270 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



wire. The dium did not collapse, but the biiidiu;; bolts gave way one 

 by one, allowing the flanges to spring outward and the wire to find 

 lodgment between them and the edges of the drum. The nip was so 

 great thnt it ruined the wire even where it was possible to extricate it, 

 but many of the parts were cut before they could be cleared. Fortu- 

 nately, we had a heavy navy reel on board, which was mounted without 

 causing delay in our work. 



The dredging engine has continued to perform its work admirably. 

 The service was ])articularly heavy during the wiiitei" in the grenter 

 depths, and near the end of the season the friction gear gave out, but 

 it did not materially interfere with the working of the engine. The 

 arms of the driving pinion and friction drum were lashed together, and 

 the latter was operated directly by the engine in veering as well as 

 hoisting. It was repaired at small cost. 



The reeling engine still performs its work well withont expense for 

 repairs, further than the usual exaraiuation and adjustment. The 

 dredge rope was subjected to unusual wear and tear during the south- 

 ern cruise and parted several times, but there were no serious losses. 

 The expenditure of trawls resulting from these breakages was of greater 

 importance, but never resulted in the least delay, the apparatus in 

 reserve being equal at all times to the demand. 



The Negretti and Zambra thermometers have worked well except 

 when used in series on the dredge rope, particularly in the tropics. 

 After the substitution of the sounding wire as a temperature rope the 

 instruments worked well, but several were lost by parting the wire, 

 and this is liable to occur at any time, the margin of safety being very 

 small. The expenditure of wire would bo of little moment, but the loss 

 of a dozen deep-sea thermometers is another matter and might bring 

 that branch of work to an abru]>t termination. We have now adopted 

 the following plan : A sufhcient amount of large strong wire is Avouud 

 on a spare drum, and when serial temperatures are to be taken it is 

 mounted on the sounding machine, arrangements having been made for 

 the rapid interchange of reels. 



PERSONNEL. 



The following is the list of officers, June .'^0, 1801 : Lieut. Commander 

 Vi. L. Tanner, II. vS. Navy, commanding; Lieut. C. G. Calkins, U. S. 

 Navy, executive officer and navigator; Lieut, (jr. grade) J. H. Lee Hol- 

 combe, U. S. Navy; Ensign E. A. Anderson, IT. S. Navy; Passed 

 Assistant Surgeon Nelson 11. Drake, U. S. Navy; Passed Assistant 

 Paymaster C. S. Willams, U. S. Navy; Assistant Engineer A. M. Hunt, 

 U. S. Navy. 



The civilian corps was ;is follows: Charles H. Townsend, resident 

 naturalist; A. B. Alexandei-, fishery expert; N. P>. Miller, assistant nat- 

 uralist; Harry C. Fassett, clerk to commanding officer. 



