502 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [12] 



intervals, in which the land could be seen, but it was not until 3.15 

 p. m. that we were able to reach Grevigreux Harbor, where we anchored, 

 the wind dying away to a calm and a dense fog shutting in soon after 

 our arrival. 



On account of light winds and heavy fog it was not practicable to 

 leave Grevigreux until August 3rd. During this stay numerous ex- 

 peditions were made inland, as well as to points in the bay, where 

 attempts were made to capture porpoises and to collect other objects 

 which were considered of interest and value. On the morning of the 

 30th of July a party, consisting of Pilot Baxter, the two naturalists 

 and one seaman, visited Torrent Cascade, or " Hell's Mouth," as it is 

 locally called, on the opposite side of Canada Bay. The expedition 

 returned at 5.20 in the afternoon, having secured specimens offish, etc. 

 Several attempts were made to capture porpoises, but they were so shy 

 it was impossible to approach them within gunshot. 



On August 2d Messrs. Baxter, Palmer, and one seaman went to Otter 

 Cove and Cloud Hills to make collections. They returned in the even- 

 ing, having secured two ptarmigan and some smaller land birds, among 

 which were two species not previously obtained. The ptarmigan were 

 especially valuable, since they were the Lagopus welchii, and were in 

 their summer plumage, in which this species had not previously been 

 taken by naturalists. , 



The morning of the 3d wis fine and clear, with a light and somewhat 

 unsteady breeze from the southward ; the weather continued fine 

 throughout the day, later with the wind southwest by south to south- 

 west, increasing from a light to a moderate breeze. At 8.30 a. m. we 

 left Grevigreux Harbor and rau out of Canada Bay. After we were well 

 past Englee Island we ran up the coast toward the Strait of Belle Isle. 

 At sunset the White Islands were in plain sight, and at 9.24 p. in. we 

 passed them ; at 10.15 p. m. we passed Cape Bauld and hauled-to for 

 Cape Norman in the Strait. 



At 1.15 a. m., on the 4th, when Cape Norman bore west one-half 

 south, about 2£ miles distant, we hove-to on the port tack with head 

 sails to windward. The object of stopping at this place was to make 

 inquiries of the boat fishermen concerning the occurrence in the vicinity 

 of mackerel and other species of food-fish. Soon after daylight we 

 filled away and stood toward Cape Norman, but hove-to for a few min- 

 utes to obtain a supply of ice from fragments of bergs which were drift- 

 ing near by. 



Under the lee of Cape Norman we saw a large fleet of fishing boats 

 at anchor. After we arrived in their vicinity, Pilot Baxter was sent in 

 a dory to make inquiries concerning the fisheries. One of the boats 

 came alongside, however, and her crew of two men reported that they 

 belonged to the schooner Edward Rich, of Catalina, Newfoundland. 

 From their statements we learned that the schooner had been at Cape 

 Norman, or near there, since June 25, where she had been engaged in 



