BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 223 
dications of the presence of fish were seen, except a few gannets that 
were occasionally seen passing the vessel. During the remainder of 
the day, with the exception of the time occupied in trials for fish, we 
cruised back and forth in various directions, as is the custom among 
fishing vessels when they have reached the locality where it is supposed 
mackerel may be met with. A man was at the mast-head constantly, 
and a sharp watch was kept throughout the day, but no fish were seen. 
At 0.20 p. m. a trial was made with 46 toll-bait” (lat. 36° 45' N., long. 
74° 53' W.), but no results were obtained, although bait was thrown 
for more than an hour. We then steered to the eastward for a short 
distance, and at 7 p. m. hove to for the night. 
On the 10th the wind was south-southwest in the morning, hauling to 
west- southwest in the latter part of the day; the weather clear and 
pleasant. 
At 5.45 a. m. began to throw 44 toll-bait” for mackerel. Put over cod 
hand-lines baited with salted menhaden. No mackerel were caught; 
spiny-backed dogfish were in great abundance, and several of them 
were taken on the cod-lines. Our position was lat. 36° 29' N., long. 
74o 5 0 / w. 
There were several fishing vessels in sight, but they were consider- 
ably scattered, some of them being 7 or 8 miles north of us, while others 
were as distant to the south, east, and west. Most of these vessels 
were standing to the southward. At 6.45 a. m. the captain of the 
schooner Ella M. Adams , of Gloucester, spoke with us and asked how 
far we had been to the southward. 
The surface towing-net was put out this morning, but nothing was 
taken in it. 
After completing the attempt to 44 raise” mackerel, we got under way 
and stood to the southward until we reached lat. 36° 04' N., long. 74° 
44' W., where we hove to and made another trial for mackerel with 
44 toll-bait,” but without success. 
A few sea-geese were seen during the forenoon, but nothing else 
which would indicate the presence of migratory fish. 
At 11 a. m. got under way and set light sails, steering to the south- 
ward, with a look-out at the mast-head. At noon we met and spoke 
with the fishing steamer Novelty , Captain Joyce, who inquired if we 
had been far to the southward of the position we were then in. He had 
seen no mackerel himself, and had heard no news which might be con- 
sidered favorable by the fishermen. 
We stood to the southward nearly 45 miles without seeing any indi- 
cations of schooling fish, and about dark hove to for the night. At 
that time ten or twelve sail of fishing vessels were near us, all of them 
lying to. During the evening, went on board of the schooner Gertie 
Evelyn , of Gloucester. Captain Mclntire stated that he had cruised 
from the latitude of Five Fathom Bank, off Delaware Bay, to the edge 
of the Gulf Stream without seeing any mackerel. 
