver. On July 10 secured the spawn of five female crabs and placed 

 it in hatching jars. On July 12 overhauled pound-nets in the vicinity 

 of Back Eiver Light. The catch of mackerel was very small, one net 

 securing 130 mackerel and 25 pompanos, none of which were found to 

 be ripe. 



On July 28 the command of the vessel was turned over to William 

 Hainlen, James A. Smith having been transferred to the command of 

 the steamer Fish Hawk. 



On July 30 the vessel left Baltimore, bound for Wood's Holl, reach- 

 ing New York City on August 4 and Wood's Holl on August 9. On 

 the 26th of August search was made in the neighborhood of Cox's Ledge 

 for swordfish, without success. On August 20 proceeded, with the as- 

 sistant commissioner on board, to Mattapoisett, Mass., to meet Gen. 

 W. F. Smith. On the return trip to Wood's Holl, without any known 

 cause, the shaft snapped and the propeller was lost. The vessel was 

 then examined by a submarine diver, and the brokeu shaft removed. 

 On September 7, with the assistance of a diver, the wheel was recovered 

 from the channel. On September 14 the vessel was towed by the Fish 

 Hawk to Bristol, E. I., and hauled up to Herreshoff Manufacturing 

 Company's wharf While waiting to be hauled out on the railway the 

 crew was engaged in painting and cleaning. On October 1 the vessel 

 was towed to Providence, E. I., and hauled out on the dry-dock for re- 

 pairs. 



On October 4 conveyed the assistant commissioner to Fall Eiver. 

 Later in the month trips were made to Newport, E. I.j New Bedford, 

 Mass. 5 Noank, Conn. ; and New London, Conn. At the latter place the 

 assistant commissioner rejoined the vessel, and the compasses were 

 tested by Lieutenants Waring and Scott, of the Albatross. 



On October 25 the Halcyon, with the assistant commissioner on board, 

 left Wood's Holl for Battery Station, where she arrived October 29 and 

 remained until November 1. After this various trips were made to Bal- 

 timore, Saint Jerome, and Annapolis, at which latter point the assistant 

 commissioner joined the ship. 



In the early part of December the vessel got aground from dragging 

 of anchor, and it was impossible to get afloat until the 9th, when the 

 tugs Pacific and Champlin towed her to Havre de Grace. In endeavor- 

 ing to get off, the condeusing-pipe was broken. This necessitated going 

 to Baltimore for repairs, where she remained alongside of Skinner & 

 Son's railway wharf until the close of the year. 



Baltimore, Md., January 4, 1887. 



