[3] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. 5 



ingtoii, by the 1st of May next, with clean bottom and in as good con- 

 dition as sLe shall be when received, accidents and the wear and tear 

 of time and legitimate service excepted. 

 Very respectfully, 



J. G. WALKER, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Prof. S. F. Baird, 



Commissioner. 



Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, 



Washington, December 21, 1883, 



Sir : In reply to your letter of the 15th instant, requesting a formal 

 statement of the character of the service desired from Lieutenant-Com- 

 mander Tauner in the Albatross, 1 beg leave to inclose the instructions 

 which have been prepared in this Bureau for his guidance during the 

 time that he shall be employed in obtaining the information desired by 

 the Navy Department. 



As it is understood that Lieutenant-Commander Tanner is to do 

 certain work for the U. S. Fish Commission during his cruise in the 

 Caribbean Sea, it is expected that in case he should be delayed by that 

 work, the support of the steamer during such delay will be borne by 

 the Fish Commission. 



Very resj^ectlully, 



J. G. WALKER, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Prof. Spencer F. Baird, 



Commissioner, U. S. Fish Commission, Washington, D. G. 



Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, 



Washington, December 20, 1883. 



Str : You will be guided by the following instructions during the 

 time that you are employed in making the examinations desired by this 

 Bureau. 



Run a ,line of traverses from the island of St. Thomas, along the 

 south side of the island of Porto Rico, from the vicinity of the shore to 

 the 100 fathom curve. As the south jiart of the coast of this island is 

 veiy imi)erfectly known, the traverses should extend to Aguila Point. 



Run a line of deep-sea soundings from the west end of Santa Cruz tO' 

 a ]>oint south of the east end of Porto Rico, in order to ascertain if 

 these islands are connected, as the temperatures found by the United! 

 States Coast and Geodetic Survey steamer Blake in 1879, would seemi 

 to indicate. 



From Aguila Point run a line of deep-sea soundings across the 

 Caribbean Sea to the island of Blanquilla. The soundings are to be 

 taken at such distances as the contour of the bottom may suggest, but 

 not to be more than twenty-five miles apart. 



From the island of Blanquilla run traverses from the 100-fathom 

 curve to the shore, as far as Curacao, making an examination of the 

 localities on which the sea is reported to "break." 



At Curagao you can probably obtain coal. 



From Cura9ao run a line of deep-sea soundings to the island of Beata, 

 and run traverses to the 100-fathom curve along the south side of the 

 island of Santo Domingo, sounding carefully over the reported dangers 

 south of Aux Caves. 



From Santiago de Cuba to Kingston, Jamaica, stop otf Morant Point 

 and develop the reported shoal off the point, marked 8 fathoms. 



