REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 127 
The steamer Blake, not being dependent upon favorable winds for 
carrying on the share of work allotted to it, was able to make much 
more rapid progress than the Grampus and to oceupy a larger number 
of stations. The area covered was the same as in 1859, except that the 
lines run by the Blake were carried out to sea a distance of 150 miles, 
those of the Grampus being restricted to 130 miles as before. The 
vessels were kept as far apart in an east and west direction as was 
feasible in conformity with the plans, in order that, so far as possible, 
parallel lines of observations might be made more or less conjointly in 
‘different parts of the field. The Blake was on the western side of the 
ground during the early part of J uly, and the Grampus on the eastern 
side, these relative positions being subsequently changed. Ten north 
and south lines, 10’ of longitude apart, were marked out as the courses 
‘to be followed by the vessels, but each of these was gone over two 
or more times, and the actual number of lines run was 27, with 382 
stops or stations for observation. The tetal number of observations 
was, for serial temperatures, 4,000; for specific gravity, 850, and for 
meteorology, 14,000. The temperature of the water was not taken this 
year at greater depths than 200 fathoms, but a complete meteorological 
record was made every hour while the vessels were at sea. 
On the light-ship meteorological observations were taken continu- 
ously, amounting to 18,000 separate entries for the season, the tempera- 
ture of the water was noted regularly at the surface and at depths of 
Dd, 10, ‘and 15 fathoms, and the changes in the surface specific gravity 
were recorded hourly. The direction and velocity of the tidal currents 
were also determined by means of a Ritchie-Haskell meter. 
An account of the investigations made in 1889 has been published 
in the Fish Commission Bulletin for the same year,* but Prof. Libbey 
has not yet completed his report for 1890, and any discussion of his 
conclusions must be left for a future time. In connection with the 
data obtained by the two expeditions, Prof. Libbey has also utilized 
the meteorological records for Boston and New York City, which have 
been kindly furnished by the Signal Office. Information of this char- 
acter has, therefore, been supplied from three stationary positions, two 
upon the land and one upon the sea, the latter being distant some 20 
miles from shore. It afiords an excellent opportunity for comparing 
the relations of atmospheric variations with those observed in connec- 
tion with the waters, and by continuing the study of the same for a 
term of years it will be possible to determine whether there is any co- 
ordination of conditions between the two elements, and if a change in 
one produces any effect upon the other. Some such relationship has 
been shown to exist, but its full extent can rot oes be established. 
*Report upon a physical Sabian of the waters off the ‘ee coast of 
Yew England, made during the summer of 1889 by the U. S. Fish Commission 
schooner Grampus. By William Libbey, Jr. Bull. U. S. Fish Comm., vol. rx, 1889, 
p. 391-459, pls. CXxXIVv-CLVU1. 
il 
