xu INTRODUCTION. 



At Panama the "Albatross" was coaled and provisioned at once; on 

 my arrival there on the 1st of November I found her ready for sea, and on 

 the 2d we left for Mariato Point to make a few additional trawl hauls in 

 the region of the green sand. In both the hauls made off Mariato Point 

 green sand was found, but not in the quantity obtained in 1891. These 

 were the only trawl hauls made in the Panamic District north of the 

 Galapagos. 



The changes made in the working apparatus of the "Albatross" under 

 the superintendence of Lieutenant Franklin Swift, U. S. N., proved 

 most satisfactory. The alterations in the main drum and the device for 

 preventing the piling of the wire on the surging drum and the accompany- 

 ing shock have greatly reduced the risk of breaking the wire rope when 

 trawling at great depths. The wire rope j^roved an excellent piece of 

 workmanship, and worked admirably in the comparatively deep water 

 in which most of our trawling was done. A new dredging boom was also 

 installed, and everything relating to the equipment of the " Albatross " 

 was carefully overhauled before her departure. 



Lieut. -Commander L. M. Garrett was indefatigable in his interest for the 

 expedition ; the officers and crew were devoted to their work ; and the 

 members of the scientific staff carried out most faithfully their duties of 

 preparing and preserving the collections made. 



I have to thank specially for assistance and advice, during the equipping 

 of the " Albatross " for her voyage. Captain Z. L. Tanner, U. S. N. ; the 

 late Admiral Sir Joseph Wharton, R. N. ; Mr. Richard Rathbun, assistant 

 secretary of the Smithsonian ; Mr. J. W. Littlehales for copies of the 

 report of Commander B. F. Day, U. S. N., of the " Mohican," on Easter 

 Island, and for the corrections made on the chart of the island by the 

 officers of the " Mohican ; " the managing director of the Telegraph Con- 

 struction and Maintenance Company, and Mr. Lucas, the engineer of the 

 company, for advice regarding his automatic sounding-machine ; Mr. Jas. 

 A. Scrymser, the president, and Mr. Kingsford, the manager, of the Cen- 

 tral and South American Telegraph Company ; the managing director, and 

 Mr. A. Birrell the manager, of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company ; 

 Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co., of Sydney; Messrs. W. R. Grace and Co., of 

 Callao ; Captain Pillsbury of the Bureau of Navigation ; the Panama R. R. 

 Company ; the late Secretary Hay, who was kind enough to obtain through 

 our embassies at London, Paris, Mexico, Lima, Santiago, Ecuador, and Pan- 



