[87] OPERATIONS OF SCHOONER GRAMPUS. 577 



times regulating our speed iu order to make trials with the surface tow- 

 ing-net, in which we collected a small amount of marine life. 



In taking bottom temperature at lat. 36° 58' N., long. 74° 27' W., 

 330 fathoms of line were put out without reaching the bottom. How- 

 ever, the observation was recorded at that depth. Noted bottom tem- 

 perature again at 2.30 p. m., in 220 fathoms of water in lat. 36° 59' N., 

 long. 74° 32' W. After making the last observation the small surface 

 towing-net was used for thirty minutes, in which we took a limited amount 

 of Crustacea. Sounded agaiu in 34 fathoms and took bottom temper- 

 atures. At different times used the small surface net, though we did 

 not find an abundance of mackerel food. At 6 o'clock put out both large 

 and small towing-nets, but on account of the light wind the vessel did 

 not move fast enough to make collections. Later in the evening the 

 sky assumed a threatening appearance, accompanied by sharp light- 

 ning, and all sails, with the exception of the foresail, were taken in. 



The next day (May 2) began with a variable wind from north by east 

 to north-northeast, with clouded sky and choppy sea. At 6.30 a. m., jib 

 and fore-staysail were set, and the vessel was headed northwest by 

 north on the starboard tack. The small surface net was towed between 

 6 and 7 o'clock aud collected some small shrimp and sea fleas. The tow- 

 ing occupied about thirty minutes and was made in lat. 30° 53' N., long. 

 74° 40' W. On account of the choppy sea it was found impracticable 

 to use the towing-nets satisfactorily; though several attempts were 

 made, the sea caused the net to leap out of the water. A few sea-birds 

 were seen during the forenoon. 



The wind moderated a little after noon, and at 2.43 p. in. we tacked 

 ship to the eastward, and a little later put out the small surface net for 

 thirty minutes (lat. 37° 01/ N., long. 75° 00' W.). Took bottom tem- 

 peratures at 4.45 p. m., in 23 fathoms of water. At 6.25 p. m., put out 

 large and small towing-nets and towed them for thirty minutes, collect- 

 ing a lot of Crustacea, principally sea-fleas. About 7 o'clock set one 

 mackerel and one herring gill-net, both nets being sunk to a depth of 

 2| fathoms ; our position was near that of the last towing. 



Hauled the nets at 4 a. in., on the 3d, but found no fish in them. 

 At 5 a. in., got under way, heading towards the north-northwest. Noted 

 the temperature at the bottom before making sail. This course was 

 sailed until we reached the meridian of 74° 57' VV. longitude, when we 

 tacked to the eastward. We ran to the eastward until reaching lat. 

 36° 59' N., long. 74° 43' W., where we took bottom temperatures in a 

 depth of 45 fathoms. After making temperature observations the ves- 

 sel was headed north -northwest. When in lat. 37° 07' N., long. 74° 51' 

 W., large numbers of gannets and sea-geese were noticed, the former 

 sitting quietly on the water, and the latter occasionally rising in large 

 flocks, but again settling on the water. 



This gatheriug of birds, by far the largest yet seen by us (knowing 

 their characteristic habit of following migratory fishes), put us on tko 

 H. Mis, 133 37 



