EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXVII 



Paymaster G. H. Read, of the Fish Hawk, was ordered to the addi- 

 tional duty of paymaster of the Albatross ou November 4. 



The vessel was put in commission when Captain Tanner reported for 

 dut3^, and was supplied with the necessary officers and men by succes- 

 sive detail. The vessel left Wilmington on a trial trip for Washington 

 on December 30, arriving on the 1st of January, 1883. The workings 

 of the machinery were carefully studied, and the vessel taken back to 

 Wilmington for final completion. 



The personnel of the Albatross, on arrival at Washington, was as 

 follows: Lieut. Z. L. Tanner, commanding; Lieut. Seaton Schroederj 

 Lieut. S. H. May ; Lieut. A. C. Baker ; Lieut. 0. J. Boush ; Ensign R. 

 H.Miner; Paymaster George H. Eead; Engineer G. W. Baird; Sur- 

 geon J. H. Kidder. 



According to the measurements of the collector of customs at Wil- 

 mington, Del., by order of the Secretary of the Treasury, the gross ton- 

 nage is 025.20; net tonnage, 385.82; displacement, about 1,000 tons. 



Her signal letters, as borne on the books of the Treasury Depart- 

 ment, are G. V. Q. B. 



A full description of the Albatross and of her equipment will appear 

 in a subsequent report. 



B. — The Steamer Fish Hawk. 



The Fish Hawk continued in active service during the year; partly 

 in connection with the hatching of shad, and i)artly in deep-sea explora- 

 tion, with Wood's Holl as a base. 



The details of her work will be found under other heads; though it 

 may be mentioned, in general, that after remaining in the navy-yard in 

 Washington during the winter she made an exploring trip in Chesa- 

 peake Bay. 



The vessel left Washington on February 25, having on board in ad- 

 dition to her usual equipment a large number of gill-nets of various 

 kinds, among which may be mentioned nets for herring, Spanish mack- 

 erel, menhaden, shad, whitefish, and cod. One object of the cruise was 

 to set these nets in various parts of the Chesapeake and its tributaries, 

 to ascertain if shad or any other of the anadromous fishes which visit 

 these waters periodically, generally at a somewhat later date, might not 

 be taken in the " deep holes" that occur in certain localities before they 

 made their appearance in the shallow waters off the fishing stations. 



The work of research on this occasion was in charge of Capt. J. W. 

 Collins. 



Nets were set opposite Point Lookout in 5 fathoms of water, off Bar- 

 ren Island in 20 fiithoms, at the mouth of the Patuxent, off Smith's 

 Point and Point Lookout, at Tangier Sound, oft' Cherrystone, and at the 

 mouth of York River. The results obtained at either of these places 

 were chiefly of a negative character. A few young menhaden were cap- 



