308 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
I was called to Washington by the Commissioner on business con- 
nected with repairing and refitting the Albatross, and, leaving San 
Francisco September 17, I arrived at the capital ten days later. For- 
mal application was made by the Commissioner to the Secretary of 
the Navy for the transfer of two boilers originally constructed for the 
Monadnock, but which, owing to change in type of engines from com- 
pound to triple expansion, were no longer available for use on that ves- 
sel. The requisite legal formalities having been completed, the boilers 
were transferred on payment of $2,500. 
Instructions were wired to the Albatross to make preparations for 
removing the old boilers and for general repairs to the machinery, the 
work to be done with the crew as far as practicable. I returned to the 
vessel October 27, and found preparations well advanced in the engi- 
neer’s department for the removal of the old boilers. The machinery 
was generally overhauled during the winter. New propellers of bronze 
were made, new boilers put in, a Baird evaporator added to the engi- 
neer’s department, and the electric plant of the vessel rewired. A new 
spar deck was laid, and minor repairs made to the hull and rigging. 
Passed Assistant Surgeon T. A. Berryhill reported for duty January 
5, 1893, and Passed Assistant Surgeon F. W. F. Wieber was detached 
on the 6th. Lieut. A. F. Fechteler reported January 7, and Lieut. C. 
G. Calkins was detached the same day. Ensign W. G. Miller was 
detached January 25, 
The vessel was docked January 13 to change propellers, line shafts, 
renew stern bushings, overhaul outboard bearings, clean and paint 
bottom, ete. The work of tearing up and relaying the spar deck com- 
menced January 31 and was completed March 3. The vessel’s bottom 
was scaled and painted, and on March 4 she was hauled out of dock 
and moored at the wharf. 
Passed Assistant Paymaster J. 8. Carpenter was stricken with snow- 
blindness during the northern cruise, and after suffering for months 
without apparent improvement was examined on March 10 by a med- 
ical board, which recommended that he be given six months’ sick leave. 
Assistant Paymaster Eugene D. Ryan reported for duty April 11, 
relieving Passed Assistant Paymaster Carpenter, who was detached 
the following day, April 12. 
Seventy-three tons of Comox coal were taken on board on the 17th 
and 18th (April), and on the 20th we had a dock trial of the engines, 
which was considered satisfactory. Changes and repairs had been so 
extensive that it was deemed advisable to have a sea trial before sail- 
ing for northern waters, where we would be entirely dependent upon 
our own resources, and with this object in view we left the navy-yard- 
at 9.55 a. m., April 25, with light fires under both boilers. No attempt 
at high speed was made, but we ran from 8 to 10 knots an hour with 
everything working satisfactorily, until 8.10 p.m., when we anchored 
off Santa Cruz for the night. 
Got under way at 6.40 a.m. on the 26th and swung ship under steam, 
