48 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
commodations for 16 investigators may be increased as circumstances. 
demand. Among the useful features are a library, a chemical labora- 
tory, a photographic room, a museum, a mess hall and kitchen, and 
tank and aquarium rooms, in addition to offices. 
At the beginning of the year reconstruction work at the Baker 
Lake (Wash.) station was well under way, and though hampered 
by difficulties in transportation and by high prices of material and 
labor has progressed to a point where the station is again on an 
efficient working basis. In addition to the hatchery described in 
the last report a bunk house, sawmill, and workshop have been 
erected, all of which are of frame construction with iron roofs. 
Practically all the tools and appliances, including nets, seines, hatch- 
ery equipment, and furniture of all kinds, were destroyed and have 
been replaced. Communication with Baker Lake station is by means 
of pack horses over an 18-mile trail, and the large amount of heavy 
material needed in the reconstruction of the plant has made it neces- 
sary to undertake considerable improvements to the trail, including 
the rebuilding of bridges, corduroy work over swampy portions, 
and grading at other points. 
The construction work at the Yes Bay (Alaska) station has in- 
cluded the installation of a new water-supply system, the main line 
consisting of about 4,000 feet of 16-inch and 18-inch wood-stave pipe 
for conveying water to the hatchery and ponds, with 1,250 feet of 
6-inch pipe to supply water for domestic use and fire protection. 
New foundation timbers have been laid under the hatchery, the 
worn-out floors of the building have been replaced with new ones, 
240 hatching troughs and a 196-foot supply trough have been con- 
structed, and important repairs have been made to other buildings 
and equipment. 
VESSEL SERVICE. 
Owing to the Bureau’s inability to secure qualified personnel for 
investigation and research work, the operations of the steamers Alba- 
tross and Fish Hawk were restricted during the fiscal year. The 
Albatross (excepting one trip in connection with the Chesapeake Bay 
survey, when the Fish Hawk was in quarantine) was not actively 
engaged and advantage was taken of the opportunity to make needed 
improvements to the crew’s quarters, to modernize sanitary arrange- 
ments, to repair and strengthen deck houses, to replace sounding and 
dredging gear with approved appliances, and to renew the equip- 
ment generally. The ship has been lying at the Coast Guard depot 
at South Baltimore, and the advisability of placing her out of com- 
mission and releasing her naval officers and crew is under consid- 
eration. 
The physical and biological survey of Chesapeake Bay, undertaken 
in the previous year, was continued by means of the steamer Fish 
Hawk, and has been practically completed in so far as need for that 
vessel is concerned. Seven trips, extending the entire length of the 
bay, were made, with a total mileage of 2.275. The plan of the work 
embraced observations at about 35 stations, and while each one was 
not occupied on every trip, 190 stations were made in all and 29 sta- 
tions were made by the Albatross. 
