photographic dark room and chemical laboratory. There was 

 plenty of storage cases and lockers for jars, bottles, and 

 various collecting gear. A supply of alcohol was stored 

 under the laboratory in an iron-walled room which could be 

 isolated from the rest of the ship. In case of fire, this room 

 could be quickly filled with steam. 



The dredging engine was provided with additional "gypsy 

 heads" for hoisting boats, and was equipped with a friction 

 brake to regulate the paying out of the rope. The dredging 

 wire was 3/8-inch diameter galvanized steel. It was composed 

 of six strands wound around a tarred hemp heart; each strand 

 consisted of seven wires. The wire weight was 1. 32 pounds 

 per fathom in air, and 1. 2 pounds in water. The ship carried 

 4, 000 fathoms in one length and later on received additional 

 reels in 500-fathom lengths. A newly designed sounding reel, 

 various trawls, dredges, nets, and recording thermometers 

 were on board the Albatross for conducting oceanographic 

 research. Every technical detail of the laboratory arrangement 

 and equipment indicated good planning and understanding of 

 technical research problems by Baird and his principal 

 collaborators. Tanner incorporated many original ideas 

 into the design, construction, and operation of the ship and 

 its naval equipment; Verrill was primarily concerned with 

 the laboratories and their equipment. 



In 188 3 the Albatross was prepared to undertake oceanog- 

 raphic investigations in any part of the world. Her explorations 

 made a glorious chapter of U.S. marine research, and the name 

 Albatross became famous in all civilized parts of the world. It 

 is interesting to read the comments about this ship written by 

 the famous American explorer, Alexander Agassiz, who in 1890 

 was asked by Marshall McDonald, at that time the U. S. Commissioner 

 of Fish and Fisheries, to take charge of deep-sea exploration off 

 Panama. The Albatross was offered under the conditions that 

 Agassiz should supply the coal, thoroughly re- equip the ship, and 

 pay part of the running expenses. In return, he was to get first 

 choice of the collections that were of special interest to him. Upon 

 reaching Panama late in February 1891, Agassiz boarded the 

 Albatross , and in his letter home described the ship in the following 

 words: ^The working accommodations are fine, an upper room 

 20 feet x 20 feet for rough work and general laboratory, and a 

 second floor below for storing the collection in racks. We ought 



to do well My cabin opens out into a good-sized dining 



room and sitting room of about 12 feet by the width of the ship, 

 where Tanner and I sit and take our meals. It has large portholes, 

 a fine skylight, and is very airy and comfortable. " Upon completing 

 a preliminary trip and returning to Panama after an absence of 20 

 days, Agassiz wrote: "The Albatross is an excellent sea boat and 

 she rides the sea wonderfully well, and really much better than many 



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