EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXXI 



to withdraw the vessel from her field of duty, as the extra expense could 

 not be spared from the London Exhibition appropriation ; neither could 

 , the cost of coal and other necessary expenses that would have been in- 

 volved, be paid by the Fish Commission. 



The Navy Department, through Commodore Walker, chief of the 

 Bureau of Navigation, made application for the services of the Alba- 

 tross in connection with the taking of soundings and other investiga- 

 tioDS in the Caribbean Sea, with the understanding that the expense of 

 maintenance and repair of the vessel during the period of its transfer 

 was to be assumed by the Navy Department. This was assented to, 

 and preparations were duly made towards the end of the year. As, 

 however, the cruise itself was made in the subsequent year, the report 

 of 1884 will contain the details. 



In a special report by Captain Tanner upon the construction of the 

 Albatross and her operations for the year will be found many details of 

 great scientific and practical interest. A full account is also given of 

 the system of electric lighting, by Engineer G. W. Baird. 



B. — The Steamer Fish Hawk. 



This vessel remained during the entire year under the command of 

 Lieut. William M. Wood, U. S. N. She was at the Washington navy- 

 yard until March 15, when a trip was made to the Chesapeake, in 

 search of the sperm whale reported ashore at Smith's Point, Virginia. 

 The whale was not found, but the fisheries at Marlborough and Brent's 

 Points were examined. A few shad and herring and quite a number of 

 rock, perch, &c., were being taken. 



On the 24th of March the Fish Hawk again left Washington, with a 

 lot of material for Havre de Grace station. The vessel reached that 

 point the next day, having called at the Saint Jerome station on her 

 way. After coaling at Baltimore she proceeded to Saint Jerome and 

 dredged for oysters a few hours. On the morning of the 1st of April 

 she returned to the Washington navy-yard. On the 12th of April 

 Lieutenant Wood sailed for Shipping Point, on the Potomac, with orders 

 to commence the hatching of shad, herring, and rockfish, collecting eggs 

 in that region of the river south of Gunston's Cove. The fisheries were 

 found to be in successful operation, but it was some days before the 

 fish were ripe enough to furnish suitable eggs for propagation. During 

 the first ten days the temperature was very low, and over 7,000,000 

 herring eggs were lost by sudden changes of temperature. On the 7th 

 of May the vessel was moved to Glymont, where the water was found 

 to be both clearer and warmer. Mne hundred thousand herring and 

 60,000 perch eggs were taken the first day. The taking. and hatching 

 of eggs was continued at this point until about the 25th of May, when 

 the vessel returned to Washington. 



She was then ordered to prepare to sail June 4 for the mouth of the 

 Chesapeake, and on the way to locate upon charts the pound-nets and 



