BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STiTES FISH COMMISSION. 145 



Vol. IV,IVo. 10. Washington, D. C. April »0, 1884. 



73.— RIE:P0RT OIV the WORKINO of the ROIlrERS AND EIVOIIVE 

 OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COIHITIISSION STEAMER ALBA- 

 TROSS. 



By Passed Assistant Engineer O. TV. BAIRD, U. S. N. 



[From bis report for the quarter ending Jnne 30, 1883.] 



Though the ship has been in commission about seven months therei 

 has been no opportunity to make a continuous voyage of any consider-^ 

 able length with the vessel at or near her load draft of water, under' 

 conditions of weather which would not influence the speed. The voy- 

 age from New York to Washington, just after the vessel had been 

 docked, cleaned, and painted, oflFered a tolerably good opportunity, as. 

 the sea was smooth, but the wind, which was light, was ahead. The' 

 coal used was the anthracite supplied to the Navy, and it contained a. 

 considerable quantity of ash, clinker, and slate. The boilers, which, 

 have never been tight, leaked less than ever before, which permitted ns. 

 to carry more pressure. The quality of the oil used was bad, and the 

 warming of the journals prevented us from urging the engines. The voy- 

 age was a fair average one, on the whole, in point of speed, as it is our 

 object to make economical rather than speedy voyages. 



The following results must not, therefore, be considered as for the^ 

 maximum performance of the vessel, but for the conditions of ordinary 

 cruising. This, however, does not impair the deductions for scientific: 

 purposes : 



Duration of voyage 42 hours 9 minutes 



Total distance, in geographical miles, of 6,086 feet .^. 42^' 



Mean number of geographical miles per hour » 10.03. 



Total number of revolutions, starboard engine 200,. 197 



Total number of revolutions, i>ort engine 200, 411 



Mean number of revolutions per minute, starboard engine 79. 05 



Mean number of revolutions per minute, port eagine 79. 06 



Slip of the starboard screw in per cent, of its speed 14. 74 



Slip of the port screw in per cent, of its speed 14. 7.5 



Mean steam pressure in boilers, in pounds, above the atmosphere 60. 05 



Mean pressure in starboard receiver above zero 25.53 



Mean pressure in port receiver above zero 23. 78 



Mean position of (both) throttle valves, in eighths 7. 20 



Mean vacuum in condenser in inches of mercury 24. 46 



Mean height of barometer in inches of mercury 30. 09 



Mean point of cutting olf in starboard high pressure cylinder inches. . 26. 3.33 



Mean point of cutting off in starboard low pressure cylinder inches.. 14.032 



Mean point of cutting off in port high pressure cylinder inches . 19.780 



Mean point of cutting off in port low pressure cylinder inches.. 17.831 



Total number of pounds of anthracite coal consumed - 42,865 



Total number of pounds of ashes, clinker, &c , 8,353 



Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 10 



