[17] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. 621 



working ground of the 5th and Gth was, like that of the 4th, under the 

 bed of the Gulf Stream. 



The winds, which had been light to moderate from the 2d, increased 

 during the afternoon of the Gth, and at midnight, when the last haul 

 was finished, was blowing a brisk breeze from SW., with indications 

 of approaching bad weather. 



The submarine light was used until about 2 a. m. on the 7th, when 

 we started ahead under steam and sail for the capes of the Chesapeake. 

 The weather became overcast during the afternoon and the wind in- 

 creased, with falling barometer. At 8 p. m. there was a moderate gale 

 from south, with thick threatening weather and incessant thunder and 

 lightning, followed by a furious squall half an hour later. We were 

 near the northern verge of the Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras, where 

 the sea rises with the wind and assumes a magnitude entirely dispro- 

 portionate to the apparent cause. 



We passed Cape Heury at 7.30 a. m. on the Sth, and the weather still 

 being thick and unsettled, anchored in Hampton Roads until the fol- 

 lowing morning, when, the storm having passed, we steamed up the bay, 

 anchoring for the night off Upper Cedar Point. We were under way at 

 daylight on the 10th, and arrived at the navy-yard, Washington, D. C, 

 at 10.50 a. m. 



We remained at the navy-yard overhauling and refitting for the 

 summer's cruise until June 30, when we left for Norfolk, Va., arriving 

 the following morning. 



At 7.30 a. m., July 2, we went into dry-dock, and the work of scraping 

 and painting the bottom commenced. Considerable rust was dis- 

 covered, but very few barnacles or other marine life. The vessel was 

 last docked at Baltimore May 27, 1885, and has therefore been a little 

 more than thirteen months in the water; five mouths at sea, three 

 months in the Potomac river, followed by another three months at sea 

 in West Indian waters, and finally about two months in the Potomac. 

 These intervals in fresh water killed the marine growths, thus account- 

 ing for the comparatively .smooth bottom. The rust was readily ac- 

 counted for, and was excessive wherever the dredge-rope or sounding- 

 wire had been in contact with the bottom. There was much rust near 

 and below the water-line, where the paint was rubbed off by ice when 

 we were steaming down the Potomac en route to the West Indies in 

 February last. 



We found another small piece gone from a broken blade on the port 

 propeller, and to compensate for the loss of weight and surface, an 

 equal area was cut off the opposite blade. The outboard bearings are 

 wearing somewhat, and it will be necessary to reline both shafts when 

 the vessel is docked again. 



The painting having been finished, the ship was hauled out of dock 

 at 1 p. m., July 7, and at 2 p. m. wo commenced coaling, finishing at 

 2.30 p. m. on the Sth, having received 120- 2 a 2 ^ tons. At 5.10 p. m. we 



