[89] OPERATIONS OF SCHOONER GRAMPUS. 579 



(Position, lat. 37° 02' K, long. 75° 33' W.) At noon made Cape Henry, 

 bearing west, and at 6.32 p. in. anchored in Hampton Roads. 



Immediately upon anchoring I went on shore to telegraph our arrival 

 aud to get the vessel's mail. Received telegraphic orders on the 7th to 

 await instructions by mail. 



G.— INVESTIGATION OF MENHADEN IN CHESAPEAKE BAY. 



3. ORDERS. 



On the morning of the 9th we sailed from Hampton Roads under the 

 following orders, to make an investigation of the spawning habits and 

 other characteristics of the menhaden : 



U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 



Washington, J). 6\, May 7, 1888. 



Sir: I do not think it desirable for you to go outside of the Capes 

 again betore you are joined by Dr. Bean. He expects to reach Old 

 Point fully prepared for the cruise by Friday morning. In the inter- 

 val I wish you, by cruising in the bay and by boarding vessels engaged 

 in the menhaden fishery, to get information in regard to the spawning 

 menhaden, and if possible to procure either the gravid fish or the eggs 

 of the same. With this object in view it is desirable that you should 

 make use of your tow-nets, and the eggs on board of the schooner should 

 be developed to the point when the species may be identified. In the 

 absence of all knowledge of the characteristics of the menhaden, it is of 

 course desirable that no means of investigation should be neglected. 

 My impression, however, is that the egg is heavy and possibly adhesive, 

 and if this be the spawning season the chance of finding eggs of the 

 menhaden will be greater among the material brought up by dredging 

 than that collected from the surface by tow-nets. Without prescribing 

 any specific plan of procedure, I wish you to use your best judgment to 

 get any information in regard to the menhaden. 



All young forms of fish taken in tow-nets in the Chesapeake should 

 be preserved most carefully, since the probability is that among the col- 

 lections»made the embryo forms of the same will be present. Please 

 make your arrangements so as to be certainly at Old Point Friday 

 morning on the arrival of the Washington boat. 



# * * # # # # 



Yery truly yours, 



M. McDonald, 



Commissioner. 

 Capt. D. E. Collins, 



Commanding Schooner Grampus, Old Point Comfort, Va. 



The inquiry ordered by the Commissioner was made with as much 

 promptness as practicable ; the results obtained are embodied in the 



