584 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [94] 



lected an abundance of sea-fleas and one young hake. Used the small 

 surface net again at 4.45 p. in. in lat. 40° 20' K., long. 72° 47' W., and 

 took a small amount of Crustacea. After completing the towing, 

 sounded in 27 fathoms and took bottom temperature. (Position, lat. 

 40° 21' N., long. 72o 47' 30" W.) About this time changed course to the 

 eastward. Towards evening the wind increased, coming from south- 

 southeast, with threatening weather and rain. At 7.45 p. m., hauled 

 the jibs to windward and "jogged " on the starboard tack, and at 8.30 

 p. m., drew away jibs and "jogged " with mainsheet eased off. Tacked 

 ship at 10 o'clock, heading to the southward, on port tack. 



There was a stiff to moderate east-southeast breeze with foggy 

 weather in the early part of the morning of the 19th. At 6 o'clock 

 towed the small surface net for forty-five minutes and secured a few sea- 

 fleas. (Position, lat. 40° 13' N., long. 72° 19' W.) The fog prevailed 

 the greater part of the forenoon, with a moderate north by west wind ; 

 vessel on the port tack headed to northeast by north. During the after- 

 noon the wind hauled from north-northwest to north-northeast ; weather 

 partially clear at intervals. At 4.30 p. m. a large school of porpoises 

 came alongside, from which we harpooned and obtained one specimen. 

 Used the small towing-net'at this position,taking considerable Crustacea. 

 (Position, lat. 40° 38' K, long. 71° 49' W.) Also took bottom tempera- 

 tures in the above position. Threw toll bait for thirty minutes at 5.45 

 p. m., but did not "raise" any fish; also put out hand lines for bottom 

 fish with no better success. The easterly course was continued during 

 the night. 



On the morning of the 20th of May there was a moderate breeze from 

 north-northwest, and clouded sky. At G o'clock Block Island bore 

 abeam and a course was shaped for a point between Breuton's Reef 

 and Sakonnet River, in which locality large numbers of floating fish 

 eggs occurred last year. At 8.10 a. in., between the above mentioned 

 places and about 4 miles off shore, the small surface net was towed for 

 twenty minutes, in which were collected a large quantity of Crustacea 

 and some fish eggs. Frequent towings were made until 11 o'clock 

 which resulted in the procurement of considerable quantities of fish 

 eggs. Unfortunately, when jibing the main-boom the tackle over- 

 turned the dish containing the fish eggs, which occasioned the loss of 

 the entire lot. However, the loss by this accident was repaired, since 

 we made additional collections soon after. Sotne of the eggs thus ob- 

 tained were put into the apparatus for developing eggs, and others 

 were put into pans and the ova were kept alive by frequently changing 

 the water on them. After makiug these collections we filled away for 

 Wood's Holl, where we arrived at 4.35 p. m., and soon thereafter trans- 

 ferred the eggs to the hatchery. 



The vessel laid at the Wood's Holl Station from the evening of the 

 20th until the morning of the 28th, the crew being employed in knitting 

 together the several sections of the purse-seine and getting it ready for 

 use, overhauling the seine-boat, etc. 



