102 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



seine fishery for salmon, carry a crew of three men, and have accom- 

 modations for two fishery agents. Tliey are 48 feet long and 12^ feet 

 beam, draw 5 J feet of water, are lighted by electricity, are driven by 

 25 horsepower distillate engines, and have a normal speed of 8 ^ knots 

 per hour. Tlie fuel tanks have a capacity of 600 gallons, giving a 

 radius of action of about 3,000 miles. The new boats, which have 

 been named the Auklet and the Murre, after two common water birds 

 of the Alaskan coast, left Seattle on July 7 for Alaska, reported at 

 Wrangell on July 12, and immediately entered on fishery patrol work 

 in southeast Alaska. 



The steamer Halcyon, provided for the Boothbay Harbor station 

 and described in last year's report, was launched November 30, 1916, 

 and finally completed and accepted by the Bureau May 3, 1917. The 

 vessel was immediately transferred to the Navy. 



The steamer Albatross during the early part of the fiscal year contin- 

 ued the tuna investigation along the California coast until November 

 23, when she proceeded to San Francisco, arriving November 26. 

 Soon afterward she was docked to ascertain what repairs and over- 

 hauling were necessary. A deficiency appropriation of $10,000 be- 

 coming available on May 2, the vessel was taken to Mare Island Navy 

 Yard where the work was undertaken. During the year the vessel 

 cruised 4,833 miles, using 717.9 tons of coal at a cost of $7,273.44. 



The steamer Fish Hawh was engaged in fishery investigations in 

 Chesapeake Bay, making trips at intervals from July 1, 1916, to 

 March 22, 1917, since which time she has been chiefly on naval duty. 

 Before the vessel can be used for any outside work, considerable 

 repairs to the hull are necessary, and new engines should be provided. 

 During the year the vessel, wnile employed in the service of the 

 Bureau, cruised 681 miles, using 581 tons of coal at a cost of $1,659.47. 



The steamer Roosevelt sailed on January 23, 1917, from Norfolk en 

 route to Seattle, where she arrived April 23, having been detained at 

 Guantanamo over a month on accomit of the international situation 

 and at Balboa nearly three weeks for repairs. At the end of the year 

 she was ready to transport supplies to the Pribilof Islands. 



The auxiliary schooner Grampus was engaged from July 18, 1916, 

 to April 24, 1917, in oceanographic and other investigations on the 

 Atlantic coast and fishery investigations in the Gulf of Mexico. In 

 April the vessel reached Washington, and sailed thence on May 15 for 

 Gloucester, Mass. Defects have developed in the huU of the Grampus 

 incident to age and very active and continuous service, and the ques- 

 tion is being considered as to whether the expense of rebuilding is 

 warranted. The vessel is of an obsolete type and not at all suited 

 to the present needs of the Bureau. 



The steamer Phalarope has been utilized, as usual, in connection 

 with the hatchery and laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass., and in shad 

 hatching on the Potomac River; and the steamer Gannet has been 

 actively employed at the Boothbay Harbor (Me.) station. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



The publications of the Bureau issued and distributed during the 

 fiscal year are here noted. These were supplied chiefly through the 

 Superintendent of Documents to persons on special maihng lists. 



The Fisheries Service Bulletin, issued monthly, has proved very 

 popular and useful. It is of special interest to employees, who are 



