578 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [88] 



alert to discover the local attraction which induced them to congregate 

 in such numbers at this point. Greasy slicks marked the water, and 

 all external signs of mackerel seemed to be present. However, the 

 most searching scrutiny of the sea surface failed to reveal the presence 

 of any fish. The vessel was hove-to in this locality and toll-bait thrown 

 to attract mackerel, but without success. Cod hand-lines were also 

 used, but bottom fish seemed to be as scarce as others, and in conse- 

 quence nothing was taken. While throwing toll-bait, a species of small 

 fish (apparently that which is known to the fishermen as " brit"), was 

 noticed to school among the bait. Efforts to capture some of these fish 

 proved fruitless. 



After completing this trial we got under way and headed to the north- 

 east. At G.10 p. in., put out the large and small towing-nets for forty- 

 five minutes and collected an abundance of sea-fleas in the small net, and 

 two small fish in the large one. Hove-to at dark and set one herring 

 and one mackerel gill-net. The mackerel net was placed at the surface 

 and the herring net about 2£ fathoms deeper (lat. 37° 09' N., long. 74° 

 47' W,). 



The nets were hauled at 4.30 a. m. on the 4th ; one butterfish was 

 taken in the mackerel-net. At 7.30 got under way and kept off, steer- 

 ing north by east for 15 miles. Hove-to and threw toll-bait for thirty 

 minutes ; cod hand-lines were also put out for bottom fish, but nothing 

 was taken. At 9.45 a. m. changed course to the southward, and at 10 

 o'clock the small surface net was towed for thirty minutes, collecting 

 only a few sea-fleas. Later the course was changed to west by south. 

 At 1.45 p. m. tacked ship to the southeast, and at 2 o'clock put out small 

 towing-net, towing it for thirty minutes. A small quantity of sea-fleas 

 and other minute marine life was taken in it. (Position, lat. 37° 07' N., 

 long. 74° 07' W.) No attempt was made to set gill-nets in the evening 

 on account of the unfavorable weather. 



A moderate southerly wind prevailed during the early part of the 

 5th, which decreased in force about daylight. Got under way at 5 a. m., 

 steering north-northwest, and at 7 o'clock hove-to to make observations, 

 taking bottom temperatures, throwing toll-bait, and trying with hand- 

 lines for bottom fish. Two dog-fish were the only fish taken. (Posi- 

 tion, lat. 36° 59' N., long. 75° 02' W.) An examination of the stomachs 

 of the dog-fish showed their prey to be squid and some kind of fish 

 which it was impossible to identify on account of disintegration attend- 

 ing digestion. After completing the trial for fish, the small towing-net 

 was used and took an abundance of sea-fleas. Kept off on a north-north- 

 west course for eight miles, when we changed to W. J S., for Cape Henry. 

 At 9.15 a. m. the small surface net was towed for thirty minutes; a 

 quantity of sea-fleas was taken. (Position, lat. 37° 04' K, long. 75° 

 16' W.) The surface net was again put out at 10.30 a. m., collecting a 

 very small amount of sea-fleas, which seemed to indicate that the west- 

 ern edge of the distribution of this species had been nearly reached. 



J 



