XXXIV REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



ported her gross tonnage 54,49, net tonnage 28.76; and signal letters 

 G. V. Q. D. were assigned her. 



On the 19th of that month she was joined at Charleston by Assist- 

 ant Commissioner T. B. Ferguson, who proceeded to Florida for the 

 purpose of investigating the condition of the shad fisheries on the South- 

 ern Atlantic coast, with a view of establishing hatching stations. Ex- 

 tracts from Mr. Ferguson's report on this inspection will be found on 

 page 244 of the fourth volume of the Fish Commission Bulletin (1884). 

 The Lookout returned to Charleston on the 2d of April, the investiga- 

 tions in the more southern waters having been hurriedly made on ac- 

 count of being due at Washington to report for work on the Potomac 

 and Susquehanna Kivers. 



She arrived in Washington on the 19th, but having been run into by 

 a schooner in the narrow channel near the navy -yard, she was sent to 

 Baltimore for repairs, which were completed by the 2d of May. She was 

 immediately transferred to the Potomac Eiver, where she materially 

 aided, in the prosecution of the shad-hatching operations in that local- 

 ity. 



During the month of June she was employed as a dispatch boat in 

 making inspections of the Saint Jerome and Battery stations j but, un- 

 fortuuately, on the 30th of the month, while proceeding down the Poto- 

 mac, her shaft broke. This accident deprived the Commission of her 

 services until the necessary repairs could be made. Secretary Chandler 

 having given instructions for the repairs to be promptly made at the 

 Washington navy-yard, they were completed by the 11th of July, and on 

 the following day she sailed for the Lower Chesapeake, and was em- 

 ployed during the rest of the month in hatching the Spanish mackerel 

 and investigating the oyster-beds in that region. 



In September she was utilized for transferring flumes, to be used in 

 the oyster-ponds, from Saint Jerome station to Norfolk, to be treated 

 with preservatives. 



This service was intermitted by the transfer of the vessel for a time to 

 the subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Sena- 

 tor Lapham, chairman, which was engaged in making inquiries into the 

 condition of the menhaden fisheries of the Chesapeake. On the com- 

 pletion of this work she resumed the transfer of the lumber between 

 Saint Jerome and Norfolk, and then returned to Washington. 



After a short stay she was again employed in connection with the 

 Saint Jerome station during November. 



At the close of the year the Lookout was laid up at the Washington 



navy-yard to undergo repairs and some alterations for the purpose of 



better adapting her to the varied services which she might be called 



upon to perform. 



D. — Launches. 



The only launch actually belonging to the miscellaneous service of 

 the Commission, Herreshoff, No. 82, was in constant service during the 



