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14

Explorations

The principal explorations by which this department has been benefited during the past half year, have been those made by the Fish Commission steamer Albatross in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of the Southern Atlantic states.

The steamer Albatross, Lieut.-Comdr. Z.L. Tanner, U.S.N., commanding, left Norfolk, Va., the first part of January, for the purpose of exploring the fishing grounds located in the Gulf of Mexico, off the southern coast of the United States. On the trip to Key West, observations were made by means of trawl lines and the beam trawl off the coast of South Carolina, in depths of 80 to 100 fathoms; and on the return trip from Key West to Washington, several lines of serial temperatures were carried out from the capes of Virginia, across the area in which the schools of mackerel and menhaden first make their appearance in their spring migrations toward the north. At Key West, the important fishing interests centering at that place were studied with great care, and thence the Albatross proceeded to Havana, Cuba, spending about four days on the famous Pentacrimus ground, located off Havana light, a portion of the party, at the same time, making a brief examination of the fisheries and fishing craft of that region. The next localities visited were the island of Cozumel and Campeche Bank, off Yucatan, where seines, land lines and the beam trawl were employed in making collections of fishes and other marine animals. The remainder of the cruise, excepting about two weeks spent at New Orleans, was devoted to exploring the fishing grounds in the