[45] WORK OF FISH COMMISSION STEAMER ALBATROSS. 161 



taiued but little information here, unfavorable weather having practi- 

 cally put a stop to mackerel fishing for nearly a week. Fresh southerly 

 winds held during the 19th, followed by fog and drizzling rain on 

 the 20th, ending with strong northeast winds, which continued through 

 the 21st. The morning of the 22d opened with a moderate northeast 

 wind and clear weather. At 6.50 a. m. we left Gloucester Harbor and 

 steamed to the southward, passing to the eastward of Stellwagen Bank 

 about 15 miles to seaward of Cape Cod, thence to South Channel, taking 

 the course usually followed by mackerel when leaving the coast. No 

 fish were seen, however, till about 10.30 p. ra., when, in the vicinity of 

 Fishing Kip, small bunches of tinker mackerel were observed from time 

 to time under the bow. There were no large fish among them. It was 

 our intention to use lines, gill-nets, «&;c., in this locality, but unfavora- 

 ble weather made it impracticable to lower a boat or carry on operations 

 of any kind with a probability of success. Having cleared the channel 

 we stood for the South Shoal light-ship, passing it at 3 a. m., No Man's 

 Land at 8.50 a. m., and, at 12.30 p. m., latitude 41° 07' 30" N., longitude 

 710 07' W., in 18 fathoms of water, on Cox Ledge, we lowered the dinghy 

 and set a trawl-line with 500 hooks. While the boat was absent several 

 hand lines were used by the crew ; 13 codfish, 11 dogfish, and 1 hake 

 were, taken. At 3.12 p. m. the dinghy returned to the ship, having taken 

 on the trawl-line 21 codfish, 50 dogfish, 30 skate, 2 sea bass, 1 goosefish, 

 1 hake, 2 lobsters, &c. The majority of the codfish were females with 

 partially developed roes ; there were many dogfish also with half-grown 

 young. All the fish taken were carefully examined for parasites. Dur- 

 ing the afternoon there were unmistakable signs of a northeaster ap- 

 proaching, and as our coal was getting low I considered it advisable 

 to make a port as soon as practicable. With this object in view we 

 started for Sandy Hook, under steam and sail, as soon as the dinghy was 

 hoisted, thinking we might possibly get in before the storm reached us ; 

 but at 8 p. m. it was blowing a moderate gale with thick, misty weather. 

 The wind and sea were increasing rapidly, and as it was not desirable 

 under the circumstances to reach Sandy Hook before daylight, all sail 

 was taken in and the engines slowed down. We ran before wind and 

 sea till 4.45 a. m. on the 24th, when we hove to head to wind about 15 

 miles east of the light-ship, the weather being very thick. At 6.35 a. m. 

 we started ahead under low speed, and at 11.10 a. m. anchored inside of 

 Sandy Hook. 



The gale of last night was the heaviest this vessel ever encountered 

 at sea, and consequently her behavior was ob served with great care. 

 The rolling motion was, as usual, remarkably , easy but the pitching rather 

 greater than it should be ; the engines worked well. Sprays were fly- 

 ing over the rail fore and aft, but we shipped no heavy seas, and the ves- 

 sel sustained no damage whatever. 



At 7.30 a. m. on the 25th we got under way and steamed to the navy- 

 yard, arriving at 11.30 a. m. Preparations were m;i(le for coaling, and 

 H. Mis. 67 11 



