II -REPORT OiN THE WORK OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COM- 

 MISSION STEAMER ALBATROSS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DE- 

 CEMBER 31, 1883. 



By Lieut. -Commander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. N., Commanding. 



At the close of my last report the vessel was at anchor off Blacki- 

 stone Island, Potomac Eiver, bound from Wilmington, Del., to Washing- 

 ton, D. C, on her trial trip. 



At G.20 on the morning of January 1 we got under way and steamed 

 up the river. A serious difficulty had been experienced in working the 

 engine promptly, the trouble arising partly from the crank angle (145°) 

 and partly from insufficient power of the reversing engines. At 11.30 

 a. m., when off Quantico, Va., we commenced working the engines by 

 signal in order to test the efficiency of the reversing gear and the prac- 

 ticability of working the engines with this crank angle. During the 

 practice the starboard low pressure valve guide was broken by Uie 

 slamming of the links, the reversing engines not having sufficient power 

 to control their movements. After this luactice we started ahead on 

 the port engine and anchored off' Giesborongh Point, at 4.20 p. m. At 2. 15 

 p. m. the following day we got under way and steamed up to the navy- 

 yard. Several mechanics from the Pusey and Jones Company's yard 

 came around with the ship and were engaged in finishing up woi'k in 

 the engineer's department. 



On the 15th of January we received Sigsbee's deep-sea sounding ma- 

 chine from tbe National Museum, where it had been on exhibition since 

 its completion in July last. 



On the IGth the starboard engine was worked from 1.45 to 2.30 p. m. 

 under the direction of Mr. 0. W. Copelaud, the designer, and in the 

 presence of Mr. 0. W. Pusey, engineer of the Pusey and Jones Com- 

 pany, Passed Assistant Engineer G. W. Baird, U. S. N., and others. The 

 reversing engines worked much better, but it was demonstrated to the 

 satisfaction of Mr. Copeland that they had not sufficient power to move 

 the valves promptly or to control their motion, and the order was then 

 given for the construction of more powerful reversing engines, from 

 designs furnished by Passed Assistant Engineer G. W. Baird. It was 

 then decided that the vessel should return at once to Wilmington for 

 this purpose as well as to change the crank angles from 145o to 90°. 



Li] 117 



