[47] WOEK OF FlSIl COMMISSION STEAMER ALBATROSS. 163 



ing a depth of 100 fathoms at daylight aud setting a trawl line for tile- 

 fish. The weather was clear and pleasant through the day with light 

 southerly and westerly winds and smooth sea, but during the evening 

 it clouded up and the wind increased to a strong breeze from WSW. 

 with passing showers. 



At 6.05 a. m. on the 7th we sounded in 197 fathoms, sand and shells, 

 near the spot w^here we intended setting the trawl line, but the wind 

 and sea were so high that it was impracticable to lower a boat or, in 

 fact, to put a dredge or trawl over in safety. The day following our de- 

 parture from New "York, William Hall, landsman, engineers' force, was 

 taken seriously ill with pneumonia complicated by an attack of pleurisy. 

 He was in a critical condition, totally unable to survive a protracted 

 gale which we were liable to encounter at any time in the region of Cape 

 Hatteras during the month of November. Therefore I determined to 

 transfer hini to the United States naval hospital at Norfolk, Ya., as soon 

 as possible, and at 6.43 a. m. started ahead at full speed for that place. It 

 was blowing a moderate gale from NW. with heavy sea during the fore- 

 noon, moderating later in the day as we approached laud, and at 4.45 p. 

 m., when we anchored oft' Fortress Monroe, it had fallen to light westerly 

 airs. At 6.38 on the morning of the 8th we got under way for Norfolk, 

 arriving at 8 a. m.; transfered the patient to the hospital, and at 11.45 

 a. m., left the navy-yard and proceeded to sea. The winds were variable 

 during the day from light to moderate with pleasant weather and 

 smooth sea. We passed Cape Henry at 3.17 p. m. and steamed to the 

 southward, passing within range of the lights along the coast, keeping 

 the usual lookout both on deck and at the mast-head for schools of 

 fish. At 6.50 a. m. on the 9th we sounded in 19 fathoms, 19 miles NE. 

 by E. (magnetic) of Hatteras light and put over all available hand lines 

 baited with menhaden. The results of half an hour's fishing was one 

 shark, and, after changing ground to 16 fathoms, 15 miles E. by N. of 

 Hatteras light, another one was caught about 4 feet in length. Its 

 stomach was found to contain squid enough to fill an ordinary deck 

 bucket. Having satisfied ourselves that there were no fish to be taken 

 here, we put over the trawl, which demonstrated the absence of life on 

 the bottom, 1 star-fish and 3 small crabs representing the marine life 

 found in the net. Four more hauls of the trawl with boat-dredge at- 

 tached were made during the day in from 48 to 9S8 fathoms with ex- 

 cellent results. The last haul was finished at 11 p. m., with a moderate 

 southwest gale and heavy sea, which sprung up rapidly from a fresh 

 breeze and moderate swell during the afternoon. As soon as the trawl 

 was landed, we steamed inshore to make a lee under Cape Hatteras, and 

 at 2.40 a. m. the following day hove to in 15 fathoms, the light bearing 

 SW. by S., where we found comparatively smooth water. Three hauls 

 of the trawl with dredge attached were made in shoal water during the 

 day, wind and sea being too heavy to admit of working in deep water 

 off shore. 



The wind moderated during the night, and on the morning of the 11th 



