large ocean steamers I have been on You can have 



no idea how comfortable the trip has been The 



accommodations for work and for taking care of the col- 

 lections are excellent The laboratory, with its 



ingenious arrangements and its excellent accommodations 

 for work by day and night, was to me a revelation. " (Agassiz, 

 1913). Agassiz usually made three or four deep water 

 dredging or trawling hauls every day, and at the same time 

 the surface net was towed. 



The seaworthy qualities of the Albatross and the comfort 

 of its laboratory facilities and living quarters were admired by 

 a number of other scientists who, in following years, took part 

 in her deep-sea explorations. 



Occasionally the Albatross was detailed to Woods Hole, 

 but she never became an integral part of the station. Her life 

 ended here. The ship was decommissioned in October 1921, 

 and laid up at the Bureau's dock at Woods Hole. On June 5, 

 1924, she was sold at public auction. When the old and 

 friendly ship was being towed away a few older members of 

 the Bureau of Fisheries, who in previous years had been 

 associated with her, watched her final departure with their 

 hearts filled with sadness. 



In issuing orders to the commanding officers of the 

 Commission's ships, it was Baird's policy to outline a precise 

 program of the proposed operations and explain their purpose. 

 The following document issued on April 10, 1883, to the 

 commanding officer of the Albatross is a good example of the 

 thoroughness of his planning (Tanner, 1885, p. 119-20). 



' Sir: As soon as you can be ready for the service (of 

 which you will give me a week's notice), you will go to sea for 

 the purpose of investigating the conditions which govern the 

 movements of the mackerel, menhaden, bluefish, and other 

 migratory species along the coast of the United States in the 

 spring, commencing your investigations off Hatteras, or in 

 the region where these fish usually make their first appearance, 

 and following up the schools in their movements. 



"The special work to be performed will be to determine 

 the rate of progress of the fish along the coast, their comparative 

 abundance and condition, the places where they first show them- 

 selves, the physical condition of their surroundings as to temp- 

 erature and currents of the water, its chemical and biological 

 peculiarities, etc. 



"You will endeavor to ascertain whether the appearance of 

 the fish at or near the surface depends upon the condition of temp- 

 erature, wind or sky, and also, by the use of the apparatus at 

 your command, what character of food in the water seems to 

 determine their movements. You will cause examination to be 

 made of the stomachs of such of these fish as you can capture 

 and carefully preserve a portion at least of the contents of the 

 stomach for immediate or future examination. 



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