44 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



At Bering Island we received, througli the kindness of Governor 

 Grebnitzky, a tank of fislies and invertebrates, a large box of bird 

 skins, and a series of skulls of the fur seal, all presented by him to the 

 U. S. Fish Commission. The most important specimen obtained, how- 

 ever, was the skeleton of Steller's sea cow {Rhytina steUeri), purchased 

 from a native of Bering Island. This skeleton was found in May, 1891, 

 imbedded in the sand on the west side of Bering Island, and is believed 

 to be, with one exception, the best-preserved and most perfect skeleton 

 of this animal known. 



Mention has already been made of the various species of fish taken 

 from the rail with hook and line. 



SUMMARY OF THE YEAR'S WORK. 



The cruising ground of the Albatross during the year has been 

 between the parallels of 151° and 60° north and the meridians of 122° 

 west and 166° east. The following table gives the number of days 

 under way, distances run, and object of each trip: 



At sea: 206 days; 24,991 knots steamed. 



