220 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
west direction, and the same in a north and south direction; also note additions to 
the fleet during the day or departures from it. 
(6) When making records of the presence of vessels, give your position as near as 
practicable (by dead reckoning or by observation) and state whether the larger part 
of the fleet is north, south, east, or west of you, and about how far off the most dis- 
tant vessels are. This will define the positions of the fleet and show the ground it is 
working over. 
(7) Note all movements of the fleet, whether working north or south, east or west, 
and the distance passed over each day or night. 
(8) Note the number of seine hauls made by the vessels in the fleet, on each day 
you are with them, as far as practicable, and the percentage of “ water hauls;” 
also the number of vessels getting fish. When you learn the name of the vessel note 
that also, and the quantity of fish taken. 
(9) Note the number of vessels leaving the ground for market on any day, and 
their names if you know them. 
(10) If you see differences in the size of the fish of various schools, on different 
days, always record the fact, and when practicable give the extreme and average 
lengths ; also, when practicable, the relative numbers of males and females. 
(11) If you see schools of fish “ cart wheeling,” note whether they are going against 
the sun (from right to left) or vice versa, and also what they appear to be feed- 
ing upon. Get specimens of “feed ” when practicable. 
(12) In setting gill-nets, it will be well, if the weather is favorable, to sink them a^ 
different depths; say, for instance, from the near surface (one or two fathoms below) to 
ten or fifteen fathoms deep. Note in what part of the nets fish are taken. Nets with 
different sized mesh should be put out so as to catch any fish that may be in the 
vicinity. 
(13) In regard to the use of the towing-nets, it is considered important that tow- 
ings should be made in the morning, at noon, and at evening, and the material con- 
tained in each collection should be properly preserved in separate bottles, and be 
labeled with the date, locality, and hour at which each was obtained. If this is care- 
fully attended to, it will give us many data in regard to the food of the mackerel in 
the early part of the season. It may also be desirable to preserve the stomachs of 
a few mackerel and samples of ovaries, properly labeled, as you obtain them from 
day to day. 
(14) The appearance and abundance of menhaden, bluefish, or other species should 
b^ noted, and specimens of any that are captured should be saved. 
(15) As opportunity offers it will always be desirable to make trials with hand- 
lines from comparatively shallow water down to depths of 150 fathoms or more, and 
a record of the trials should be made with position, the depth of water, the number 
of lines used, kind of bait and time spent in fishing. It will also be desirable to pre- 
serve specimens of strange fish that are caught. The possibility of catching the tile 
fish, in depths from 75 to 200 fathoms, renders it especially important that trials with 
hand -lines shonld be made whenever opportunity offers. 
(1.6) Should you have a good chance to kill porpoises, particularly a species remark- 
able for fine white spots, it will be proper to capture specimens. If you can not 
preserve the body cut off the head so that the skull may be saved. By consulting the 
figures of the Cetacea given in Mr. True’s paper, published in Fish Commission Re- 
port for 1883, you may he able to identify tolerably well any animals of this kind you 
may have a chance to get. The common sea porpoise ( Delphinus delphis) is not espe- 
cially valuable. If you can capture a killer ( Orca ) it is very desirable to do so, and 
bring the specimen in the ship to Washington. Save sharks or their heads. 
(17) It is important that the Commission should be in possession of all available 
knowledge looking toward the safety of life and property employed in the fisheries. 
Therefore, if a suitable opportunity occurs to test the drag you have on board, it will 
be proper for you to use it in accordance with instructions contained in a previous 
letter. 
