64 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



During the summer and fall of 1919 the steamer Halcyon was at- 

 tached to the Gloucester (Mass.) station and assisted in fish-cultural 

 work during the season. In January, February, and March she per- 

 formed valuable service in keeping the channel in Gloucester Harbor 

 cleared of ice, so that fishing vessels could enter and depart. 



Wlien the Halcyon was turned over to the Navy at the beginning 

 of the war, she was not entirely completed and equipped. This need 

 has been met, and the vessel has been put in condition for the Bu- 

 reau's purposes. Some desirable alterations in her interior have been 

 made, a heavy gun platform has been removed from the forward 

 deck, her engine and machinery have been overhauled, and bilge 

 keels have been built on. An electric-light plant has been installed, 

 and a dredging winch with appropriate gear and apparatus has been 

 provided. The work is practically completed, and the vessel is ready 

 for service. 



The auxiliary schooner Eider^ purchased during the last fiscal 

 year for service at the Pribilof Islands, left Seattle on October 26 

 for the islands with coal and other supplies and with several Gov- 

 ernment employees, reaching her destination on November 22. 

 Headquarters for the winter were established at Unalaska, there 

 being no harbor or suitable anchorage at the islands. During the 

 year the vessel has been almost constantly employed as a tender, 

 operating between the Pribilof Islands and Unalaska. Trips were 

 made as the weather permitted in January, April, May, and June. 

 The vessel has proved satisfactory for the service required. 



The steamer Os'prey was engaged as a fishery patrol boat in 

 southeastern Alaska waters until August 6, 1919. She was then 

 reported to be in an unseaworthy condition, and for the remainder 

 of the year was laid up at Cordova. The Osprey^ which is 25 years 

 old, was purchased by the Bureau in 1912 for $13,000, and has given 

 nearly eight years of hard service. She has now outlived her use- 

 fulness, and, as it was believed inadvisable to devote any large 

 amount of money to put her in first-class condition, she has been 

 condemned, and sale has been authorized. 



The two small fishery patrol boats Murre and Auklet have per- 

 formed excellent service, being constantly employed in southeastern 

 Alaska waters during the entire year. From November 1 to March 

 31 the Murre w^as loaned to the Bureau of the Census for the use 

 of census enumerators. This vessel has met with two accidents 

 during the year. She caught fire on December 3, 1919, with the 

 result of considerable damage to the vessel and loss of personal 

 property of the crew. On April 1 she struck a rock and was 

 beached in consequence. An investigation showed that both of these 

 accidents were unavoidable and no blame has been attached to the 

 personnel of the boat. She has already been repaired and is in active 

 service. 



The Phalarope and the Gannet have been engaged as usual in fish- 

 cultural worl^ the former in connection Avith the Woods Hole 

 (Mass.) and Bryans Point (Md.) stations, the latter at Boothbay 

 Harbor, Me. 



In addition to the vessels mentioned in the last annual report, 

 there have been transferred to the Bureau by the Navy Department 

 the motor boats Raeo, Edithena, and Wachussetts. The Raeo has 



