[11] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. 615 



The birds mentioned in the act are: Wild pigeons, partridges, doves, 

 flamingoes, boobies, man-of-war birds, pimlies, noddies. 



The governor very kindly sent us the following letter also, which is 



evidence of his friendly interest in our work, and desire to assist in its 



prosecution : 



Government House, 



Nassau, March 17, 188G. 

 To whom it may concern : 



The governor requests that public officers and other inhabitants of 

 the islands of this colony will afford every assistance in their power to 

 the naturalists on board the U. S. S. Albatross, who are engaged in 

 scientific investigations. 



HENRY A. BLAKE, 



Governor. 



The work of collecting and investigation was carried on vigorously 

 during our stay in port, and large numbers of rare and interesting spec- 

 imens were obtained. 



His excellency the governor visited the ship on the 17th, and spent 

 several hours in inspecting the apparatus, examining the specimens, 

 and familiarizing himself with our methods. He has a good knowledge 

 of natural history, and is doing useful work in that branch of science 

 himself; hence his study of our apparatus and methods was with un- 

 usual interest and intelligence. 



At 6.10 a. m., March 24, we left the harbor of Nassau, and ran a line 

 of soundings to the south end of Great Abaco, the maximum depth being 

 1,490 fathoms. At 5.25 p. m. we anchored off Soldiers' Eoad Settlement 

 and landed Messrs. W. Nye, jr., and C. H. Townsend, with necessary 

 supplies and apparatus for the prosecution. of their work while the ves- 

 sel was absent. This anchorage is safe with winds from NW. and N. 

 to E. The Albatross anchored in 7 fathoms, white sand bottom, Hole- 

 in the-Wall light-house bearing ENE. three-fourths E. in sight over the 

 land. We left the anchorage at 8.10 p. m., and ran a line of soundings 

 through NW. Providence Channel to Great Isaac's, thence proceeding 

 direct to Key West, Fla., where we arrived and anchored at 2.05 p. in., 

 March 26. The flagship Teunessee, flying the flag of Acting Rear- Ad- 

 miral James E. Jouett, the Powhatan, Galena, Swatara, and Yantic 

 were at anchor in the harbor, and the U. S, Coast and Geodetic Survey 

 steamer Blake arrived during the evening. The fleet left at 11.45 a. m., 

 March 28, and the U. S. S. Brooklyn came in and went to the coal 

 wharf. 



At 1.40 a. m., on the 30th, fire broke out in a building adjoining the 

 San Carlos theater, and quickly spreading among the dry wooden struct- 

 ures in the vicinity, soon became totally unmanageable in the absence 

 of suitable fire apparatus. A working party of thirty men, under com- 

 mand of the executive officer, Lieutenant Waring, was sent on shore from 

 this vessel at 2 a. in., and fought the fire until 3 p. m., when it was under 



