FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 55 



station, during the Summer of 1878, and the warning signals have proved 

 of great advantage to mariners. 



On the 25th of July the Tallapoosa visited Gloucester, having on board 

 the Secretary of the Navy, Hon. R. W. Thompson, the Chief Naval Con- 

 structor, Chief Engineer, Paymaster General, and other naval officers. The 

 steamer remained in port two days, the visitors making a dredging trip on 

 the Speedwell. 



One of the most valuable results at the Gloucester station was the dem- 

 onstration of the fact that codfish, haddock, herring, and other deep sea fish 

 could be artificially propagated as readily as shad, whitefish, and other deni- 

 zens of our rivers and lakes. Assistant Commissioner Milner, Capt. Ches- 

 ter and Messrs. Frank N. Clark and Robert E. Hall had charge of the 

 cod-hatching experiments, which were entered upon after the departure of 

 their associates. Various devices were tried, until the proper conditions 

 were realized, and several millions of codfish were hatched out and turned 

 into the harbor, where they could be readily observed around the wharves 

 the following Summer, having made a good growth. It was also found that 

 herring, haddock, and pollock could be artificially multiplied at will. The 

 results of the experiments were all that could have been expected, and much 

 valuable information was secured that will be of great advantage if the work 

 is ever attempted on a large scale. 



The fish-hatching establishment was broken up in the early part of Janu- 

 ary, 1879, but the Commission retained its laboratory for the reception and 

 preparation of specimens brought in by Gloucester fishing vessels until the 

 Summer of 1881. Mr. Earle remained in charge of the work in 1879, anc * 

 was succeeded by Mr. A. Howard Clark in 1880. Since the laboratory was 

 closed in 1881, Capt. Stephen J. Martin has been the local representative 

 of the Commission, keeping a record of fishing arrivals and securing other 

 information necessary to the prosecution of its work. 



Around Cape Ann. 



In 1606, we have seen, our harbor was named Le Beau Port, and sin- 

 cerely. Harbors differ as men do. Harbors are human and something like 

 women ; they have their own times for dainty and delicate attire. To know 

 them, you must study them, under daylight, under twilight ; at sunrise and 

 sunset ; under the full harvest moon ; at low tide and high tide ; in a storm 

 and after it is over ; then will you find some mood to admire, new beauty 

 come to sight. Our harbor, like every other, sulks sometimes, one must 

 allow. A dog-day's fog has hung over it, or wrung itself dry into it, to-day. 



