[63] OPERATIONS OF SCHOONER GRAMPUS. 553 



This method had beeii adopted the previous year with good success, 

 aud there was reason to anticipate that excellent results might be 

 obtained. 



The first trip for collecting eggs was made on January 14, and on that 

 occasion 7,050,000 cod eggs were obtained. This method of supplying 

 the hatchery was continued during the remainder of the season. 



The total number of fish taken, the dates upon which fishing was 

 carried on, etc., and also the aggregate number of eggs collected dur- 

 ing the season, are shown in Tables 1 and 2. The temperature of the sea 

 and air is shown in Table 3. * 



Reference is made to the report upon the construction and equip- 

 ment of the Grampus, for a description of the methods employed in 

 obtaining fish and eggs on board the vessel. 



D.— DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN THE WORK. 



The weather throughout the winter continued exceptionally severe, 

 and it was frequently difficult to obtain eggs, even when fish were 

 caught, owing to the low temperature, which chilled the ova before 

 they could be taken on board the Grampus, although the utmost care 

 was observed. The following mention, taken from the log-book under 

 date of January 24, will illustrate the difficulties often met with : 



"From 8 a. m. to 12 m.: Wind northwest, increasing from a stiff 

 breeze to a moderate gale ; weather clear and cold. One spawn- taker 

 boarded schooner Rector, but nothing could be done in the way of col- 

 lecting eggs, as the fish would freeze in a very short time after being 

 taken from the water." 



Outside of the frequent recurrence of such difficulties, no incident 

 demanding special attention seems to have occurred, excepting on the 

 15th of February. On that date the Grampus, as usual, left Gloucester 

 in the early morning. There was a stiff breeze off the land, but a 

 promise of a fairly good day for fishing. Reaching the grounds, about 

 12 miles from the land, two dories were sent on board the fishing 

 schooners to collect eggs. Shortly before noon the wind piped up sharply 

 from the northwest, promising a hard thrash to windward to reach 

 Gloucester. At the same time the temperature fell rapidly, and the 

 vessel's deck and rigging were soon covered with ice, since the flying 

 spray froze wherever it fell. 



One dory, with her crew of two seamen, returned on board the 

 Grampus, leaving the spawn-taker on board the fishing vessel, where 

 he preferred to stay rather than take the risk of making a passage in a 

 small boat from one vessel to the other with such a gale blowing. The 

 Grampus then stood along to pick up her other dory. But before she 

 arrived near the schooner, astern of which the boat was towing, the 

 painter parted and the dory was set adrift. By skillful maneuvering 



* Bottom temperatnres were not observed previous to March 9. 



