[73] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. 75 



SOUNDING ENGINE. 



Except making a new piston spring and occasionally keying the jour- 

 nals, this engine has required no repairs. Since we cut the lap off the 

 valve we have been able to get the engine started quicker, and also 

 clear it of water more readily. 



WARMING. 



The steam radiators, though presenting a much less aggregate surface 

 than is customary to provide for a ship of this size, have proved suffi- 

 cient for the purpose. Tlie traps which drain off the condensed water 

 have required much attention, and I have put on a " blow-through" 

 arrangement, which appears to improve the circulation. 



VENTILATING. 



The conduits, registers, and fan appear to be sufficient in every way, 

 but the lack of power in the "Wise motor," whicli drives the fan, is 

 such that we get a much smaller circulation than was intended. An 

 ex[)erimeut recorded in my report of September 30 gives the power and 

 efficiency of the* motor. 



DISTILLER. 



The distiller continues to furnish a plentiful supply of excellent 

 water. ' 



LIGHTING. 



The Edison-light plant continues to give great satisfaction. During 

 the year we have improvised submarine lamps, which the Naturalists use 

 in catching squid and other marine fauna at night j they appear to 

 attract a great variety of creatures. We have provided two clusters 

 of three 16 candle-power lamps each, having cables 30 feet in length, 

 for use on deck. These lamps were intended to light the trawl-sioves 

 on deck, and have been so successful that the use of the arc-lamps has 

 been discontinued. They require so much less current than the are- 

 lamp that the dynamo does not feel the additional load as it did from 

 the arc lamps. The cables are carried on convenient reels, one of which 

 is fixed under the forecastle and one in the pilot-house. During the 

 year two additional lamp-fixtures have been placed in the cabin. The 

 usual breaking of wires and of sockets has continued 5 the repairs being 

 made by our engine-room force. The lamp has been cut from the deep- 

 sea cable, and the photometer of Paymaster Read has been put in its 

 place; the current to operate the deep-sea photometer is taken from 

 four Le 01anch6 disk cells. We have purchased a 7-inch belt, which 

 drives the dynamo with less slipping. Duinng the year the dynamo has 

 been in operation 1,482 hours, giving practically the same economy as 

 previously reported. The brightness of the lamps is unimpaired and the 

 steadiness remains uniformly constant. The average number of lamps 



