[95] OPERATIONS OF SCHOONER GRAMPUS. 585 



On May 23d the Commissioner directed that the ship's writer, Mr. A. 

 B. Alexander, be detached from the vessel and ordered to Gloucester, 

 Mass., to await orders r ,and on the 25th Mr. Alexander left the vessel. 

 Mr. George A. Miller, who was appointed to the position vacated by 

 Mr. Alexander, reported for duty on the 1st of June. 



I.— CHANGE OF COMMANDING OFFICER AND IN PERSONNEL. 



On the 25th of May the Commissioner ordered me to assume full com- 

 mand of the vessel, in place of Capt. J. W. Collins, who had been as- 

 signed more important duties, and promoted Mr. E. E. Hahn to the 

 position of first mate. 



J.— CRUISE FOR LIVE MACKEREL. 



The purse-seine and seine- boat, having been made ready and trans- 

 ferred to the vessel, we got under way at 9.12 a. m. on the 28th for the 

 purpose of cruising at sea to secure, if possible, a school of spawning 

 mackerel for the Wood's Holl Station, with a view to obtaining the eggs 

 of that species for hatching mackerel fry. At 11.20 a. m., Gay Head 

 bore abeam and our course was laid south by west one-half south. I 

 had intended to cruise to the southward, in the vicinity of Cox's Ledge, 

 judging that locality to be a good one for mackerel, but the threaten- 

 ing appearance of the weather and the increasing southeast wind in- 

 duced me to run in the direction of Newport. During the early after- 

 noon heavy rain showers prevailed, with an increasing southeast wind, 

 attended by other indications of a stormy night. With such unfavor- 

 able conditions in view, I concluded it was best to run into Newport 

 Harbor for the night, and at 4.57 p. m., we anchored between Fort Adams 

 and Lime Rock Light. 



The wind continued from the southeast in the early part of the 29th, 

 though moderate in force, with a thick fog. The purse-seine was put 

 into the seine-boat in the morning and the purse-line rove so that the 

 apparatus would be ready for immediate use. The fog lifted about 1 

 o'clock and soon after we got under way. At 2 p. m., Brenton's Reef 

 Light Ship bore abeam and the vessel was headed south on the star- 

 board tack. The small surface net was put out at 6.20 p. m., in lat. 41° 

 02' N., long. 71°08 / W., and towed for forty minutes; a small collection 

 of Crustacea and young hake were obtained. At 7.40 p. m., hove-to for 

 the night. 



There was a south-southwest to southwest wind on the morning of 

 the 30th, with squally weather until about 7.30 a. m. The small surface 

 net was towed at 6.30 a. m., and in it was taken an abundance of the 

 crustacean known to the fishermen as " red cayenne," or " seed," together 

 with two young fish. Got under way and stood to the south-southwest 

 at 6.33 a. m. The small towing-net was put out at LI. 10 o'clock and 

 secured one small fish. (Position, lat. 40° 45' N., long. 71° 08' W.) A 



