REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XLV 
7.—THE VESSELS OF THE FISH COMMISSION. 
A.—THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 
The steamer Albatross, Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, U.S. Navy, 
commanding, continued in active service during the greater part of the 
year. At the beginning of the year the steamer was at the Washing- 
ton navy-yard, making preparations for a cruise to the region of the 
Bahama Islands, for the purpose of investigating the winter range and 
habits of certain pelagic fishes, which, during the warmer months, are 
of great economic importance to the American fishermen; and of 
naking a series of deep sea soundings for the benefit of the Navy De- 
partment. She was detained in the Potomac River by ice until Febru- 
ary 17, but left Norfolk on the 20th of that month and proceeded to 
sea. The cruise lasted until May 10, when the steamer returned to 
Washington. March 30, while coaling at Key West, the officers and 
crew rendered effective service in fighting a disastrous fire which 
destroyed a large part of the town. From July 15 to October 28 the 
Albatross was surveying on the northern fishing grounds, from the lat- 
itude of Virginia to the Grand Bank of Newfoundland and the Flemish 
Cap, with headquarters at Wood’s Holl, Mass. 
In preparation for the proposed trip to the Pacific coast extensive 
repairs to the steamer were necessary, and it was decided that new 
boilers would be required to insure her safety fer so long acruise. The 
expenditures for this purpose were provided for by the following act of 
Congress, contained in the sundry civil appropriation bill, approved 
August 4, 1886: 
Steamer Albatross: For the construction and introduction of new boilers for the 
steamer Albatross, and other necessary general repairs, $20,000; for expenses of 
voyage from New York to San Francisco, including cost of coal and other necessary 
supplies, $7,500; in all, $27,500. 
The plans for the new boilers were prepared by Passed Assistant 
_ Engineer George W. Baird, U.S. Navy, of the steamer Albatross, and 
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received the approval of Mr. C. W. Copeland, the designer of the vessel, 
and of Chief Engineer B. F. Isherwood, U. 8. Navy, to whom they had 
been submitted for criticism. Proposals for constructing the boilers 
were received and opened December 21, as follows: 





Name. Address. Time required. | Amount. 
Slater & Reid ..........................--.---.| 167 Charles street, New | 130 days ........ $14, 300. 00 
° York, Nes 
Atlantic Works Se aa oe cet: eee ae gee East Boston, Mass.--.-- J20 days -.----..-. 19, 800. 00 
BE OAD PNG 2s ad Sarkis Dison taro ciase ws. | Camden, N. J ..-...-...- Reasonable time | 27, 000. 00 
Donald McNeil and John McNeil ....... 2... ) Brooklyn, Now ---.---../ ds m0nths. 5-55... 16, 825. 00 
SerL We Vamater & Coss: ncpict i o- -ecea ecules i) News Yorks, Ni-2- 02-5) 4monthas!2_ 22: 17, 600. 00 
H. A. Ramsay and H. A. Ramsay, jr- .-......| Baltimore, Md.......... Gmonths.....--. 16, 538. 28 
Columbian Iron Works and Dry Dock Company .....- Ove oa stat, See Ne 120 days .....-.-. 13, 439. 00 
Oliver Reeder, C. M. Reeder, and L. B. Reeder |...... CERT ata TSA A ee eS 135 days .-...... 21, 985. 00 
Pusey & Jones Company.............-...-...-. Wilmington, Del........ 12days'ss, 2: 19, 500. 00 
nT  ——————————————————————E———E————EE Se 
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