XLIV REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES 



of protection are difficult to solve and delay may result in serious 

 consequences. 



VESSEL SERVICE NOTES 



The fishery investigations of the Gulf of Maine were continued by 

 the steamer Halcyon, assisted in longshore work by the steamer 

 G<in net, the former cruising some 3,500 miles and the latter nearly 

 twice as many. In February the Halcyon was sent to the Ports- 

 mouth (N. H.) Navy Yard, where her officers and crew rendered 

 efficient service in assisting in the reconditioning of the Albatross II. 

 This work occupied the remainder of the fiscal year. The Garmet 

 was utilized in fish-cultural work for the Boothbay Harbor (Me.) 

 station during the flatfish season. 



The steamers Phalarope and Shearwater and some 58 motor boats 

 have been used for fish-cultural work at the various stations of the 

 bureau and for biological work at its laboratories. 



The 12 vessels of the Alaska service cruised over 74,000 nautical 

 miles during the fiscal year 1926. Of this total the Eider made 

 about 17,000 and the Kittiwake about 11,000 miles. 



The Eider was employed chiefly as a tender for the Pribilof 

 Islands, with headquarters at Unalaska, the nearest harbor, 250 miles 

 distant. The vessel also was engaged for a brief period during the 

 summer in connection with the investigation and protection of the 

 salmon fisheries. 



In southeastern Alaska the patrol vessels Widgeon, Murre, and 

 Auklet were engaged on fishery protection work throughout the year 

 and the Petrel for part of the time. The Blue Wing was occupied in 

 patrol work in the Kodiak-Afognak district, the Merganser in the 

 Alaska Peninsula region, the Ibis at Chignik, the Scoter in Bristol 

 Bay, and the Tern- on the Yukon River. 



An important addition to the Alaska patrol fleet was the Brant, 

 which was Guilt at North Bend, Oreg., where it was launched on 

 June 3, 1926. This vessel is 100 feet in length, 21 feet in breadth, 

 and is equipped with a 225-horsepower full Diesel engine. It is 

 strictly modern and seaworthy, and on its initial trip to Alaska, sail- 

 ing from Seattle on July 9, 1926, rendered highly satisfactory serv- 

 ice. This vessel is adapted to patrol duty in exposed coastal waters. 



The Sea Gull, which was purchased in 1924 for patrol work on the 

 Copper River Flats, was accidentally destroyed by fire on June 18, 

 1926. This boat was 31 feet in length, and with one exception was 

 the smallest of the Alaska service fleet. 



DISPOSAL OF THE " FISH HAWIv" AND ACQUISITION OF THE "'ALBATROSS II" 



During October and December, 1925, the steamer Fish Hawk, did 

 her last work for the Bureau of Fisheries when she made two short 

 cruises to Provincetown and Stellwagen Bank for the purpose of 

 tagging mackerel and codfish. In January, 1926, she was taken to 

 the station of the bureau at Woods Hole, Mass., and was there put 

 out of commission on January 30 and the naval crew released. The 

 Fish Hawk, as well as the Albatross, was manned by officers and 

 men assigned by the Navy. 



