30 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



We called at ISTcali Bay on tlie afterisoon of the 27th to ascertain 

 wliether the ground liad been covered during our absence, and inci- 

 dentally to learn the Avhereabouts of the sailing fleet. We Averc 

 informed tliat a Treasury agent had visited the reservation and had 

 procured such information as was desired; he left only an hour or two 

 before our arrival. Five sealing schooners were at anchor in the bay, 

 four of them belonging to the Indians of the reservation. Capt. Quinu, 

 of the Teaser, reported rather poor success on account of unfavorable 

 weather; he did not know where the fleet were, but thought most of 

 them were between the Columbia lliver and Cape Flattery. Subse- 

 quent information showed that tlie majority of the vessels were off 

 Sitka at the time, and that we had passed them during the thick, 

 blowing As^eather. / 



Leaving IS'eah Bay at S p. m., we reached Port Townsend early the 

 following morning, four weeks from the time of our departure, and on 

 the date specified in our orders for the trix) to terminate. 



Tlie boilers were giving us trouble ft'om leaky tubes, and it was nec- 

 essary to change from one to the other whenever an opportunity 

 occurred, in order to stop leaks and free them from accumulations of 

 salt. The foremast developed a weakness at the hounds during the 

 northern trip, and close examination resulted in the discovery that 

 under a thin surface shell the wood was so much decayed that it was 

 unfit for service. A new spar was immediately ordered. Telegraphic 

 information was received from the Secretary of the Treasury that the 

 Depcirtment had a contract with the Black Diam.ond Coal Mining Com- 

 pany, of Seattle, to furnish fuel for the revenue marine vessels, and that 

 we would hereafter procure coal from them. It is not an economical or 

 safe fuel for the boilers of the Alhatrosa, although it gives good results 

 in boilers specially constructed for its use. 



Leaving Port Townsend early on the morning of the 4th of May, we 

 m'oored alongside the bunkers at Seattle four hours later, and during 

 tliat and the following day took on board 174 tons of coal, returning to 

 Port Townsend on the Gtli. The next day, May 7, was observed as 

 a holiday in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the 

 discovery of Puget Sound by Vancouver. The event was celebrated 

 in a notable manner on shore, and the men-of-war in the harbor partici- 

 pated by dressing ship and firing national salutes at 8 a. m., meridian, 

 and sunset. The merchant shipping observed the day by dressing 

 ship and joined, or rather led, in a general illumination iu the evening. 

 The Albatross participated as far as i)racticab]e. The new foremast 

 was hoisted on board and stepped during the day. 



Port Toicnscnd to Unalaslca. — We left Port Townsend for Unalaska 

 at8:.55 a. m., May 10, via the inner channels of Vancouver Island, this 

 route being taken in order that the light spars might be sent aloft, rig- 

 ging set ui), and the sails bent before reaching the open waters of the 



