174 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [58] 



barren ground. This would, however, have nothing to do with the pres- 

 ence of surface fish, such as find their food in free swimming animals, 

 and it is altogether probable that at certain seasons, these waters may 

 swarm with multitudes of pelagic species making their migrations north 

 or south. So far as known, most of the migratory fishes that pass to 

 and fro by this coast keep close inshore, as a rule, though it is known 

 to fishermen that the bluefish occasionally go off to a distance of 15 to 

 25 miles from the land, and it is reasonable to suppose that other spe- 

 cies may also have similar habits. 



In this connection it may be well to remark that one of the principal 

 " signs" of the presence of bodies of fish passing up or down the coast 

 is the appearance of large flocks of sea birds, generally gulls, and fish- 

 ermen have learned by experience to watch for this indication, espe- 

 cially when engaged in bluefishing. Comparatively few birds were seen 

 on our cruise, these being all gulls, and those which were observed 

 failed to give any indication, by their movements, of the presence of 

 schooling fish, though their actions were carefully watched. 



At midday, and for two hours later, the ship at the time lying to, drift- 

 ing, wind blowing fresh southwest, many turtles were seen, perhaps as 

 many as 30. These showed themselves at the surface for a few minutes, 

 or perhaps only for one or two seconds at a time. JSTone of them seemed 

 to be asleep, and when they rose near us they immediately went under 

 as soon as they caught sight of the ship. Although as many as 3 or 4 

 were seen up at once, no opportunity offered for their capture. 



Sunday, NoYember 11. — Spent the day in dredging with beam trawl 

 in deep water. 



Monday, November 12. — A little before 8 a. m. we sounded in 40 fath- 

 oms, latitude 36° 16' 15" N., longitude 74° 51' 20" W. ; bottom dark-gray 

 sand and gravel. We put out 4 hand lines baited with menhaden and 

 tried for fish nearly an hour, but failed to catch anything. 



The results of this trial were, perhaps, not quite so conclusive as those 

 previously made, owing to the fact that our bait by this time was in 

 poor condition. It is barely possible that fish might have been caught 

 with better bait. It may, however, be safe to assume that had there 

 been present any large number of fish, the long and careful trial that 

 was made would have resulted in the capture of a few specimens at 

 least. 



The wind, which had been blowing fresji from southwest, causing a 

 choppy sea to get up while we were trying for fish, shortly afterward 

 veered to NW., and increased to a moderate gale. The ship headed in 

 for the Chesapeake, and the fishery investigations closed, for the cruise, 

 with the trial above described. 

 Yery respectfully, 



J. W. COLLINS. 



Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. K, 



Commanding V. S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross. 



