The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-03-23
WORK OF THE FISH COMMISSION.
Cruise OF the Schooner cranpas In
the Gulf OF Mexico.
New haunts OF tho Red Snapper
Found Near Tortugus.
a Seine Boat Making a Fresh Water
Voyage Of Discovery.

GLOUCESTER, Mass, March PA letter
has been received here, by the representative
OF the Associated Press, from the United
States Fish Commission, giving an account
Oh the cruise OF the schooner Gsampus. In
the Gulf Of Mexico, where she has been car
rying on scientific researches In connection
with the dsh commission since sailing early
In the winter from this port, where she had
undergone thorough repairs, made necessary
by the damage she received In going ashore
OF Nantucket. Captain j. w. Collins, as
sistant ln charge Of the division Of fisheries.
has Superintendent the work in the Gulf OF
Mexico.
The letter Is dated the 14th inst, and says
that the Grampus Is making very thorough
aud comprehensive Investigation OF the fish
ing grounds lying between the Tortugas and
cape San Bias, on the west coast Of Florida.
Her plan OF operations Is TO run a series Of
dredgings and trials for fish on lines parallel
TO each other. at distances Of ten miles apart
and dredgings, temperature, observations,
and other investigations are made at dis
tances sf every ten m..es. Frequent trials
for fish win he made continuously between
the stations,as well as at the positions where
dredging Is carried on. An accurate record Is
also kept OF the numbers Of various species
OF surface swimming fish or other animals,
ana, wnen practieable, captures are made of
specimens which are considered especially
valuable.
Before the Grampus left Key West to be-
gin her researches, her seine boat was fitted
out to make cruise along the shore from
Biseayne Bay, on the east side near the ex-
tremity OF the Florida Peninsula. up the
west coast. DR.. James A. Henshall Of Gin
cinnati, well known as the author Of the
book on the Black Bass Is In charge Of the
seine boat, having three men to assist him.
The object In sending the seine boat along
the coast Is TO secure collections Of the fresh
water species. and marine species which fire.
Quent the lag0ons and beaches. and also to
study the habits and ascertain the abund-
anee OF such fish as may be Of commercial
importance. Thus 1t will be seen that the
work being carried on by the crew OF the
Grampus Is very comprehensive one. en-
Dracing the rivers, bays and lagoons on the
coast, as well as the banks. At last accounts
the Grampus and seine boat had met at
Charlotte Harbor, on the west coast OF Flo
rida. and the seine boat having obtained a
new outfit Of provisions and an equipment
Tor preserving collections, started OF to re-
sumo her work, while the Grampus sailed to
tht banks TO renew her investigations. DIR.
Henshall. In the seine boat had obtained a
large and valuable collection In Southern
wlorida.
Some twenty or thirty miles north Of the
Tortugas, the Grampus discovered some very
rich fishing grounds where red srappers were
ed by fishermen. On the morning OF Febru-
airy 10th, In North lat. 25 Of, West lon. 81 81,
In depth Of Is fath0ms, 81 red snaDpers
and three groupers were caught In about Is
minutes, the snappers averaging 10 pounds
and the grOupers 16 pounds each. IL was
supposed that full fare Of fish might have
been caught In that locality In very short
time On February 18th, In North lat. Is -,
and West Ion. 80 39s i5', In i6 fathoms. IL
grouPers and three red snappers were caught
In a faU min fba xuafuhf oF fha
snappers being 81 pounds and OF the group
ers nine pounds. In several other localities
red snappers were also caught. The l0cali-
ties alluded to are within easy reach OF Key
West and Charlotte haTbor, and from the
latter place the fsh could be shipped on the
railroad to any OF the great markets. The
Importance Of these Investigations has been
exemplined the present winter, when large
catches have been obtained on the grounds
discovered In the Albatross four years ago.
Previous to that time the vessels engaged
IN fishing for red snappers generally market
ed their catch at Pensacola, and at that time
extended their cruises 10 or 30 miles 10 the
southwark Cape San Bias.
Capt. ]. w. Collins In his report on the
cruise OF the Albatross, made the following
mention Of the discovery of these grounds
and the probability that eventually they
would be found Of commercial importance,
and thatit would lead to shipments from
Tampa J: .'The investigations that were
made after leaving Tampa may fairly be con
sidered as probably the most important work
done on the cruise Ia the direction OF making
researches on the Hshing grounds. The re-
glon between Tampa and the TOrtugas, out
side OF depth OF 10 fathoms, has never
been resorted to by fishing smacks, and IL Is
certainly questionable Ii any one knew that
red snappers could be taken on the ground
gone over. That they are generally dis
trlbuted here, In depths Of rs to "a fathoms.
and far more abundant than on the grounds
visited by the snapper fishermen OF Pensa-
cola, seems clearly established by the result
OF the researches made. In view OF the
growing demand for the red snapper, and the
fact that the fish on the old grounds are be-
lieved 20 bo more or less depleted and
scarcer every year, the impOrtance OF this
discovery, II 1t may be so termed, can scarce
ly be overestimated, since II opens up an adj
dti0nal field Of broad proportions that there
Is good reason to suppose will be prohtably
worked In the future. Its nearness TO Tampa
which has the advantage OF an excellent
harbor and railroad communication. are
features that should not be overlooked, for
II the distance from Pensacola Is too great
to run fish can be shipped from the
nearer port.
No investigation Of the southern mackerel
grounds will be undertaken this spring by
the commission, since the Grampus will not
return seon enough Tor that purpose. II IS
expected, however, that the Grampus will
be employed In carrying on, during the
spring, summer and autumn, for a period
ranging from four to six months,
what Is considered very important physl-
cal research In the region lying between thel
Gulf SIREN and Block Island. the object be-
ing to obtain extensive definite data relative
TO changes In temperature, and other condi-
tions Of the sea which may influence the
migrations Of the more important species Of
marine food fishes. Capt. ID. L. Collins Is en-
gagged in making an investigation and stalls
tcal inquiry into the condition Of the fisher
men along the coast of the Gulf Of Mexico.