INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 135 



This industry is apparently fast depleting the waters of this bay, 

 owing to the small size of the smelt, whitetish, and herring which are 

 caught and dried. 



The Albatross anchored in Sausalito at 1.20 p. m. In addition to the 

 complement allowed by the Navy Department, the authorization of 

 the Commissioner for the enlistment of ten men (five seamen and five 

 ordinary seamen) and one machinist for the cruise, in order to bring 

 the force up to the required cruising complement, was complied with. 



Genernl instructions outlining the summer's work in Bering Sea were 

 received on the 2d of May, being classed under the four heads: "Seal- 

 ing investigations at sea," "Observations on the Pribilof Islands," 

 "Fisheryinvestigations,"aud "Hydrographic inquiries." TheAlhatross 

 sailed from Sausalito, passing out of the Golden Gate on the afternoon 

 of the 21st of May, taking the Bonito Channel in order to avoid the 

 heavy sea on the bar, which prevented sailing on the 20th instant. 

 Point Reyes was rounded at 11 p. m., when we encountered a heavy 

 head sea and wind. This was carried until the 23d, when it moderated. 

 The 21th set in with a SE. gale, which we carried to anchorage in iSTeah 

 Bay on the evening of May 25. Observations with regard to pelagic 

 sealing and sealers were commenced here, as set forth in instructions. 



On May 26, C a. m., we got under way, stood up the Strait of Juan 

 de Fuca, and at 2.03 p. m. anchored off Victoria, where additional infor- 

 mation was obtained relative to the number and class of sealers which 

 will enter Bering Sea this summer. On May 28 the Albatross proceeded 

 to Port Townsend, where a list of the Puget Sound fleet of Bering Sea 

 sealers was obtained. Additional instructions were received here by 

 which the Albatross was enabled to pursue sealing investigations at 

 sea, among them being an executive order giving the commanding 

 officer of the steamer Albatross authority to board sealing vessels, and 

 defining the status of this ship with regard to the patrol fleet under 

 the management of the Treasury Department. 



Mr. Frederick W. True, curator of mammals in the United States 

 National Museum, and Mr. D. W. Prentiss, jr., also from the National 

 Museum stafl', reported on board for passage to the Pribilof Islands 

 for the purpose of making a study of the fur-seals on those islands. 

 Mr. A. B. Alexander also Joined the ship here. 



On May 31, at 9.30 a. m., we left Port Townsend, passed through 

 Haro Strait to Pender Island, where we anchored for the night in Otter 

 Bay. An early departure was made the next morning, standing on 

 through Active Pass and up the Strait of Georgia for Comox, Union 

 Bay, wliere we coaled ship on June 3. At 7 a. m. of the 4tli we took our 

 departure from Comox and stood out of Baynes Sound, through Lam- 

 bert Channel, and up Georgia Strait, and entered Discovery Passage, 

 steaming through Seymour Narrows at high water. A heavy SW. 

 gale blowing off the coast, with low overcast, producing strong winds 

 in Johnstone Strait, made it advisable to anchor in Blinkinsop Bay 

 for the night, v.'here we rounded to under the North Blufl; after enter- 

 ing the bay, letting go the anchor at 7.12 p. m. in G^ fathoms. A 



