[83] OPERATIONS OF SCHOONER GRAMPUS. 573 



southwest. At noon tacked to the northward. At 4.30 p. in., in lat. 

 37o 03' 45" N., long. 74° 48' W., hove-to and threw toll-bait for fifty 

 minutes without succeeding in "raising" any fish. We continued on 

 our course, and a little later put out the large and small towiug-uets for 

 about forty minutes. One young fish and some Crustacea were taken j 

 our position was lat. 37° 07' N., long. 74° 48' W. 



Soon after completing the last trial the vessel was hove-to and one 

 mackerel and one herring gill-net were set. 



At 5 a. m., on the 22d, we hauled the gill-nets. One small mackerel 

 was caught in the herring-net. The specimen was preserved in alcohol. 

 Got under way at 5.30 a. m. and steered a northerly course. About 6 

 o'clock put out the little towing- net for one hour and a half, taking in 

 it a small lot of Crustacea. At 9 a. in., in about lat. 37° 02' N., long. 

 74° 44' W., a large number of sea-geese were seen scattered in flocks 

 over the surface for a considerable distance ; gannets were also abun- 

 dant, and, in most instances, were sitting on the water. The presence of 

 these birds was apparently no positive indication of the presence of 

 mackerel on this occasion, since a very careful lookout at the mast-head 

 failed to discover any schooliug fish. The wind hauled gradually to 

 the eastward, and at 8 o'clock we tacked heading north by west to 

 north-northwest on the starboard tack. The small to wing-net was 

 used at 9.40 a. in. ; a few sea-fleas and a species of small shrimp were 

 taken in it. At noon threw toll-bait for mackerel, also put out lines 

 for bottom fish and took bottom temperature. No fish were secured in 

 this trial. The position of the vessel at the time of the trial was lat. 

 37° 22' N., long. 74° 47' 30" W. Later in the afternoon the wind 

 changed to east-southeast and southeast, blowing a moderate breeze, 

 the sky cloudy with indications of rain. At 4.30 p. m. toll-bait was 

 thrown to "raise" mackerel, but with no success. On account of the 

 threatening weather no attempt was made to set gill-nets in the 

 evening. 



April 23 began with a moderate southeast wind, a little later hauling 

 to the northeast ; sky threatening and stormy. At 6.30 a. m. threw 

 toll-bait, took bottom temperatures, and fished with hand-lines for bot- 

 tom fish ; obtained nothing. The small surface towing net was used for 

 thirty minutes after finishing the trial, our position being lat. 37° 40' 

 N., long., 74o 30' W. 



At 9.30 a. m. the wind suddenly backed to northwest, gradually haul- 

 ing to north by west and increasing in force until about noon, when it 

 blew a gale, with a sharp, rough sea. Hove-to and suspended opera- 

 tions on account of the bad weather. A moderate north to northeast 

 wind prevailed in the early part of the next morning, ending in a calm 

 towards the afternoon. Got under way at 7 o'clock, steering a westerly 

 course. Sounded in 34 fathoms of water at 10 o'clock, and took bottom 

 temperatures. Half an hour later we hove-to and threw toll-bait to at- 

 tract mackerel ; lines were also used for bottom fish. A trial of 50 min- 



