REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 19 
devolving upon the ship would permit. The patrol fleet rendezvoused 
at Port Townsend, Wash., where the Albatross arrived May 24. She 
finished coaling at Comox, British Columbia, May 31, and proceeded 
northward by the passage inside of Vancouver Island to the open waters 
of the Pacific Ocean, where her patrol work began. The vessels of the 
fleet were so disposed as to cover the track of the seal herd and sealing 
vessels bound north, but the Albatross was given the western or off-shore 
route, which placed her outside of the usual course taken by the seals, 
and none were observed between Vancouver Island and Kadiak. 
The first sealing vessel was encountered off the southern edge of 
Portlock Bank, and St. Paul, on Kadiak Island, was reached June 7. 
From this point, on the following day, the Albatross began working to 
the westward, boarding such pelagic sealers as were met with and warn- 
ing them, in accordance with the temporary agreement between Great 
Britain and the United States, to refrain from carrying on their opera- 
tions in Bering Sea. On arriving at Sand Point, Shumagin Islands, 
' where the sealing vessels often congregate, it was found that none had 
yet reached that place. Continuing to the westward as far as Amukta 
Pass, and there entering Bering Sea, the ship proceeded to Unalaska 
for coal and thence returned to Sand Point, boarding several vessels on 
the way, one of which proved to be a cod-fishing schooner bound for 
Slime Bank, off the north side of Unimak Island. 
Some time was spent among the Shumagin Islands, and the principal 
harbors were visited. Mist Harbor, on the east side of Nagai Island, a 
secure and convenient anchorage, was surveyed for the first time, and 
advantage was taken by the naturalists at each stop to obtain as inuch 
information as possible respecting the fishes and other marine animals 
of the region. Leaving Sand Point on June 26, the ship proceeded to 
Unalaska, and thence along the Bering Sea side of the Aleutian Islands, 
entering the Pacific Ocean through Amukta Pass, near which she was 
at midnight of June 30, the close of the fiscal year. 
Owing to the long delay in port, in consequence of the extensive 
repairs made necessary by previous service, the Albatross was only 75 
days at sea during the year, but the distance steamed amounted to 
9,610 miles. Prof. B. W. Evermann, who acted as chief naturalist 
during the first cruise made on behalf of the Treasury Department, 
left the ship after his return from Alaska in August, 1892. The per- 
manent civilian staff consisted of Charles H. Townsend, naturalist; 
A. B. Alexander, fishery expert; and N. B. Miller, laboratory assistant. 
The two former were attached to revenue vessels during the summer 
of 1892, but were with the Albatross during the remainder of the year. 
No trawling or hydrographic work was carried on except during the 
short trial trip off Monterey,in April, 1893. Meteorological and density 
observations were continued, however, during the entire year, and a 
record was kept of all surface animal life and drift material observed at 
sea. Full details of the operations of the ship are given in the report 
of Commander Tanner, forming an appendix to this volume, 
7 
