566 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [76] 



been making some very interesting experiments with fats and oils, is 

 desirous of getti-ug specimens of fish oil in as fresh and pure a condition 

 as possible. If you can, without inconvenience, obtain such specimens 

 and forward them at the first opportunity, I shall be very glad to have 

 you do so. 



Any and all forms of oils from fish or cetaceans should be properly 

 labeled with the name of the species, the locality where it was taken, 

 and date. 



J. W. Collins. 



Dr. Tarleton H. Beau, who intended to meet the vessel at Old Point 

 Comfort, and to make the cruise as naturalist of the expedition, could 

 not join us there on account of illness. Pending his recovery, Col. 

 Marshall McDouald, U". S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, deter- 

 mined to visit the vessel for the purpose of conferring about the pro- 

 posed investigation, but more particularly to consider the best methods 

 for keeping alive and transporting any floating fish eggs that might be 

 procured. It was also decided that Capt. J. W. Collins should make a 

 visit of inspection, and bring with him to the vessel various forms 

 of apparatus which we were to take for preserving collections, and also 

 a device to be used for developing floating fish eggs. It was not, how- 

 ever, practicable for either the Commissioner or Captain Collins to visit 

 us immediately, and since it was deemed important that a somewhat 

 extended inquiry should be made into the condition of the pound-net 

 fisheries of Chesapeake Bay, with special reference to the catch of shad, 

 I received the following orders to make the investigation, pending the 

 arrival at #ld Point Comfort of the Commissioner and Captain Collins: 



B.— INVESTIGATION OF THE POUND-NET FISHERIES OF CHESAPEAKE 



BAY. 



1. ORDERS. 



U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 



Washington, D. 0., April 9, 1888. 



Sir : It is the present purpose of the Commissioner to go to Fortress 

 Monroe the last of this week to meet you. I think it possible that he 

 will leave Washington Friday evening, and reach Fortress Monroe 

 Saturday morning. If any contrary decision is arrived at, I will wire 

 you as soon as I learn the fact definitely. 



The Commissioner directs me to say that, in the event of your arrival 

 at Fortress Monroe within a day or two, you are to leave there and make 

 a cruise along the east shore of the Chesapeake, as far as Tangier Sound 

 and vicinity, to obtain all the information you can relative to the fish- 

 eries now being prosecuted in pounds in that region. After reaching 

 the vicinity of Tangier, you will cross the bay to the mouth of the Rap- 

 pahannock River, and make similar inquiries about the fisheries on the 



