308 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FIgH AND FISHERIES. 



I was called to Washington by the Cominissioner on business con- 

 nected with repairing and refitting the Albatross, and, leaving San 

 Francisco September 17, I arrived at the capital ten days later. For- 

 mal application was made by the Commissioner to the Secretary of 

 the Navy for the transfer of two boilers originally constructed for the 

 31onadnocJx; but which, owing to change in type of engines from com- 

 pound to triple expansion, were no longer available for use on that ves- 

 sel. The requisite legal formalities having been completed, the boilers 

 were transferred on pajaneut of $2,500. 



Instructions were wired to the Albatross to inake pre})arations for 

 removing the old boilers and for general repairs to the machinery, the 

 work to be done with the crew as far as practicable. I returned to the 

 vessel October 27, and found preparations well advanced in the engi- 

 neer's department for the removal of the old boilers. The machinery 

 was generally overhauled during the winter. New projiellers of bronze 

 were made, new boilers put in, a Baird evaporator added to the engi- 

 neer's department, and the electric plant of the vessel rewired. A new 

 spar deck was laid, and minor repairs made to the hull and rigging. 



Passed Assistant Surgeon T. A. Berryhill reported for duty January 

 5, 1893, and Passed Assistant Surgeon F. W. F. Wieber was detached 

 on the Gth. Lieut. A. F. Fechteler reported January 7, and Lieut. C. 

 G. Calkins was detached the same day. Ensign W. G. Miller was 

 detached January 25. 



The vessel was docked January 13 to change propellers, line shafts, 

 renew stern bushings, overhaul outboard bearings, clean and paint 

 bottom, etc. The work of tearing up and relaying the spar deck com- 

 menced January 31 and was completed March 3. The vessel's botto?n 

 was scaled and painted, and on March 4 she was hauled out of dock 

 and moored at the wharf. 



Passed Assistant Paymaster J. S. Carpenter was stricken with snow- 

 blindness during the northern cruise, and after suffering for months 

 without apparent improvement was examined on March 10 by a med- 

 ical board, which recommended that he be given six months' sick leave. 

 Assistant Paymaster Eugene 1). Kyan reported for duty Ai)ril 11, 

 relieving Passed Assistant Paymaster Carpenter, who was detached 

 the following day, April 12. 



Seventy-three tons of Comox coal were taken on board on the 17th 

 and 18th (April), and on the 20th we had a dock trial of the engines, 

 which was considered satisfactory. Changes and repairs had been so 

 extensive that it was deemed advisable to have a sea trial before sail- 

 ing for northern waters, where we would be entirely dependent upon 

 our own resources, and with this object in view we left the navy-yard 

 at 0.55 a. m., April 25, with light fires under both boilers. No attempt 

 at high speed was made, but we ran from 8 to 10 knots an hour with 

 everything working satisfactorily, until 8.10 p.m., when we anchored 

 off Santa Cruz for tlie night. 



Got under way at 0.40 a. m. on the 20th and swung ship under steam, 



