OFFSHOKE FISHING GROUNDS OF GULF OF MEXICO. 
295 
Fishing . — Only two groupers and one red snapper were taken along line D. The 
bait was fresh, live fish from the well being used. The bottom in several places indi- 
cated good feeding grounds. The first fish, two large black groupers, were captured 
at station 5076, 39 fathoms, where the bottom consisted of coarse gray sand with fine 
broken corals and shells, and contained an abundance of life. At station 5080, 25 
fathoms, one red snapper was Cjecured, weighing 18 pounds and measuring 30 inches 
in length. There was much difficulty in fishing along part of this line, owing to stormy 
weather, which may also have been responsible for the small number offish captured. 
A small shark [Carcharhinus terrw-novce) was caught at station 5075, and one frig- 
ate mackerel at the anchorage in the evening of the same day. Between stations 5081 
and 5082, one crevalle was taken on the drail line. 
VISIT TO BIG GASPARILLA ISLAND, ETC. 
March 4, about 9 : 45 a. m., the Grampus anchored off Big Gasparilla Island, in accord- 
ance with the agreement made with Dr. Henshall, who arrived there on the same day. 
Supplies were obtained from Puuta Gorda and some fishing was done in the vicinity 
of the anchorage. The small seine was hauled in a bayou and once on the outside, in 
the latter place securing sheepshead and catfish, and in the former pipe fish, sea 
horses {Hippocampus) j silversides, cyprinodonts, young flounders, crabs, etc. 
Several hauls of the large seine on Gasparilla, March 6 and 7, resulted in the cap- 
ture of sheepshead, catfish, Spanish mackerel, file fish, two menhaden, drum, many 
halfbeaks, anchovies, herring, two mullet, one shark (Eeniceps), squids, etc. March 
7 Dr. Henshall and his party left in the seine boat. March 8 the seine was hauled on 
Lacosta Island, with the following results: A large number of sheepshead, half beaks 
{Eemirliamplms)^ sailors’ choice {Lagodon rhomboides), garfish {Tylosurus marinus), 
flounders, gurnards (Prionotus), redflsh (Scicena ocellata), Milner’s pagellus (Pagellus 
milneri)^ drum, etc. Many porpoises were also seen in the cove. Just after leaving 
Charlotte Harbor, on the 9th, squirrel fish {Serranus formosus) and whiting ( Orthopristis 
chrysopterus) were caught with a small hand line. It is important to note that the 
water taken on board at Gasparilla caused sickness to some of the officers and crew. 
LINE E.— MARCH 10 AND 11 ; STATIONS 5083 TO 5090. 
Dredgings . — Line E, consisting of eight dredging stations, was carried chiefly along 
latitude 25° 44' 32" N., beginning in shallow water near the coast and ending in a 
dejith of 53 fathoms. The results of the several dredge hauls were as follows : Sta- 
tion 5083, 15 fathoms, gravel, broken shells and coral, one small crab and a gastropod 
mollusk {Natica canrena). Station 5084, 19 fathoms, sand, broken shells, nullipores, a 
few speeimens of Branchiostoma, small shrimp, worms, and mollusks, among the latter 
being Semele cancellata and Turritella acropora. Station 5085, 24 fathoms, hard fine 
sand, broken shells and corals, a few small crabs {Cymopoliaj sp., etc.), and the following 
mollusks: Oliva literata, Murex chrysostoma, and Ocinebra nucea. Station 5086, 
28 fathoms, mud, flue sand, and broken shells. Station 5087, 31 fathoms, fine sand 
and broken shells, one ophiurau and a sponge. Station 5088, 34 fathoms, fine sand and 
broken shells, fragments of sponge, ascidians, bryozoa, and small crabs {Leptopodia 
sagittaria, Neptunus spinicarpus, CalUdactylus asper). Station 5089, 38 fathoms, sand, 
nullipores, one crab {Lambrus fraterculus), and a small fish {Antennarius, sp.). Sta- 
tion 5090, 53 fathoms, sand and broken shells, with specimens of free criuoids {Antedon.) 
