22 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES: 



tlic extraordinary service required of the Albatross boilers will be 

 appreciated. 



Pyepavations for a third line of soumUm/s — The following- ktter from 

 the chief of the Bureau of Navigation, dated November 30, was received 

 January 17 : 



In roturniug from Honolulu to San Francisco, after completing the soundings at 

 close intervals along the direct line between Salinas landing and Honolulu, please 

 take soundings at intervals of about GO miles upon a line situated about as fiir to one 

 side of the line just completed as the soundings taken in 1874 by the officers of the 

 U. S. S. Tuscarora are to the other side. 



This was the first intimation I received that a second line was con- 

 templated by the Bureau of Navigation; it was expected that the 

 order would reach us at Honohtlu, but it probably arrived there after 

 our departure. I replied to the Bureau's letter as follows : 



Your letter of November 30, 1891, with reference to second line of soundings 

 between Honolulu and California, was received this morning. In reply, I beg leave 

 to say that the second line has been completed with average intervals of about 10 

 miles, and is, I think, much the better of the two. We arrived at the navy-yard 

 yesterdaj' and are now waiting orders. The report of survey will be forwarded as 

 soon as possible. 



It will be seen that we had anticipated the wishes of the Bureau. As 

 before stated, I recognized the necessity for a second line before the 

 first was completed, and, while engaged on the latter, it occurred to 

 me that still another one, farther to the soutliward, might be required. 

 In anticipation of such an event, I wrote to the hydrographer, on 

 December 25, 1891, that the wear and tear had been very great, and in 

 case a third line was to be run we would require about two weeks at 

 the navy-yard to make the necessary repairs. 



All the available force was put to work on the report of cable sur- 

 vey, which was completed and forwarded February 1. This report 

 included sounding and meteorological records, charts, plans, photo- 

 graphs, etc. 



Telegraphic orders were received from the Bureau of Navigation, 

 through the commandant of the navy-yard, February 10, directing me 

 to run a line of soundings from Point Concepcion to Ililo. I informed 

 the commandant that it would take three weeks' time and the expend- 

 iture of $2,000 to make temporary repairs necessary for the completion 

 of the work. 



The repairs could have been made while we were preparing the 

 report had the necessary instructions been received. There was some 

 question as to the practicability of paying for the repairs from the 

 appropriation for cable surveys; and it was not until February 15 that 

 instructions were received to go ahead with the work, keeping an 

 account of items chargeable to the U. S. Commission of Fish and Fish- 

 eries and the Navy Department, respectively. 



The vessel went into dry dock the following day, and upon examina- 

 tion a rope was found wound around the starboard i^ropeller shaft in 



