512 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [22] 



M. Turbid, the light-keeper at the Bird Rocks, assisted us very ma- 

 terially in obtaining collections of birds. He also gave us a full series 

 of eggs of all the species that breed there. 



Acknowledgements are due Commander William Wakeham, com- 

 manding the Canadian cruiser La Canadienne, for presenting me with 

 sheet charts of the region about Mingan, a matter of much import- 

 ance, since our charts were on a scale too small to show the local dan- 

 gers, and navigating with them as my only guide was extremely hazard- 

 ous. He also assisted us in other ways, and to his interest and courteous 

 treatment much of the success we had at Mingan is due. 



Messrs. H. W. Embree & Sons, boat-builders at Port Hawksbury, C. 

 B., kindly gave me the^iues and detailed plans of a u Canso boat" built 

 by them in 1883, and exhibited at the International Fisheries Exhibi- 

 tion at London. This courtesy was specially appreciated, since the 

 plans were valuable for illustrating this type of fishing boat, which has 

 been described in a work on fishing vessels of the world, prepared by 

 the writer, that is now in manuscript form. 



5. COLLECTIONS. 



Reference is made to the reports published under the auspices of the 

 National Museum for a detailed account of the collections secured 

 other than the fishes and invertebrates. The results of the observa- 

 tions made, and which have been embodied in the reports referred to, 

 must prove valuable contributions to the knowledge of the subjects 

 discussed. The fishes obtained on the cruise have been identified by 

 Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, ichthyologist of the Commission. 



The marine invertebrates — chiefly forms upon which the mackerel 

 feeds — have not yet been identified. It is, therefore, not practicable 

 to speak definitely of the species collected. 1 believe it will be suffi- 

 cient, however, for the purposes of this report, to show in a general way 

 the relative abundance, in the different localities visited, of those forms 

 which constitute the favorite food of the mackerel. 



The collections of land birds, insects, botanical and geological speci- 

 mens, etc., were obtained incidentally, as opportunity offered, and in 

 several instances were of exceptional importance. Among those speci- 

 ally noteworthy were the rock ptarmigans (male and female), elsewhere 

 mentioned, and some rare and new species, of ferns and mosses. A 

 complete collection, made at Funk Island, of insects, plants, geological 

 specimens, etc., can not but prove valuable additions to our knowledge 

 of this interesting spot. 



But, considered from the stand-point of the fisheries, the collections 

 of various species of sea-birds that prey upon fish or serve as food or 

 bait for the fishermen were most valuable. The observations made 

 upon the present condition of the rookeries that were examined may, 

 however, fairly be considered even more important than the specimens 

 obtained, since they furnish information upon which may be based 



