220 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



OPERATIONS FROM MAY 1 TO JUNE 30, 1894. 



By Lieutenant-Commander F. J. Drake, IT. S. N., Commanding. 



On April 19, 1894, while on duty at the navy-yard, Norfolk, Va., I 

 received orders from the Secretary of the Navy to proceed to Port Town- 

 send, Wash., and take command of the United States Fish Commission 

 steamer Albatross, relieving Commander Z. L. Tanner, United States 

 Navy. 



I reported to the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries at Washington, 

 D. C, on the 21st of April, left Washington ou the 22d for Port Town- 

 send, and arrived on the 28th, when I reported on board the U. S. S. 

 Mohican to Commander C. E. Clark, United States Navy, commander 

 in chief of the United States naval force in Bering Sea. 



On Tuesday, May 1, at 1 p. m., a thorough inspection of the vessel 

 was made by Commander Tanner and myself, previous to the transfer 

 of command. All hands were then mustered aft. The usual reading of 

 orders being concluded, Commander Z. L. Tanner turned over the ship 

 and her crew to Lieut. Commander F. J. Drake, who assumed command. 



The Albatross being reported ready for sea, received instructions the 

 same evening, May 1, to hold in readiness to proceed to Unalaska as the 

 pioneer ship of the Bering Sea fleet. 



On the 3d I sent on board the Mohican, flagship of the Bering Sea 

 squadron, eleven blue prints of the chart of the eastern portion of 

 Bering Sea, showing the work of the Albatross in that region. The 

 bine prints were accompanied by a letter of instructions, givinf infor- 

 mation for additional safety in navigating those waters; this letter was 

 also — and primarily — a request that the commander in chief issue orders 

 to the commanding officers of the several vessels of the squadron rela- 

 tive to observations with regard to fur-seal life which might be made 

 by them while engaged in patrol duty, besides furnishing each vessel 

 with one of the blue prints. It was further requested that all data so 

 collected be turned in to the commander in chief at the end of the sea- 

 son, to be collated on board the Albatross as a part of the information 

 sought on that subject for the Fish Commission. 



On May 5, with the permission of the commander in chief, got under 

 way at 10.15 a. m. and stood out of Port Townsend to convey Messrs. 

 Townsend and Alexander to Stuart, Walclron, and Lucia islands in 

 order that they might obtain certain information from the fishermen 

 of that region relative to the waters adjacent to the international 

 boundary line. 



At B-eid Harbor, Stuart Island, but little industry in fishing was 

 found, except for open market. A seining party in charge of Mr. Alex- 

 ander made a haul at the head of the harbor with fair results. The 



