22 RKPORT OF THE COMMISSIONI^R OF FISH AND FISHKKIKS. 



the oxtraovdiuary service re(|iure(l of ilie Albatross Ijoilevs will he 

 appreciated. 



P reparations for a third line of souadinf/s — The Ibllowin^' letter (Vom 

 the cliief of tlie Bureau of Navigations dated November oO, was received 

 January 17: 



In rotiiT'niiijj; iVoKi HoiidIuIii 1i> S;iii I'^iaiicisco, aftor c()in|tletiiig tlie sound hii^s at 

 close intervals along the dinn't line between Salinas lauding and Honolulu, please 

 take soundings at intervals of about GO miles upon a lino situated about as far to one 

 side of the line just completed as the soundings taken in 1S74 by the officers of the 

 U. S. S. Ttisc((rora are to tlie other side. 



This was the first intiniatioii I received that a second line w-as con- 

 temphited by the Bureau of jSTavigation ; it was expected tliat the 

 order would reach us at Honolulu, but it probal)ly arrived there after 

 our departure. I replied to tlie Euicau's letter as follows: 



Your letter of November 30, 1801, with reference to second line of soundings 

 between Honolulu and California, was received this morning. In reply, I beg leave 

 to say that the second line has been completed with average intervals of about 10 

 miles, and is, I think, much the Ijetter of the two. ^Ve arrived at the navy-yard 

 yesterday and are now waiting orders. The report of survey will be forwarded as 

 soon aa possible. 



It will be seen that we had anticipated the wishes of the Bureau. As 

 before stated, I recognized the necessity for a second line before the 

 first was couipleted, and, while engaged on the latter, it occurred to 

 me that still another one, farther to the southward, might be re<iuired. 

 In anticipation of such an event, I wrote to the hydrographer, on 

 December 25, 1891, that the wear and tear had been very great, and in 

 case a third line was to be run we would require about two weeks at 

 the navy-yard to make the necessary repairs. 



' All the available force was put to work on the report of cable sur- 

 vey, which was completed and forwarded February 1. This report 

 included sounding and meteorological records, charts, plans, photo- 

 graphs, etc. 



Telegraphic orders were received from the Bureau of Navigation, 

 tlu"Ough the commandant of the navy-yard, February 10, directing me 

 to run a line of soundings from Point Concepcion to Hilo. I informed 

 the commandant that itw^onld take three weeks' time and the expend- 

 iture of $2,000 to make temporary repairs necessary for the completion 

 of the work. 



The repairs could have been made wiiile we were preparing the 

 report had the necessary instructions been received. There was some 

 questi(m as to the practicability of paying for tlie repairs from the 

 approimation for cable surveys; and it was not until February 15 that 

 instructions were received to go ahead with the work, kee])iiig an 

 account of items chargeable to the U. S. Commission of Fish and Fish- 

 eries and the Navy Department, respectively. 



The vessel went into dry dock the following day, and upon examina- 

 tion a rope was found wound around the starboard propeller shaft in 



