WORK OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 815 
U.S. Navy, was detached April 11, Assistant Paymaster Eugene D. 
Ryan, U.S. Navy, reporting as his ee the same day; Ensign C. F, 
Hughes, U.S. Navy, reported May 5. 
_ The following officers were attached to the Albatross June 30, 1893: 
Commander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. Navy, commanding; Lieut. A. F. 
Fechteler, U.S. Navy, executive officer and navigator; Ensign H. B. 
Wilson, U.S. Navy; Ensign E. A. Anderson, U. 8S. Navy; Ensign C. 
M. Fahs, U. S. Navy; Ensign ©. F, Hughes, U. S. Navy; Passed 
Assistant Surgeon T. A. Berryhill, U.S. Navy; Assistant Paymaster 
Eugene D. Ryan, U.S. Navy; Passed Assistant Engineer A. M. Hunt, 
U.S. Navy. 
_ The civilian staff consisted of C. H. Townsend, resident naturalist; 
A. B. Alexander, fishery expert; N. B. Miller, assistant in scientific 
department; Harry Clifford Fassett, captain’s clerk. 
- The present crew-list of fifty-three enlisted men is totally inadequate 
for the performance of the ordinary duties of the vessel while engaged 
in the work of deep-sea exploration, and the practice of shipping a 
temporary force of civilians on the eve of sailing is still followed. The 
original number of enlisted men, sixty-eight, was based on the manual 
force required to carry on the work of the vessel, watch and watch, 
which is absolutely necessary when operations are continued night and 
day, as has been the custom on board this vessel. 
The general health of officers and crew has been excellent, and the 
hygienic condition of the vessel continues most satisfactory. 
The Albatross has been seventy-five days at sea and has steamed 
9,610 miles during the year. 
REPORT BY A. B. ALEXANDER ON FISHERY INQUIRIES. 
The Albatross left Mare Island navy-yard on the morning of May 20, 
1893. The first fishing was at Comox, Vancouver Island, on May 30. 
The beaches here are very poor for seine hauls; in most places they are 
rocky and generally unsuited for collecting with nets. No economic 
species were taken in the seine. Clams were fairly abundant. 
These mollusks constitute one of the principal articles of food of the 
small Indian tribe which lives here during the summer months. This 
tribe, numbering about one hundred persons, camps here annually for 
the purpose of laying in a supply of salmon for the winter. Ali fish 
taken intended for future use are either dried or smoked. Fish to be 
smoked are hung on lines or poles near the roofs of the huts or houses, 
where the smoke freely circulates among them; those to be dried are 
thrown upon the rocks or sand and left until they are sufticiently 
cured to admit of being packed away and shipped to the winter settle- 
ment, which is near the town of Union, 13 miles from the coast. 
I saw no seines or nets of any kind at the fishing settlement, and 
presume, from what information I could gain, that all salmon are taken 
by trolling. Salmon are sufficiently plentiful to supply the wants of 
both the white and Indian populations, but not numerous enough to 
eeduce capital to build canneries® 
bir 
