Tbe United States Commission of Fish and 

 Fisheries. 



DKEDGING ON THE COAST OF CONNECTICUT. 



As the work of Prof. Baird in his sea-coast investiga- 

 tions is becoming better known its importance is more 

 and more appreciated; the party is this year larger than 

 ever before including twenty actual workers, many of 

 them the highest authorities in their specialties; count- 

 ing the families of members, seamen and other em- 

 ployees the party at Noank numbers seventy and is still 

 growing. This year for the first time, it has been prac- 

 ticable to divide the party into two sections, one mak- 

 ing physical observations, dredging and investigating 

 the history of the lower forms, the other undertaking 

 the study of the fishes, their habits and the statistics of 

 the fisheries. 



The facilities have never before been so good; until 

 last year the work was mostly done on sail boats with 

 occasional aid from the revenue cutter on the nearest 

 station. In 1871 a steam launch from the Boston Navy 

 Yard was secured for part of the season. In 1873, the 

 Secretary of theNavy placed at the disposal of the Com- 

 missioner the steamer "Bluelight" which has since been 

 kept under his orders and has been fitted out especially 

 for his needs; by this aid the amount of the season's 

 work is at least quadrupled; for the dredeing party, in- 

 dependent of wind and tide, can easily make a trip of 

 forty miles, do their work and return the same day. 

 The explorations of St. George's Banks on the coast sur- 

 vey steamer "Bache" are to be continued during the 

 summer. 



"The "Bluelight" is a trim little tug-built steamer of 

 eighty. five tons used during the wai as a ^powder beat, 



and is very strong and sufficiently fast. The; most im- 

 portant part of her new outfit is a donkey engine of 

 considerable power by whose aid the heavy instruments 

 are handled, a strong iron davit keeping them clear of 

 the side. Tl:e engine stands on the forward deck 

 which is shaded by an awning and on which all the 

 work is done: tables are in readiness to be used in 

 assorting the specimens, while near at hand is a little 

 cabin fitted with shelves and racks for bottles, buckets 

 and physical apparatus; this same cabin is fitted with 

 three or four berths the use of which is very apparent 

 <>ii the first trip of those who have not acquired their 

 "sea-legs." The main cabin is on the same deck und is 

 more commodious than in many first-class men of war; 

 he'se twenty persons can easily dine, and since dinner 

 must often be taken on board, this is very convenient. 

 On the hurricane deck is storage room for the lar^e 

 trawls and dredges and for the "balsa" or life-raft. On 

 the same deck in front of and around the pilot house is 

 a small balcony from which visitors may watch the busy 

 crowd on the deck below, sure of being out o-fj the way. 

 In the hold may be stored cables and ot$er extras, 

 while a large ice-house preserves the perishable speci- 

 mens too large to be bottled at once. In short, the 

 "Bluelight" is a model in its way. The 'Challenger" 

 now carrying the British deep sea exploring party on 

 its three years cruise, is of course much larger, being 



