X -REPORT UPON THE OPERATIONS OF THE U. S. FISH COM- 

 MISSION SCHOONER GRAMPUS FROM JUNE 5, 1886, TO MARCH 

 15, 1887. 



By J. W. Collins. 



The Grampus was completed by the contractor, and went into com- 

 mission on the morning of June 5, 188G, previous to which time the offi- 

 cers (first mate, D. E. Collins; second mate, J. M. Coombs; machinist, 

 G. W. Williams), three seamen, and the cook had joined her and were 

 assisting in making preparations for sea. At 10.40 a. m. on the 5th of 

 June, we left Noauk, Conn., and arrived at Wood's Holl on the after- 

 noon of June G. On J une 8 we sailed from SVood's Holl for Gloucester, 

 where we arrived at G.30 p. m. on the following day . Boats and fishing 

 gear which had been made at Gloucester were taken on board at that 

 place, and some necessary changes were made in the sails. On June 

 14, left Gloucester for Boston, arriving at the latter place the same 

 afternoon. The chronometer and other instruments and apparatus 

 f were taken on board at Boston. Returned to Gloucester June 16; 

 on June 22 sailed from Gloucester for Wood's Holl, reaching the latter 

 place at 7 p. m. on the following day. The vessel remained at Wood's 

 Holl until August 12, the time in the interim being spent in making the 

 necessary preparations for a cruise. 



On the morning of August 12 we left Wood's noil on a cruise to the 

 so-called "tilefish grounds," which lie along the northern edge of the 

 Gulf Stream, in depths varying from 75 to 175 fathoms, between the 

 meridians 70° and 73° west longitude. 



After leaving Wood's Holl we went to Newport for bait, arriving at 

 that place the same evening. A supply of menhaden bait was obtained 

 on the 13th from fishing steamers off Wickford, and the next day a 

 quantity of clam bait was purchased at Newport. 



At 5.40 p. m., August 14, got under way at Newport and proceeded 

 to sea. On the afternoon of August 15 three trawls were set in 9G 

 fathoms, latitude 39° 59' N., longitude 70° 15' W. 



From this time until and including August 21, trials were made 

 every day, with the exception of August 17 (when it was too rough to 

 fish), with hand lines and trawl-lines in depths varying from GO to 1G0 

 fathoms, at intervals of from 5 to 20 miles apart, until a position was 

 reached, latitude 39° 20', longitude 72° 04' 15", where the trawls were set 

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