586 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [96] 



little later tacked ship to the east-nortbeast. The presence of surface 

 fish-food and other indications of mackerel that were noticed this morn- 

 ing induced ine to run back to look for fish in that direction, and also 

 to continue the research farther to the southeast. At 1.53 p. m., put 

 out the small surface net for fifteen minutes and collected six young 

 fish and a few fish eggs. 



Between 2 and 3.15 p. m. five towiugs were made with the small sur- 

 face net, extending from lat. 40° 46' K., long. 71° (XV W., to lat. 40° 

 47' N., long. 71° 55' W. Near the last position an abundance of the 

 red crustacean and small fish were taken in the net. Hove-to and threw 

 " toll-bait" for mackerel, and also used hand-lines baited with alewives 

 for bottom fish. This trial resulted in securing 2 squirrel hake, com- 

 mon hake, and 1 female spiny-backed dog-fish, with young. 



The vessel was kept hove- to until 9.25 p. in., when we got under way 

 and stood to the east by north. Betweeu 10 and 11 o'clock, from lat. 

 40o 47/ £T., long. 70° 52' W., to lat. 40° 50' K, long. 70° 46' W., we 

 passed about twenty schools of fish, their presence being visible by the 

 phosphorescence of the water. Most of these schools were small in size 

 and deep down in water, several of them being startled by the vessel run- 

 ning through them. From their movements when disturbed we judged 

 they were mackerel. I was anxious to set the purse-seine for some 

 of these fish to determine the species, as well as to obtain some eggs 

 for the hatchery, but the nature of the weather, a dense fog having set 

 in, convinced me that an attempt at night seining could not have been 

 successfully accomplished, with the small complement of men which we 

 carried, without too much risk, since only one man could be left on board 

 to work the vessel. At 11 o'clock the vessel was hove to for the night 

 on the starboard tack. 



In the early morning of the 31st there was a moderate south-southwest 

 to south breeze, with foggy weather. At 6.30 a. m., in lat. 40° 47' 1ST., 

 long. 70° 39' W., put out hand-lines, baited with alewives, for bottom 

 fish, and succeeded in catching 6 codfish, 2 common hake, and 1 had- 

 dock. The stomachs of the cod were opened and the contents exam- 

 ined. In them we found scallops, shrimp, and squid. Got under way 

 on a northeast by east one-half east course at 8.24 a. in., and towed tin 

 small surface net on two occasions, which took an abundance of Crus- 

 tacea in each trial. (Position, lat. 40° 45' 30" K"., long. 70° 36' W., and 

 lat. 40° 45' 23"., long. 70° 35' 30" W., D. R.). 



Between lat. 40° 46' K, long. 70° 33' W., and lat. 40° 45' 30" N., 

 long. 70° 29' W., from 10.45 to 11.30 a. in., three to wings with the small 

 surface net were made. Young hake, fish eggs, and "red seed" were 

 collected. From the scant amount of the latter I j udged we had reached 

 the eastern limit of its distribution. Tacked ship at 11.30 and steered 

 southwest, the object of this course being to locate the limits of the "red 

 cayenne." Towiugs were made between 12.20 and 1.40 p. in. from lat. 

 40° 45' N., long. 70° 29' W., and lat. 40° 44' N., long. 70° 32' W. Tiie 



