654 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [50] 



The dynamo lias been in operation 1,574 hours and 26 minutes during 

 the year, during which time a mean of about 47 lamps has been in cir- 

 cuit, aggregating the following cost : . 



14| tons of coal, at §5.17 $76.25 \ 



43$ gallons of oil, at 55 cents 23.925 



149 lamps, at 85 cents 126. 65 



34 3-light safety-plugs, at 8 cents 2. 72 



18 6-light safety-plugs, at 8 cents 1. 44 



1 30-liglit safety-plug, at 8 cents 08 



2 key-sockets, at 70 cents 1.40 



4 plain sockets, at 60 cents 2. 40 



3 wire shade-holders, at 30 cents .90 



3 pounds copper wire, at 40 cents 1. 20 



2 pounds insulation tape, at 50 cents * 1. 00 



1$ gross assorted screws, at $1. 25 1. 875 



46 feet flexible cord, at 15 cents 6. 90 



4 attachment plugs, at 40 cents 1.60 



3 dynamo-brushes, at 60 cents 1.80 



1 standard receptacle, at 44 cents 44 



Total 250.58 



Taking the 16 candle-power lamps as requiring double the current of 

 one S candle-power, the mean number of lamps will be (as nearly as can 

 be estimated) 47 ; the caudle-power hours will then be (47 x 1574 x 8=) 

 591824, and this quantity, divided into the total cost, gives the cost of 



■j= — r-f^-j — 5-=0. 042 cents per candle-power per hour, or almost exactly 

 47xlo/4x8 L L L 



what an equal gas-light costs the consumers in Washington city. 



The submarine lamps have worked very well during the year. The 

 naturalists employed them extensively on the Bahama Banks, where 

 the white bottom of the sea afforded a beautiful reflector in the dark- 

 ness of the night. By the aid of the marine glass (improvised in this 

 department) the position of the light and adjacent objects were readily 

 observed even when the surface of the water was disturbed. 



Though no hitch or delay has occurred during the year, and the plant 

 has worked fully as well as when first installed, I feel obliged to say 

 that the B circuit of only 51 volts pressure is rather behind the age, so 

 far as economy is concerned, and therefore recommend the exchange 

 of the dynamo for one of higher potential. 



The Albatross was, I believe, the first Government vessel (of any 

 nation) that employed the incandescent electric lighting for internal 

 illumination. 



The experiments made and the results obtained here were carefully 

 considered in the Navy Department before any venture was made to 

 light their ships in a similar manner. We have produced our light, 1 

 believe, at least as economically as any people using so weak a cur- 

 rent as we employ, but since we installed our plant great improvements 

 have been made in dynamos. The change in the dynamo will not be 

 very expensive. 



