160 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [44] 



we proiDOsed setting a trawl line for tilefish. We were on the ground 

 at the proper time, but the weather was so boistrous that it was not con- 

 sidered prudent to lower a boat ; it was too rough even for dredging, and 

 as our coal supply was nearly exhausted, we started for Wood's Holl. 

 We encountered strong head winds during the day, finally anchoring in 

 Tarpaulin Cove at 10.40 p. m., where we remained till 6 a. m. on the 

 5th, when we got under way and arrived at Wood's Holl at 6.40 a. m., 

 making fast to our moorings. 



We remained in port till the morning of October 11, when we left for 

 Newport, E. I., for coal, arriving at the latter place during the afternoon. 

 Oapt. Jacob Almy, expert fishermen, left the ship on the 12th, his term 

 of service having expired. It may not be out of place for me to mention 

 here that he has been of great service to us in his specialty. At 2.45 

 p. m. we commenced coaling from a schooner alongside and finished 

 during the afternoon of the following day, having taken on board 98^ 

 tons. 



The weather, which had been unsettled with fog and rain since the 

 9th, cleared on the 15th, and at 5.30 p. m. the following day we got un- 

 der way and proceeded to sea. We had on board, in addition to the 

 ship's company, Oapt. J. W. Oollins, expert fisherman, and Mr. San- 

 derson Smith and Ensign W. S. Safford, naturalists. 



After passing out of the harbor we stood toward Block Island, and, 

 leaving it on the starboard hand, ran 10 miles to seaward, then changed 

 the course to pass 10 miles south of ISTo Man's Land, thence to South 

 Shoal light-ship, the primary object of the cruise being a search for 

 mackerel, menhaden, &c. With a view of gaining some knowledge of 

 their migrations, we took the direction in which they would be most 

 likely to appear if there were any schools on the Block Island ground. 

 We saw none, however, and after passing the light-ship, stood for the 

 Fishing Eip, where the schools east of Cape Cod usually disappear when 

 leaving the coast. We saw no signs of fish on the surface, and, the water 

 being too rough for boat work, we laid a course for Cape Cod, anchoring 

 in Provincetown Harbor at 30.55 p. m., where we found the mackerel 

 fleet nearly 300 in number. They got under way at daylight the follow- 

 ing morning, the majority standing for Barnstable Bay, some going out- 

 side of Cape Cod, and others in the direction of Stellwagen Bank. Cap- 

 tain Collins visited several vessels during the morning to ascertain as 

 far as practicable the movements of the schools of mackerel on the New 

 England coast. The captains all stated that but few fish had been 

 taken for five days, owing to unfavorable weather, and it was difficult 

 to say where the fish were now. At 11.55 a. m. we left Provincetown, 

 observing the fleet in Barnstable Bay as we passed out, and later those 

 off Cape Cod, but there were no boats out. Having run about 10 miles 

 to the eastward of Eace Point, we steamed across Boston Bay and at 6.10 

 p. m. anchored outside of Ten Pound Island, Gloucester Harbor. The 

 day ended with fresh southerly winds and unsettled weather. We ob- 



