[21] OPERATIONS OF SCHOONER GRAMPUS. 511 



It is the desire of the ministers of customs and marine and fisheries 

 that you shall individually extend to Captain Collins all the informa- 

 tion and assistance in your power and in every way facilitate the 

 accomplishment of the mission in your locality. 

 We have the honor to be, gentlemen, 



J. Johnson, 

 Commissioner of Customs 

 John Tilton, 

 Deputy Minister of Fisheries, 



Special acknowledgements are due Rev. M. Harvey, of St. John's, 

 Newfoundland, for courtesies and assistance extended to the officers and 

 naturalists on the Grampus. His kindly aid and intelligent interest in 

 the attempt to secure a collection of the remains of the great auk con- 

 tributed materially to the successful issue of that important undertak- 

 ing. 



The American consul at St. John's, Mr. Thomas N. Molloy, gave 

 information concerning the Funk Islands and the condition of the fish- 

 eries about Newfoundland. 



At St. John's it was necessary for us to refill our water-tanks, and 

 to do this the vessel had to be taken alongside of a wharf. The water 

 is supplied by the city and is charged for at a stated price. The city 

 authorities, however, very generously remitted the customary charge, 

 and allowed us to take all the water we needed free of cost. Messrs. 

 Job Brothers & Co. kindly permitted us to haul into their wharf to fill 

 the water-tanks, and also sent their steam-launch to tow the Grampus 

 to the dock. 



A Mr. Emerson, who has some ponds filled with trout in the suburbs 

 of St. John's, permitted our naturalists to take as many specimens as 

 they desired to obtain. 



I am indebted to Capt. J. W. Pitts, of the schooner Terror, of Shel- 

 bourne, N. S., whom we met at Black Bay on August 5th, for informa- 

 tion concerning the fish and fisheries along that part of the coast which 

 he had visited, and also for the following letter of introduction to the 

 collector of customs at Esquimaux Point, that he gave me, but which 

 circumstances prevented me from using : 



Pinivare, August G, 1887. 

 Dear Sir : My friend, Capt. J. W. Collins, intends visiting Esqui- 

 maux Point and Mingan in aid of scientific discovery. You will please 

 give him all the information you can. Also give the Captain an intro- 

 duction to the agent at Mingan. 

 By doing so you will confer a favor on, 

 Yours, etc., 



John W. Pitts. 

 D. B. McGbe, Esq., 



Collector of Customs, Esquimaux Point. 



