1092 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [4J 



Professor Brooks's laboratory that success in that line could only be 

 attained by handling on a large scale — that is, by having a large body 

 of water in which a slight circulation could be maintained. I am glad 

 to learn that Professor Ryder has proved this to be feasible. 



On July 13 work was interrupted by the shij) being driven ashore 

 during a squall and was not resumed uiitil the 21st. 



I found that there were about 20 small seines fished during the sum- 

 mer on both sides of Cape Henry, the larger number being on the in- 

 side. I visited two of these, one on the bay and the other on the At- 

 lantic side. The principal catch of the first was spots. The other took 

 a great variety, including sheexjshead and occasionally a few mackerel. 



If the catch of these outside nets, especially those further south, were 

 watched carefully, I think the runs of mackerel up the bay could be 

 foretold with considerable accuracy. 



On the 29th of July, at the request of the health authorities, I towed 

 the hospital barge Seldon to Fisherman's Inlet and moored it. On 

 August 3, went to Norfolk and shipped hatching outfit to Washington, 

 and, on the 4th, started for Baltimore, arriving on the afternoon of the 

 5th. Had the vessel docked, overhauled, and filled with coal, and left 

 again on Sunday, August 12, for Fortress Monroe, via Cherrystone Inlet, 

 where I went to try and get one more lot of eggs. We overhauled five 

 nets on the 13th, but got no eggs. Was delayed until the 17th in Hamp- 

 ton Eoads by bad weather, but left there on the evening of that day. 

 Arrived inside Sandy Hook at midnight of the 18th. Got under way on 

 the morning of the 19th, and after sending ashore for possible mail in 

 New York, proceeded through Hell Gate and up the Sound, anchoring 

 off Bridgeport, Conn., at 6.30 p. m. Got under way again at 7.20 a. m. 

 of the 20th, and arrived at Wood's Holl at 8.55 p. m. that day. 



I append a table giving a record of the hatching operations and all 

 data in the way of temperatures, winds, &c., that could have affected 

 the results. 



TJ. S. Fish Commission Steamer Fish Hawk, 



Wood^s Roll, Mass., September G, 1883. 



