144 REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [28] 



25. I believe that steam launches could be used to set seines out. 



On July 13 Captain Almy visited the factory of Luce Brothers, whose 

 foreman made the following statement, viz : 



"This factory has been in operation twenty-three years, employing 

 three steamers, carrying four gangs. We have caught up to date this 

 season 5,312,000 fish ^ caught last year 13,000,000. Eeceived the first 

 fish this season on May 14. Closed last year on the 16th of November. 

 The last fish was taken on that date. The average of oil to the thou- 

 sand fish is 2 gallons at present. We catch very few edible fish with 

 menhaden. Very few fish are caught after the water is colder than 52° 

 Fahr. We rig our seines deeper for outside fishing than for fishing in 

 the bays. The principal edible fish in this neighborhood are tautog, 

 flounders, small mackerel, bluefish, weakfish, and cunners. Eels are 

 very plenty. Ko large mackerel ever come here. We get the most fish 

 during calm weather. The largest catch ever known at this factory in 

 one season was 29,000,000. Fish were much fatter last season than this. 

 More fish have been reported on this coast this season than have been 

 known before for three or four years." 



We left port again at 3 p. m. July 16, with a number of naturalists 

 on board, for an off-shore trip. The weather was calm and clear, with 

 smooth sea. Several swordfish were sighted off No Man's Land, and 

 the steam cutter lowered for one, but failed to get it. 



At 9 a. m. the following day we cast the lead in 1,346 fathoms, lat- 

 itude 39° 27' 10" N., longitude 69° 56' 20" W., and put the trawl over. 

 We made another haul in 1,362 fathoms, latitude 39° 26' 16" N., lon- 

 gitude 70° 02' 37" W. Both hauls were successful. We also took a set 

 of serial temperatures and water specimens from the surface to 1,000 ' 

 fathoms. 



The last haul was finished about 10 p. m., when the vessel was headed 

 to the southward, and at daylight the following morning we cast the 

 lead in 1,735 fathoms, latitude 38o 52' 40" N., longitude 69° 24' 40" W., 

 and put the trawl over. Another haul was made during the day in 1,731 

 fathoms, latitude 38° 53' N., longitude 69° 23' 30" W. Several new 

 species were found both yesterday and to-day. A set of serial temper- 

 atures and water specimens was taken from the surface to 1,600 fathoms. 

 Bottom temperatures were observed also, and a water specimen taken 

 from 1,731 fathoms. The last haul was finished at 9 p. m., when we 

 started for port. 



The weatbor continued pleasant and the sea smooth. The dredging 

 apparatus worked well, but the blocks are wearing rapidly and will re- 

 quire repairs. The arc light was used for night work and answered the 

 purpose admirably, the naturalists finding no difficulty in picking over 

 the contents of the trawl and carrying on the usual work on deck. There 

 were two Negretti-Zambra thermometers lost during the trip and about 

 300 fathoms of heavy sounding wire used on the small sounding machine 



