2.-REP0RT ON THE WORK OF THE FISH COMMISSION STEAMER 

 ALBATROSS, FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1893. 



By Comnjaiider Z. L. Tanner, U. S. Navy, commandiug. 



The Albatross was lying- in the harbor of Port Townsend,Wash., at the 

 close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, ready for sea, and sailed 

 at 12,55 a, m. July 1 for Unalaska. 



Taking an approximate great-circle course from Cape Flattery to the 

 Fox Islands Passes, light to moderate winds were encountered until the 

 5th, boisterous weather and heavy seas during the 7th, and smooth, pleas- 

 ant weather thence to i^ort. The usual lookout was kept for seal life, and 

 a single individual was seen between the Sannaks and Ilnimak Pass. 

 Whales and the usual varieties of sea birds were frequently noticed j 

 floating kelp and driftwood were observed nearly every day, and, on 

 the 8th, about 350 miles from Unalaska, the trunk of a tree was seen 

 with roots attached, but without branches or bark. The high land of 

 Ugamok Island was sighted at 7.30 p. m. July 9, and at 0.40 a. m. on 

 the 10th we anchored in Unalaska. 



The boiler in use, the only one available, was leaking badly, and was 

 so much salted up that it was difficult to maintain a speed of 6 knots. 

 The condition of the boilers had been rapidly growing Avorse during 

 the cruise, and it was now obvious that they had nearly reached their 

 limit of usefulness; indeed, their condition was so serious that the 

 chief engineer requested a survey. The request was promptly com- 

 plied with, and the report of survey condemned the boilers as unsafe 

 without extensive repairs, wllfch could not be made on the station. 



The only course open was to make temporary repairs and return to 

 San Francisco; so, with our own crew and the assistance of a boiler- 

 maker from the YorMown, we made such repairs as were practicable. 



The unexecuted portion of our orders was turned over to Captain 

 Evans, who detailed the revenue steamers Coricin and Rnsh to carry 

 them out as far as possible. A seal-hunter and a naturalist were sent 

 to each vessel to assist in the work, and they took with them everything 

 requisite for the capture and preservation of specimens. 



Two bidarkas with complete hunting outfits were received from the 

 Alaska Commercial Company for the World's Columbian Exposition, 

 tlie outfits including hunting and fishing implements, clothing, etc. The 

 boats were built under the personal supervision of Mr. Gray, and the 

 outfit was collected by Mr. Eudolph Neumann at St. Michaels. These 

 gentlemen gave their services freely, and without their cooperation it 

 would have been impossible to collect so complete an exhibit. The 

 F R 93 20 305 



