550 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [60] 



III.— REPORT UPON THE OPERATIONS OF THE GRAMPUS 

 FROM SEPTEMBER 16, 1887, TO MARCH 24, 1888. 



By J. W. Collins. 

 A.— REFITTING AND COPPERING THE VESSEL, ETC. 



The previous report upon the operations of the Grampus concluded 

 September 1G, 1887; at that date she arrived at Gloucester to refit for 

 her winter's work of collecting live cod and allied species, as well as 

 the eggs of the Gadidce, for the purpose of propagation. This section 

 will, therefore, be a review of her winter's work. 



Soon after the arrival of the vessel at Gloucester, certain necessary 

 alterations were made in the new sails, which had been bent for the 

 trip to Newfoundland and Labrador. The winter sails were put in 

 order for service, the vessel was painted, and all available time was 

 utilized for putting the rigging into proper shape. 



It was deemed very important that the vessel's bottom and the in- 

 terior of the well should be coppered, to obviate the danger of injury 

 to the plank from being worm-eaten. The Commissioner, Prof. G. Brown 

 Goode, had the matter under consideration early in September, but 

 owing to various causes, among which was my absence from the vessel, 

 no definite action was immediately taken. 



In the mean time, soon after the arrival of the Grampus at Gloucester, 

 I was ordered to Washington to superintend the preparation of a series 

 of large maps showing the distribution of the principal food-fishes along 

 the Atlantic coast from Hatteras to Labrador, and the grounds usually 

 resorted to by the fishermen when in pursuit of those species. These 

 maps, which also showed the principal fishing towns, the limits in 

 Canadian waters from which American fishermen are excluded by the 

 treaty of 1818, etc., were prepared for the use of the International Fish- 

 eries Commission, which met in the winter of 1887-'88 at Washington, 

 to negotiate a new fisheries treaty. The Commissioner also deemed it 

 important that I should be in Washington for consultation in reference 

 to fishery matters bearing upon the negotiations. 



Having ordered the first officer to assume command of the vessel 

 during my absence, I lefc Gloucester on September 20, and reached Wash- 

 ington the following day. As soon as the work of the preparation of 

 the maps was organized, I left Washington (on the 27th of September) 

 under orders from the Commissioner to return to Gloucester and pre- 

 pare specifications and obtain bids for coppering the Grampus. 



The following bids were received and opened on November 1 : 



Messrs. William F. Green & Son, Boston, Mass $1,250 



Messrs. Bliss Brothers, Boston, Mass 1,290 



E. A. Costi<jjan, Boston, Mass .' 1,750 



Messrs. Burnham Brothers, Gloucester, Mass 1,594 



