234 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
soon “hove to” alongside of her boat to “bail out” the fish from the 
seine. I went on board of her. The catch was estimated at about 200 
barrels; and the fish ranged from 11J to 13£ inches in length. Two 
other vessels made hauls of mackerel later in the evening. The posi- 
tion in which these fish were taken was lat. 37° 48' N., long. 74° 13' W. 
We afterwards learned that other schooners took fish in about the same 
locality, as well as 20 miles to the westward. We hove to for the night 
at 8 p. in., with head sails to windward. 
On the morniug of May 14 the wind was moderate from east-south- 
east, veering to northeast by east at 4.30 a. in., and increasing to a 
fresh breeze. At 11.20 a. m. there were forty sail of fishing vessels to 
the southwest of us. On account of the extremely rough weather no 
trials for fish were made during the day. 
May 15 the wind was light and variable. We spoke with the schooner 
Lizzie W. Smith and told her captain of the recent catches of mackerel. 
At 7 a. m., made a “trial” for mackerel with “toll-bait” (lat. 38° 01' 
N., long. 74° 18' W.), but got nothing. We then got under way and 
steered northwest by the wind ; later, we changed the course to north- 
east and ran 32 miles in that direction. At 8.50 p. m., spoke with the 
schooner Edward E. Webster , of Gloucester. Her captain reported tak- 
ing a fare of 125 barrels of mackerel that evening, in lat. 38° 41' N., 
long. 74° 16' W. We ran 12 miles farther to the northeast from this 
position and saw thirty-two large schools of fish. After leaving the 
fleet we saw only two fishing schooners. We hove to for the night at 
11 p. m. 
Cn the following day (May 16) the wind was from northeast to north- 
east by north. 
Being short of supplies, we set all light sails at 12.30 p. m., and headed 
for Delaware Breakwater, where we arrived and anchored at 8.05 p. m. 
There were four mackerel schooners, several coasting vessels, and the 
U. S. cruiser Hamilton , at anchor at the Breakwater. 
On May 17 there was an easterly wind and heavy swell. After ob- 
taining the necessary supplies for the vessel, I went on board of the men 
haden steamer Nellie E. Rawson , an,d learned from her master, Captain 
Steelman, that the first catch of menhaden this year was made on the 
previous day, the 16th instant, and that the fish were fifteen days later 
than usual. I was also informed by Captain Valiant, who commands 
another menhaden steamer, that small bodies of menhaden had been 
moving northward past the Delaware since the 2d of May. 
Both captains said that, during August of last year quantities of 
mackerel, 7 or 8 inches in length, were seen between Hereford Inlet 
and Barnegat. In the afternoon two other fishing-vessels anchored at 
the Breakwater. 
May 18 began with a moderate wind from southeast to east-southeast, 
which increased to a fresh breeze in the afternoon. A fishing-schooner 
arrived in the afternoon and reported a rough sea and foggy weather 
outside. 
