124 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [S] 



were seen. Before arriving* on our intended dredging ground it was 

 blowing a moderate gale from northeast, with heavy sea — too rough for 

 our work. The vessel was therefore put head to wind and sea under easy 

 steam until 2 a. m. on the 20th, then put before it, running back to our 

 station by daylight. The wind had moderated in the mean while, but 

 a heavy easterly swell was still rolling in. Later in the day quite a 

 large number of soundings were taken which will be useful in filling 

 gaps on the chart. Porpoises were frequently seen about the ship. The 

 weather was still unsettled and the barometer very low, a dense fog- 

 prevailing at intervals. 



During the 21st several successful hauls of the trawl were taken. 

 The fog continued with an occasional interval of clear weather. At 

 5.40 p. m. we steamed ahead for the purpose of making an examination 

 of the coast for schooling fish or fishermen. We passed Barnegat about 

 10 a. m. on the 22d, and steamed along the coast to Sandy Hook, get- 

 ting sight of land occasionally as the fog lifted. No schooling fish nor 

 fishing vessels were seen. The barometer was still low, 29.57, and the 

 weather unsettled. Leaving the Hook, we steamed along the southern 

 shore of Long Island during the night, passing Block Island at 8 a. m. 

 on the morning- of the 23d. Several fishing schooners were seen in the 

 harbor, but none outside. A heavy southerly swell and thick fog with 

 low barometer induced me to run into Newport, E. I., for a harbor to 

 save coal. 



The weather having improved we got under way at 10.40 a. m. on the 

 24th and ran over to Montauk Point, thence to Block Island and No 

 Man's Land, keeping a good lookout for schools of fish, but saw none. 

 There were several fishing schooners in Newport, and we met quite a num- 

 ber standing in as we were going out. A dozen or more were standing 

 oif and on to the southward of Block Island, and occasionally one was 

 seen farther to the eastward, as far even as No Man'is Land. There 

 were a large number in the harbor at Block Island^ the bad weather of 

 the last few days having probably driven them in there for shelter. 

 From No Man's Land we stood to the southward under very low speed 

 for two hours, during which the arc light was hung over the side near 

 the water to attract fish. We succeeded in drawing quite a number of 

 Mother Carey's chickens around us, and attracted so many salpa to the 

 surface that Mr. Benedict gave up surface towing, saying that he could 

 get nothing else in his net. 



I have been ansious to see the effect of this brilliant light on a school 

 of mackerel, but, unfortunately, we have fallen in with none at night. 

 The light was finally taken in and the speed increased to bring us to 

 the lopholatilus ground at daylight. We succeeded in getting a barrel 

 of bait in Newport and proposed setting a trawl line on our best ground 

 for tilefish. 



The morning of the 25th opened clear and pleasant with light to 

 moderate breeze from southwest. At 5.15 a. m. we lowered the dinghy 



