21 S KKI'ORT (^1'^ COArMTSSIONER OF FISH AXD FIsriEUIRS. 



]>r:i\viis (»f excellent quality were taken frequently in the heam trawl, 

 and do not seem to be confined to any i)aiticular de])tli. 



The sea lislierinen have much to contend with on tlie coasts of Oregon 

 and Washington. Gales are of rare occurrence during the sun'nner 

 months, yet the (M)ast winds, blowing constantly from the northward, 

 keep up a boisterous sea and strong currents. During the fall and 

 winter, southeasterly gales are iVequent, and there being none but bar 

 harbors on the coast, they can not be entered in bad weather; hence 

 the unfortunate fisherman is obliged to go to sea and lay it out. The 

 distance from a market and the excessively high i)rice of ice are other 

 obstacles to be contended with by the fishermen. 



Surface life was quite abundant, particularly during lair weather. 

 Whales were seen nearly every day, and occasional schools of i)orpoises; 

 while close in shore, sharks were of frequent occurrence. ( Julls, gonies, 

 and petrels were flying about, and huge flocks of black fulmars were 

 observed on several occasions. 



jlfare Island Navi/- Yard. — The work of overhauling and lefilting i)ro- 

 ceeded without incident worthy of mention until the evening of De- 

 cember 2.3, when an accident occurred, resulting in the drowning of 

 three nu^mbers of (mr crew and a. civilian. The night was exceedingly 

 dark and stormy. At 7 p. n\. a small boat containing 9 men left the 

 side for Yallejo, and 5 minutes later swamped in midstream. Boats 

 from the U. S. S. TlwUs rescued 5 men, but nothing was seen of the 

 others, although boats from the various ships were on the spot within 

 a few minutes and the search continued Avell into the night. The 

 names of the drowned were K. 8. Padgett, machinist; J. Enright, sea- 

 man; W. W. Lee (colored), seaman; Walter Philii)pi, civilian. The 

 latter was a cripple who was in the habit of visiting the ship to sell 

 newspapers to the crew. The remains of John Enright and Walter 

 Philip])i wer<' subse(piently recovered. Tiie former was buried in the 

 naval cemetery at Mare Islantl and the giav*' ma iked by a neat iiead- 

 stone furnished by the Coast Seaman's Union, of which organization 

 he was a member. Philii)i)i was buried by his ])arents in San llafael. 



b^nsign 11. E. l*armenler was di^tacheti .laiiuary S, lSi)(), and oi-dered 

 to the Charleston. Lieut. O. (r. (^alkins, IT. S. ISTavy, reported for duty 

 on the 0th, relieving Ensign INIarbnry J(>linst(ni as executive oOicer 

 and navigator, the latter having ])erformed (hose duties since tlu^ de- 

 tachment of Lieut. Waring a year ago. 



We coaled shij) March ;' and 4, and at 9:U) the following morning 

 left the yard and steamed out into San Pablo Bay to try the engines 

 and dredging apparatus. Two hauls of the trawl were made near the 

 Brotliers, and at li:4(» j). in. we reached the navy-yard and moored to a 

 buoy in the stream'. I'jverything worked fairly well during the trial 

 tri[), a few minor matters only re(|uiring aidjnstment. 



