270 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
wire. The drum did not collapse, but the binding bolts gave way one 
by one, allowing the flanges to spring outward and the wire to find 
lodgment between them and the edges of the drum. The nip was so 
great that it ruined the wire even where it was possible to extricate it, 
but many of the parts were cut before they could be cleared. Fortu- 
nately, we had a heavy navy reel on board, which was mounted without 
“causing delay in our work. 
The dredging engine has continued to perform its work admirably. 
The service was particularly heavy during the winter in the greater 
depths, and near the end of the season the friction gear gave out, but 
it did not materially interfere with the working of the engine. The 
arms of the driving pinion and friction drum were lashed together, and 
the latter was operated directly by the engine in veering as well as 
hoisting. It was repaired at small cost. 
The reeling engine still performs its work well without expense for 
repairs, further than the usual examination and adjustment. The 
dredge rope was subjected to unusual wear and tear during the south- 
ern cruise and parted several times, but there were no serious losses. 
The expenditure of trawls resulting from these breakages was of greater 
importance, but never resulted in the least delay, the apparatus in 
reserve being equal at all times to the demand. 
The Negretti and Zambra thermometers have worked well except 
when used in series on the dredge rope, particularly in the tropies. 
After the substitution of the sounding wire as a temperature rope the 
instruments worked well, but several were lost by parting the wire, 
and this is liable to occur at any time, the margin of safety being very 
small. The expenditure of wire would be of little moment, but the loss 
of a dozen deep-sea thermometers is another matter and might bring 
that branch of work to an abrupt termination. We have now adopted 
the following plan: A sufticient amount of large strong wire is wound 
on a Spare drum, and when serial temperatures are to be taken it is 
mounted on the sounding machine, arrangements having been made for 
the rapid interchange of reels. 
PERSONNEL. 
The following is the list of officers, June 30, 1891: Lieut. Commander 
Z. L. Tanner, U.S. Navy, commanding; Lieut. C. G. Calkins, U.S. 
Navy, executive officer and navigator; Lieut. (jr. grade) J. H. Lee Hol- 
combe, U. S. Navy; Ensign E. A. Anderson, U. 8. Navy; Passed 
Assistant Surgeon Nelson H. Drake, U. S. Navy; Passed Assistant 
Paymaster C, 8. Willams, U.S. Navy; Assistant Engineer A. M. Hunt, 
U.S. Navy. 
The civilian corps was as follows: Charles H. Townsend, resident 
naturalist; A. B. Alexander, fishery expert; N. B. Miller, assistant nat- 
uralist; Harry C. Fassett, clerk to commanding officer. 
