236 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
“toll- bait” for forty five minutes, also used the hand-lines; caught no 
fish. At this time the weather was so foggy that we hoisted the jibs 
and hove to with head sails to windward. 
During the afternoon the foresheet was eased off and the hand-lines 
put overboard. Dr. Bean caught a hake weighing 6 or 7 pounds. The 
fog partially cleared in the afternoon, and at -5.30 p. m. we spoke with 
the schooner John G. Whittier. Her captain wanted information in re- 
gard to the fleet and mackerel. Soon after we filled away and stood on 
a northwest course for 11 miles. We then hove to and “tried” for 
mackerel with “toll- bait” (lat. 39° 34' FI",, long. 73°55 / W.), but “raised” 
no fish. The small towing-net was used (lat. 39° 45' N., long. 73° 49' 
W.) about 8 p. m., and we took an abundance of Crustacea and young 
hake and pollock. We hove to for the night at 9 p. in., with head-sails 
to windward. A dense fog set in, which lasted until 5 a. m. the follow- 
ing day. We saw five schools of fish between midnight and 4 o’clock 
a. m., all of which were working to the northeast. 
We filled away at 4.20 a. m. on May 23 and steered north-north- 
east, 5 miles, then ran 15 miles in a north by east direction, changed 
the course to northwest by north, and sailed 4 miles; then stood to 
the northeast for 18 miles; changed again to north-northeast, ran 12 
miles, and changed to northeast by east and stood in that direction 13 
miles. Saw several fishing-vessels to the northeast of us at 11.20 a. m. 
At 1.55 p. m. spoke with the schooner Porter S. Roberts , of Gloucester. 
Captain Greenleaf reported having cruised from the latitude of Cape 
Henry to his present position without seeing fish. At 12.35 hove to and 
“tried” for mackerel in lat. 40° 0G' N., long. 73° 28' W., but did not 
succeed in getting fish. After this we got under way and stood to the 
northward. Spoke with the fishing-schooner Joe Hooker, of Boston 
(lat. 40° 17' K, long. 73° 10' W.), and her captain reported seeing a large 
body of fish in this vicinity last evening. At the time of speaking 
with the Hooker thirteen sail of vessels were in sight, extending some 
10 miles east and west and 4 or 5 miles north and south. At 8.03 p. m, 
hauled the head-sails to windward and “jogged” on the starboard 
tack. 
May 24 began with a very fresh south- south west wind. At 0.15 a 0 
m. kept off and steered east-northeast 30 miles, when we hove to and 
“tried” for mackerel (lat. 40° 41' 1ST., long. 72° 09' W.). Finishing the 
trial we got under way and continued our course to the northeast. At 
3 p. m. sighted Montauk Point, bearing north by west, about 5 miles 
distant. We then changed the course to southeast by east, four fishing- 
vessels being seen in that direction. During the afternoon spoke with 
the schooner William H. Foy , of Gloucester. Her captain reported 
having cruised to the eastward of Block Island, but did not see any 
mackerel. At 4.18 p. m. hove to and “tried” for mackerel about 13 
miles south-southeast from Montauk Point. This trial, as well as all 
others up to this date, proved fruitless. The wind being from the 
