386 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [16] 



The usual official calls were made and received. The weather was 

 boisterous, and a heavy swell made communication by ship's boats ex- 

 ceedingly uncomfortable. A southwest gale (pampero) sprung up about 

 noon on the 8th, and continued through the following day, cutting off 

 communication with the shore. Coal began to come alongside on the 

 morning of the 10th, in canvas bags, containing about GOO pounds each, 

 the lighters having a capacity of 30 tons. It was hoisted aboard rap- 

 idly by the steam winch, and at 6 p. m. we had received 115 J tons, for 

 which we paid $8.44 per ton, American gold. 



Montevideo to the Straits of Magellan. — We left Montevideo on the 

 evening of the 11th, and the next morning lowered the trawl in 11 

 fathoms, sand and shells, 25 miles NNE. J E. (magnetic) from Medano 

 Point, following it with two more hauls, covering a space of 6 or 8 miles 

 in a southerly direction, finding the same depths and general character 

 of bottom. The hauls were very rich in variety of forms. Several live 

 oysters were also taken, seemingly in good condition, and of fair size. 



A successful haul of the trawl was made on the afternoon of the 13th. 

 Porpoises were seen in great numbers, and the engines were slowed for 

 a few minutes while an attempt was made to strike one with a harpoon, 

 but they kept out of reach. Albatrosses, gulls, petrels, and other sea- 

 birds hovered over them in large flocks. • 



The weather was clear and pleasant until 4 p. m., when the sky be- 

 came overcast, and a light low-lying scud flew rapidly over the mast- 

 heads, with distant lightning, the whole aspect indicating the near 

 approach of a gale. The officer of the watch seemed quite undisturbed 

 until the wind suddenly shifted from SE. to NW., taking the ship by 

 the lee with all sail set. Luckily the squall was not heavy, and the can- 

 vas was taken in without loss. The wind veered around the compass 

 twice within two hours, and the barometer oscillated rapidly between 

 29.84, and 29.72. The wind finally settled about SE. with clearing 

 weather. 



A successful haul of the trawl was made about noon, January 14, 

 in 43 fathoms, dark sand and black specks. Among the most notable 

 specimens were a number of fish resembling sea-bass in size and gen- 

 eral form, although the external markings were quite different. We 

 had them fried and boiled, for the table, and found them excellent, the 

 texture and flavor of the meat being not unlike bass. The first float- 

 ing kelp was seen during the evening. 



At 11.30 a. in., January 15, the trawl was lowered in 51 fathoms, 

 green mud, fine sand, and a large number and a great variety of species 

 were taken. Among the fish were whiting, hake, flounders, and some 

 species not recognized. The small whiting were very good pan-fish. 

 The large surface net was towed as usual while the trawl was down, 

 but, with the exception of a few minute crustaceans, very little life was 

 found on the surface. 



The sudden changes in surface temperature between 45° and 50° S. 



