[47] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. G51 



bronze sounding-reel has been built by contract, and has been fitted to 

 its place by the men in this department. Its pulley is slightly less in 

 diameter than that of the original reel, and with increased pressure on 

 the steam piston it is believed that the speed of reeling in will be from 

 this cause augmented. The cost of the labor and material consumed 

 on the engine of the sounding-machine — which come in the writer's 

 department — were as follows : 



38 feet of steam hose $18. 00 



1 oil-cup 60 



1 hose-coupling 2. 00 



Labor 20.70 



Total : 41.30 



STEERING-ENGINE. 



The steam steering-gear has not been used much during the year, 

 but has, when used, done its work with promptness and precision. The 

 plates over the exhaust chambers and passages are very light and are 

 not bolted close enough ; this makes bad air-leaks which reduces the 

 vacuum from 2 to 3 inches in the condenser. 



STEAM- WINDLASS. 



This machine continues to give satisfaction. Besides hoisting, cat- 

 ting, and fishing the anchors, it is used to reel off wire rope, warp the 

 ship, and hoist boats. No repairs have been needed to this engine 

 during the year, except sweating thin pieces of brass on the sides of 

 the crank-pin brasses, at a cost of $1.38. 



STEAM ASH-HOISTER. 



This machine continues to work admirably. The (cast-iron) gland to 

 one of the piston-rods was discovered to be broken; there was sufficient 

 metal in it and the fracture showed a clear break, an indication that it 

 was broken by accident or stupidity. The broken gland was replaced 

 by a brass one at the Washington navy-yard, at a cost of $2.76. 



STEAM-PUMPS. 



We have had to renew the leather cup-packings on the water-pistou 

 of the circulating puinp during the year, at an expense of $8. The 

 piston, which is of cast iron, is badly corroded and will not last much 

 longer. It should be replaced by a light brass pistou fitted for hemp 

 packing. We have had the steam-chest of the hydrant pump rebored, 

 and a new steam- valve put in during the month of June, at an expense 

 of $27.05. 



A No. 1 Davidson steam pump has been purchased and erected in 

 the engine-room to circulate sea-water through the aquaria. The pip- 



