[7] WORK OF FISH C0MM1SSI0:S STEAMER ALBATROSS. 123 



staudiug off and on toward tlie fleet, which was sighted at daylight ou 

 the juorning of the 7th. At 6 a. m., iu hititude 37^ 03' N., longitude 75° 

 03' W., we sighted several schools of mackerel, most of them being 

 small fish. There were but three or four seines out from a fleet of up- 

 wards of 60 vessels in sight at one time. 



Havijig fairly struck the schools in shore, we ran 35 miles to the east- 

 ward to ascertain how far they extended seaward. No fish were seen, 

 however, after leaving the locality where we saw them iu tbe morning. 



Being in about 800 fathoms at the end of this run we took the op- 

 portunity to try the trawl again, and made one very successful haul 

 During the second one, however, we lost the trawl and 10 or 15 fath 

 oms of dredge rope. The accident was the result of kinkiug and the 

 fault rests between myself and the dredge rope. 1 have not yet been 

 able to judge satisfactorily which is responsible for the frequent losses 

 during our present trip. 



At 6.40 p. m. we started in shore, and at 11 p. m. hove to 5 miles to 

 the northward of the spot where mackei-el were seen in the morning, 

 but neither fish nor fishermen were visible. The weather cuntiuued 

 clear and pleasant during the night, and at daylight on the 8th there 

 was a moderate breeze from south. We then ran in shore, sighting Cape. 

 Charles and Hog Island lights, and when within 12 miles of the latter 

 turned our head ofi" shore steering east-northeast until 10.45 a. m., when, 

 iu latitude 37° 22' K., longitude 75° 15' W., we ran into numerous schools 

 of mackerel ; many of them were, however, small fish. We put tlie large 

 towing net over and steamed through several schools, hoping to catch 

 some of the small fish upon which they were feeding. Two speciimeus 

 only were taken and carefully preserved in alcohol. We tried a gill 

 net for mackerel, thinking we might get a stray fish, but they promptly 

 dove under it whenever they encountered it. 



The fishing fleet were not in sight, and wishing to ascertain their 

 whereabouts, we ran 15 miles to the eastward to a i)oint about 18 miles 

 north of the position of the fleet yesterday morning, but neither fisher- 

 men nor fish were to be seen. The time had now arrived when it was 

 necessary to return to port for coal, and our head was accordingly turned 

 towards Cape Henry, between 50 and 60 miles to the southward and 

 westward. At 9 p. m. we anchored in Hampton Roads. 



At 8.30 a. m. the following day. May 9, we got under way and steamed 

 to the navy-yard, Norfolk, Va., for coal and repairs to boilers and ma- 

 chinery. We finished coaling on the 12th, necessary repairs detaining 

 us until 3.55 p. m. on the 18th, when we left the yard, and, passing the 

 Capes, stood to the eastward, intending to spend the following day in 

 the use of trawl and dredge. 



The weather was calm and clear during the evening, but there were 

 indications of wind which, in fact, we got before morning. A line of 

 soundings was taken on the way out to fill a gap on the coast chart. 

 A good lookout was kept also for mackerel and menhaden, but none 



