XXVX REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 

 3. — VESSELS OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 

 A. — The Steamer Albatross. 



In the report for 1881 mention is made of the appropriation of $103,000 

 by Congress for the construction of a steamer, to be named the Alba- 

 tross, and to be used by the Fish Commission in investigating questions 

 connected with the fisheries of the high seas. Allusion was also made 

 to the application to the Secretary' of the Treasury to take charge of the 

 building of this vessel, and his assignment of the duty to the Light- 

 House Board, which had so ablj" supervised the building ot the Fish 

 Hawk. 



As stated, also, in that report, the appropriation made was below the 

 lowest bid, and consequently nothing was done until Congress could be 

 asked for an additional allowance. 



This, amounting to $42,000, was made on March G, 1882, and as the 

 first bids were inoperative competition was again invited, and on Au- 

 gust 7, 1882, another appropriation was granted for supplying the vessel 

 witb anchors, chain, furniture, apparatus, «&c., amounting to $45,000. 



Other things being equal the considerations determining these bids 

 were, first, the total amount; and, secondly, the time of completion. 



Only three bids were received 5 as follows : Pusey & Jones, Wilming- 

 ton, Delaware, $135,000, in six months; Eamsay & Co., Baltimore, 

 $144,000, in twelve months; Malster & Eainey, Baltimore, $145,000, in 

 nine months. 



The bid of Pusey & Jones being the lowest, and offering the shortest 

 ])eriod for completion, was accepted; especially as their work on the 

 Fish Hawk proved entirely satisfactory to the Commission; and a con- 

 tract was promptly made, and the work commenced. 



On March 15 the Secretary of the Navy assigned Lieut. Z. L. Tanner, 

 commanding the Fish Hawk, to the additional duty of superintending 

 the construction of the Albatross ; and on March 29, Passed Assistant 

 Engineer Gr. W. Baird was ordered to superintend the building of her 

 machinery, receiving a final detail to the vessel on the 31st of March. 



Although still in command of the Fish Hawk, Captain Tanner made 

 repeated visits to Wilmington for the purpose of inspecting the progress 

 of the work ; until on the 4th of November he was detached from the 

 Fish Hawk, and, on the 10th, ordered to the command of the Albatross, 

 taking charge of the work on the 11th. 



Owing to causes beyond their control, Messrs. Pusey & Jones needed 

 an extension of the time of completion of the vessel, which was accord- 

 ingly granted by the Secretary of the Treasury until the 1st of No- 

 vember, and again extended until December ; the delay being caused 

 mainly by the difficulty experienced in getting certain apparatus or- 

 dered directly by the Commission as part of the equipment. 



The vessel was launched on the 19th of August, and work was prose- 

 cuted rapidly, with the interruptions mentioned. 



