[5] WORK OF Fisn commt«^;to\ steamer albatross. 121 



fiitboms of rope. Sevenil soundings wore taken with the Sij^sbee ma- 

 chine, and towards evening- we steamed in sliore heaAing- to linally to 

 the eastward of Hatteras light, where mackerel would be most likely to 

 appear if passing the cape. 



We stood offshore again on the morning of the 2Gth and made two 

 attempts to work the trawl in the Gulf stream. Jn the hrst instance it 

 came up foul, and in the second the trawl was lost, only a few fathoms 

 of rope being lost with it. After cruising actively during the day we 

 stood inshore towards evening, and at 8.30 p. m. hove to oft' Bodies Isl- 

 and light. While iu the Gulf stream to-day large numbers of black 

 fish and porpoises were seen about the ship. The weather was clear 

 and pleasant with light southwest wind. No indications of mackerel. 



On Sunday morning, April 21), we stood inshore and hove to for 

 several hours, then steamed offshore. The weather was clear during 

 the early part of the day but clouded over about noon, and at 2 p. m. 

 we had a thundci' squall from southwest, the wind shifting to northwest 

 and northnortheast blowing a moderate gale during the night with 

 heavy swell. The vessel behaved well and li(n' motions were remark- 

 ably easy. No iiulications of schooling tisli. 



We hove to till daylight the following moiniug, then steamed off- 

 shore and made three casts of trawl and dredge. 1'lie trawl and 1,380 

 fathoms of dredge rope were lost on the last haul, the accident being 

 caused by the dredge block at the boom end giving away. Water sjiec- 

 imens and serial temperatures w^ere taken in about 700 fathoms. No 

 schooling fish w^ere seen during the day. A temporary dredge block 

 was fitted and, although not suitable for the work, we -managed to use 

 it. 



The weather cleared daring the day aud the wind moderated, but 

 there was still a heavy easterly swell. The vessel w^as hove to for the 

 night. 



The su^bmarine lamp was lowered dunug the evening and the lights 

 extinguished at about 100 feet below the surface. After being lowered 

 GOO feet and hauled up there was nothing remaining but the metal 

 frame. 



On May 1 the weather was clear during the morning, clouding up 

 later in the day. At 6.35 a. m. we cast the trawd iu 373 fathoms, mak- 

 ing a successful haul although we did not accomplisli it without acci- 

 dent. The makeshift dredge block was unfitted for its work, causing 

 an injury to the rope which made it necessary to cut and s]>lice it. This 

 occupied most of the day. At 7 p. m. we steamed ahead for Cape 

 Henry, making the light at 12.35 a. m. We then stood to the northward, 

 passing as close in as prudent. A fresh northeaster w^as blowing aud a 

 heavy sea running, making it unadvisable to get into less than 7 or 8 

 fathoms. 



About 6 miles to the eastward of Hog L;land light we passed a ves- 

 sel's mast, the mast-head showing above water. It was apparently fast 



