- 
INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 269 
rejoin the vessel, and Assistant Engineer A. M. Hunt, U. S. N., was 
ordered to relieve him, reporting June 9, at which time the former was 
detached. 
June 25 orders were received from the Navy Department reducing 
the number of the crew from 67 to 53 men after June 30, 1891, and also 
giving new ratings. The proposed crew would be able simply to navi- 
gate the vessel, but could not carry on the work for which she is em- 
ployed. Authority was subsequently received from the Commissioner, 
however, to employ the additional men required to make the vessel 
efficient, placing them on the Fish Commission rolls. The necessary 
changes were made immediately. 
Engines and boilers were tested at a dock trial June 27 and, much to 
our gratification, everything worked smoothly and satisfactorily. We 
went to San Francisco on the 29th and docked at the Union Iron 
Works the following morning to scrape and paint the vessel’s bottom, 
which had become exceedingly foul during her cruise in tropical waters. 
We expected to dock at the navy-yard, but the dry-dock was required 
very unexpectedly for a French frigate which arrived a few days pre- 
viously, needing extensive repairs. 
The Albatross was in dry-dock at the end of the fiscal year when 
this report should properly close, yet it seems advisable to state that 
we were preparing for a season’s work in Bering Sea, and would have 
sailed early in July had the vessel not been diverted from her work to 
convey the United States commissioners to the Seal Islands. We left 
San Francisco on the evening of July 16, having on board Dr. Thomas 
C. Mendenhall and Dr. C. Hart Merriam, United States commissioners, 
en route for the Pribilof Islands, Bering Sea. 
Summary of work and condition of equipment.—The following brief 
summary gives in a graphic form a résumé of the work of the Albatross 
for the fiscal year 1890-91: 
Nimiberrote days atisedies sist tace tances cas sac aa Coos we eee ees 135 
Distance run by observation, in knots......--:--.-.-.-----..-.-. 15, 314 
Distancenunsby loom knots sess- ce. ees ese ase 15, 706 
Numberof:deep-sea Soundines. 2525. 2: cos 2c See asset es coe 30d 
Humberor dred ring stations 225/52 oA). -<2+ 222.526 se+ 5 onl 153 
Numibeniofifishinoy stations: sn 22 5 jas ietets ues oe aster ae geo bea 95 
Number of specific-gravity stations .......-...----..-.-------.- 330 
Number of serial-temperature stations................---.-2---- 35 
Number of submarine tow-net stations ....-.-.----..---.--.-.-- 19 
Mr. Charles H. Townsend, resident naturalist, has prosecuted an 
extended investigation regarding the oyster industry of San Francisco 
Bay and adjacent waters, having performed the work while the vessel 
was in port. All practical aid has been rendered him. 
The deep-sea sounding apparatus has worked satisfactorily, although 
we have met with some losses. Our heaviest reel was disabled during 
the winter’s cruise, involving the loss of several thousand fathoms of 
