: 
2.—REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE FISH COMMISSION STEAMER 
ALBATROSS, FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1898. 
By Commander Z. L. TANNER, U. 8. Navy, commanding. 
The Albatross was lying in the harbor of Port Townsend, Wash., at the 
close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, ready for sea, and sailed 
at 12.55 a. m. July 1 for Unalaska. 
Taking an approximate great-circle course from Cape Flattery to the 
Fox Islands Passes, light to moderate winds were encountered until the 
5th, boisterous weather and heavy seas during the 7th, and smooth, pleas- 
ant weather thence to port. The usual lookout was kept for seal life, and 
a Single individual was seen between the Sannaks and Unimak Pass. 
Whales and the usual varieties of sea birds were frequently noticed; 
floating kelp and driftwood were observed nearly every day, and, on 
the 8th, about 350 miles from Unalaska, the trunk of a tree was seen 
with roots attached, but without branches or bark. The high land of 
Ugamok Island was sighted at 7.30 p.m. July 9, and at 6.40 a. m. on 
the 10th we anchored in Unalaska. 
The boiler in use, the only one available, was leaking badly, and was 
so much salted up that it was difficult to maintain a speed of 6 knots. 
The condition of the boilers had been rapidly growing worse during 
the cruise, and it was now obvious that they had nearly reached their 
limit of usefulness; indeed, their condition was so serious that the 
chief engineer requested a survey. The request. was promptly com- 
plied with, and the report of survey condemned the boilers as unsafe 
without extensive repairs, which could not be made on the station. 
The only course open was to make temporary repairs and return to 
San Francisco; so, with our own crew and the assistance of a boiler- 
maker from the Yorktown, we made such repairs as were practicable. 
The unexecuted portion of our orders was turned over to Captain 
Evans, who detailed the revenue steamers Corwin and Rush to carry 
them out as far as possible. A seal-hunter and a naturalist were sent 
to each vessel to assist in the work, and they took with them everything 
requisite for the capture and preservation of specimens. 
Two bidarkas with complete hunting outfits were received from the 
Alaska Commercial Company for the World’s Columbian Exposition, 
the outfits including hunting and fishing implements, clothing, ete. The 
boats were built under the personal supervision of Mr. Gray, and the 
outfit was collected by Mr. Rudolph Neumann at St. Michaels. These 
gentlemen gave their services freely, and without their cooperation it 
would have been impossible to collect so complete an exhibit. The 
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