[5] OPERATIONS OF SCHOONER GRAMPUS. 705 



set up taut before sailing. (September 21 we took ou board six tous of 

 ice, and the next day, just before sailing, the water tanks were refilled. 

 As previously mentioned, the repairs on the vessel were completed 

 at noon of September 22, and at 4.20 p. m. of the same day we sailed 

 on a cruise to the banks under the following orders: 



TJ. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 



Wood's Roll, Mass., September 19, 1880. 

 Sir: As soon as the repairs and alterations incident upon the com- 

 pletion of the new windlass are completed, you will proceed with the 

 Grampus to some one of the eastern banks for the purpose of determin- 

 ing the possibility of bringing in cod and halibut living, in connection 

 with the artificial propagation of these species. If you can add some 

 living haddock or pollock or others of the gadoid fish, you will do so. 

 Should you find any of these fish spawning, it may be well to try the 

 experiment of stripping them on the spot, and bringing the eggs in 

 under such conditions as you and Mr. Cars well may decide upon. The 

 locality to be visited, and the period of your stay, are left to your dis- 

 cretion. The vessel will return to Wood's Holl with its cargo. 



You will also obtain as good a series of the sea-fowl of the coast as 

 you can secure, procuring as many duplicates as possible. A few speci- 

 mens of each species should be brought in the flesh, to be forwarded to 

 the National Museum. 



Very respectfully, 



SPENCEft F. BALRD, 



Commissioner. 

 Capt. J. W. Collins, 



Commanding Schooner Grampus* Gloucester. 



We passed Eastern Point at 5.25 p. m., and at 11 a. m., September 

 23, we spoke the schooner Carrie E. Payson, of Portland, one of the 

 gill-net herring fishing fleet, off Wood Island, Maine. From her we ob- 

 tained 8 barrels of fresh herring, which we immediately iced for bait. 



As soon as the bait was on board (at 11.50 a. m.) we filled away on 

 port tack, close hauled by the wind, heading SE. £ S., with a moderate 

 breeze E. The latter part of the day was rainy, Avith light to moderate 

 wind from E. to SE., varied, by calms; weather threatening in appear- 

 ance. 



We went into Portland Harbor for the night, in company with a large 

 fleet of fishing and coasting vessels, and at 8 p. m. anchored off Fort 

 Preble. 



At 6 a. in,, September 24, we got under way, and ran out of Portland 

 with a light breeze, which varied from W. to WNW. The wind gradu- 

 ally increased during the p. m., and at midnight blew a moderate gale 

 from NNE. 



The wind blew stiff during the first part of the 25th, decreasing to 

 moderate breeze at meridian. 

 S. Mis. 90 45 



