OFFSIIOKE FISHING GEOUNDS OF GULF OF MEXICO. 
291 
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE INVESTIGATION, 
LINE A. -FEBRUARY 15 TO 17; DREDGING STATIONS 5050 TO 5058. 
Dredgings. — Line A was carried nearly due west from shoalVater, the latitude vary- 
ing only from 25° OL' IST. to 25° 02' 49" N, The first station, No. 5050, was made at 
8..30 a. m., February 15, in a dejith of 15J fathoms. The dredge was dragged for half 
a mile but brought up only white mud with no apparent life. The surface net was 
also towed at the same place, securing an abundance of copepods, salp®, and fish eggs. 
Station 5051 was in 18 fathoms, and covered a distance of one-quarter of a mile. The 
contents of the dredge consisted chiefly of broken shells, with one large shrimp and 
several other small crustaceans. At station 5052, 21 fathoms, distance traversed one- 
eighth of a mile, the bottom consisted of white mud and broken shells. Copepods, 
salp®, and fish eggs were obtained in the surface net near the same place. Station 
5053 was made at 7.40 a. m,, February 16, depth 25 fathoms, distance traversed one- 
quarter of a mile, bottom consisting of a light colored, fine sandy mud, with broken 
shells, dead corals, sponges, and bryozoans. A small crab {Lmibrus agonus) was also 
taken in the dredge. Station 5054 was in 29 fathoms, distance traversed one-quarter 
of a mile. Only a few broken shells and a crab (Neptunus spinicarpus) were brought 
up in the dredge. Station 5055, in 32 fathoms, drift one-eighth of a mile, afforded 
broken shells and corals, fragments of sponge, one starfish and a few small crusta- 
ceans [Podoclielo, gracilipes, Dthnsa, sp., etc.). At station 5056, 36 fathoms, drift one- 
eighth of a mile, the dredge brought up only sand and broken shells, one small crab, 
and an annelid. The bottom was probably smooth, consisting of light-colored sand. 
Station 5067 was occupied at 6.15 a. m., February 18, depth 37 fathoms, drift three- 
quarters of a mile. The contents of the dredge consisted of sand, shells, broken coral, 
nullipores, two small fishes, and two cfabs (Lambrus fraterculus and Ethusa, sp.). The 
first line (line A) was completed the same day at station 5058, 44J fathoms, drift one- 
tenth of a mile, bottom composed of sand and broken shells. About 4J miles west 
of the last station the water deepened to 57 fathoms. 
The bottom along this line varied from mud to sand, with broken shells at most 
stations. The sand and mud were light-colored in all places. 
Fishing . — Fishing trials were made at each of the dredging stations, and generally 
at intervals of five to ten minutes between the stations during the daytime. This 
line afforded more fish (red snappers and groupers) than any of the others farther 
north. Nothing was taken, however, during the morning of the first day, or until 
about the elose of the second dredge haul (station 5051). At the first station the 
bottom consisted of white mud with no life, and at the second chiefly of broken shells, 
apparently with very few animals living upon it. While drifting, however, on this 
haul, about 1.15 p. m., hard bottom was struck and three fine red snappers were taken 
immediately by one person. Fishing was continued for about twenty-five minutes, 
and six lines were out during a part of the time, but only one more red snapper was 
caught, the vessel soon drifting to muddy bottom, where there seemed to be no fish. 
Judging by the number of bites that were felt, had the lines been ready in the begin- 
ning, and had the ship been supplied with better bait, more gratifying results would 
have been obtained, 
