376 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. [6] 



the afternoon of the previous day. We hauled out of dock August 23 

 and coaled ship during the 26th and 27th, taking on board 165 tons of 

 anthracite coal. Passed Assistant Surgeon James B. Gardner, U. S. 

 Navy, reported for duty on the latter date. 



The vessel received a thorough overhauling while at Baltimore, the 

 labor being mostly performed by our own crew. The iron hull was 

 scaled and painted inside and out, rigging overhauled and renewed where 

 necessary. The seine-boat, which was not suitable for use on ship-board, 

 was exchanged for a new ten-oared cutter, aud a new suit of sails and 

 poop awning were procured. The cabin and ward-room were partially 

 refitted, and a large supply of trawl and dredge frames, sounding wire, 

 and shot were obtained. We also received 4,000 fathoms of new dredge- 

 rope, and later a number of deep-sea thermometers and a large supply 

 of trawl-nets, webbing, and fishing apparatus, etc., for our contemplated 

 cruise to the Pacific. In the engineer's department may be mentioned 

 the following : New boilers, a donkey boiler, new coal-bunkers, new 

 electric engine and dynamo, new ventilating fan and engine, many new 

 pipe connections, general overhauling of the main engines, relining of 

 the main shafts, etc., all of which will be described in the report of the 

 chief engineer. 



The work dragged along slowly, notwithstanding our own efforts and 

 the efforts of the contractors to complete it, and it was not until Sep- 

 tember 14 that the ship was in condition to go to sea. At 7 the fol- 

 lowing morning we cast off from the wharf of the Columbian Iron Works 

 and Dry-Dock Company and proceeded down the bay for the purpose 

 of testing the boilers, machinery, and other apparatus. 



INVESTIGATIONS BETWEEN CHESAPEAKE BAY AND WOOD'S HOLL. 



We passed the capes of the Chesapeake at 5 a. m., September 16, 

 with clear weather and a fresh breeze from ENE., which caused a 

 moderate sea. At 2.40 p. m. we cast the trawl in 958 fathoms, brown 

 ooze (latitude 36° 52' N., longitude 74° 23' W.). It was landed on deck 

 at 6.10, having failed to reach the bottom ; a number of specimens were, 

 however, obtained from intermediate depths. Four hauls of the trawl 

 were made on the 17th, between latitude 37° 34' 30" N. and longitude 

 73° 58' W., and latitude 37° 46' N. and longitude 73° 56' W. in from 

 1,011 to 811 fathoms, bottom green mud. Among the specimens ob- 

 tained were many crustaceans, cup-corals, pennatulas, shrimp, shells, 

 and a variety of deep-sea fish. The large surface-net was used as 

 occasion offered during the day. Four hauls were made on the 18th, 

 between latitude 38° 31' N., longitude 72° 53' W., and latitude 38° 46' 

 N., longitude 73° 05' 45" W., in from 102 to 1,155 fathoms, green mud 

 and sand. Among the specimens were twelve pole flounders, large 

 numbers of Macrnrus, and other deep-sea fish; starfish, sponges, coral, 

 sea anemones, etc. The surface-net was used as on the previous day. 

 Three hauls were made on the 19th, between latitude 39° 27' N., longi- 



Note. — Ail bearings are true unless otherwise stated. 



