106 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners 



of the natural oyster bars. The scow is towed from place to 

 place either by the launch "CANVASBACK'* or by the steamer 

 "GOVERNOR R. M. McLANE" and the sinkers and buoys are 

 dropped from her deck. 



The following description of the houseboat "OYSTER" is 

 copied from the report prepared by Captain C. C. Yates and 

 published by the U-nited States Coast and Geodetic Survey : 



HOUSE BOAT "OYSTER." 



While arranging to turn over the command of the steamer Endeavor, 

 the representative of the Survey, acting under preliminary Instructions 

 from the Superintendent, was engaged in frequent consultation with 

 the Shell Fish Commissioners in reference to the programme of future 

 work. In addition to these duties, he undertook for the commissioners 

 the planning and supervision necessary to convert the old side-wheel 

 steamer Thomas L. Worthley into a house boat for the surveying 

 parties of both the Commission and the Government. The Worthley, 

 now called the house boat Oyster, was in excellent condition when pur- 

 chased by the Commission. The keelsons and timbers were sound and 

 the upper works strong. After the removal of the old engine and boiler, 

 the house boat was. docked and her hull thoroughly examined. The 

 outside planking below the water line was found in good condition, 

 and although it was recalked, it was done as an additional precaution, 

 the hull having been absolutely water-tight from the day of purchase. 



The Oyster is about 135 feet over all and 35 feet in beam. The main 

 deck contains living quarters for 27 men, the officers mess room and 

 the galley. The upper deck has 11 staterooms, 5 for the 3 commisi- 

 sioners and their 2 hydrographic engineers, 4 for the Coast Survey 

 officers, 1 for the representative of the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, and 

 1 for the local county oyster commissioner. Besides these rooms, there 

 are located on this deck a large drafting room, a laboratory for oyster 

 investigations, and an office room. Coal for the two Government 

 launches and the galley is stored in the hold, which also contains fresh- 

 water tanks having a capacity of about 7,000 gallons, Signal lumber 

 is carried on the main deck aft of the officers' mess room. 



As a whole, the Oyster is plainly and practically equipped for the 

 work to be done. She has added much to the amount of the surveying 

 accomplished during the season, and the Coast and Geodetic Survey 

 representative greatly appreciates the practical advantages furnished 

 to his party by their quarters on the house boat. When the large party 

 of the combined surveying forces is taken into consideration with the 

 limited accommodations usually obtainable on shore, the attending 



