i 3 BY REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
ical and physical investigation of the waters of Chesapeake Bay was 
undertaken and arrangements were made for periodical trips, five of 
which were made prior to July 1. Between March 21 and April 15, 
1916, the vessel was used in experimental shad hatching on the Cape 
Fear River. Some minor repairs were made at the Norfolk Navy 
Yard during November and December, 1915. During the year the 
vessel cruised 5,811 miles and consumed 703 tons of coal. On Sep- 
tember 6, 1915, Boatswain James J. O’Brien, U. S. Navy, was suc- 
ceeded in command by Chief Boatswain James Mahoney, U.S. Navy. 
The Phalarope has been attached to the Woods Hole station, as 
heretofore, and has rendered service in both fish-cultural and biolog- 
ical work at that place. When the shad-hatching season began on the 
ane River in the spring of 1916, the vessel was detailed to that 
eld. 
The Curlew has been employed on the Mississippi River, in connec- 
tion with the rescue of fishes from the overflowed lands and with the 
operations of the Fairport laboratory. 
The steamer Osprey has been employed in southeast Alaska on 
fishery-patrol work. 
The auxiliary schooner Grampus, having headquarters at Glouces- 
ter, Mass., was used in oceanographic and herring investigations in 
the Gulf of Maine from July 1 to October 27, 1915. From November 
to May the vessel was laid up and her crew was assigned to fish-cul- 
tural work at the Gloucester hatchery. From May 9 to June 30 the 
vessel was at Gloucester, with the crew engaged in scraping, painting, 
overhauling rigging, and general cleaning, in preparation for cruising 
after the new fiscal year began. 
The alterations originally contemplated on the steamer Roosevelt 
proceeded satisfactorily and were completed at the Norfolk Navy 
Yard. The vessel was inspected by a board, of which the superin- 
tendent of naval construction, Bureau of Lighthouses, was the senior 
member, and on April 5 this board advised certain additional work 
before the ship was sent tosea. This was authorized as soon as funds 
peated, and all was practically completed in August, 1916, except 
or the installation of a new tail shaft, a forging for which was difficult 
to obtain owing to the excessive demands on the steel mills for mate- 
rial. The Roosevelt has cost the Government somewhat over $72,000. 
The original cost of this vessel was about $150,000, and it is estimated 
that it would have cost not less than $100,000 to build a vessel of 
similar dimensions which would fill the Bureau’s requirements. 
A contract for the construction of a new vessel for use on the Maine 
coast, for which there was an appropriation of $45,000, was awarded, 
in March, 1916, to the Townsend Marine Railway & Construction Co., 
of Boothbay Harbor, Me., for $44,217. The vessel was designed for use 
not only in connection with the operations of the marine hatchery but 
for oceanographic and fishery investigations as well. She is a single- 
screw steam-propelled wooden vessel, 108 feet 6 inches over all, with 
22 feet beam and 8 feet draft. Sheis equipped with a 320-horsepower 
engine and an Almy water-tube boiler, with a mast fitted for dredging. 
On the main deck are quarters for the officers and investigators, wit 
laboratory and cabin. Below decks are the crew’s quarters, water 
tanks, machinery, storerooms, etc., and an arrangement for transport- 
ing live fishes. Ti is expected the vessel will be completed during the 
_ coming winter. 
