123 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [10] 



The weather was threatening during the afternoon, with falling barom- 

 eter, and by the time we had finished our observations it was blowing 

 a fresh breeze from southwest with quite a heavy swell. At 7.40 p. m. 

 we started for ISTew York, where we arrived at 9.33 a. m. on the 27th, 

 and anchored off the Battery, where we found the following vessels of 

 the l^orth Atlantic squadron at anchor, viz, the flag-ship Tennessee 

 and ships Yandalia, Kearsarge, and Yantic. The Minnesota and Sara- 

 toga were off Twenty- third street, North Eiver. 



At 6.20 p. m. the following day we got underway and steamed up to 

 the navy-yard, and at 7.45 a. m. May 31, went into the dry-dock to have 

 the ship's bottom cleaned and painted. 



Lieutenants Waiuwright and Diehl reported on board June 1, by order 

 of the chief of Bureau of Navigation, to continue the magnetic survey 

 while the vessel was in dock, and, having completed their work, they 

 left on the 3d for Washington. 



We hauled out of dry-dock on June 0, ,coaled ship on the 7th and 8th, 

 and were engaged in the general work of overhauling, painting, &c., 

 until 7 a. m., June 17, when we left the yard for Washington, D. C, 

 where we arrived at 8 a. m. on the 19th, and were employed making 

 general preparations for the season's work until 10 a. m., July 6, when 

 we left the yard and steamed down the Potomac under the following 

 orders : 



U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 



Washington, D. C, June 26, 1883. 



SiR: As soon as the Albatross is in condition for leaving the Wash- 

 ington Navy-yard, you will proceed to sea, taking on board Cajit. Jacob 

 Almy, of New Bedford, as fisherman expert. 



Your object will be to obtain as much information as possible in re- 

 gard to the movements of the mackerel, menhaden, and other sea fishes, 

 deteriniuiug, as far as possible, their numbers, size of schools, distances 

 of the schools apart from each other, the range of the species in latitude 

 and longitude, the conditions which affect them, especially those of tem- 

 perature at the surface and below, the food, condition of the sky, &c. 



You will give Captain Almy every opportunity to test x)ractical ques- 

 tions in this connection, and instruct him to use the net and other 

 fishery apparatus on board in ascertaining the whereabouts and numbers 

 of fish when they do not show at the surface, taking samples for iden- 

 tification whenever practicable. 



As soon as you have been out sufficiently long to make a satisfactory 

 investigation, you will report at Wood\s Holl, Mass., for further duty. 

 Very respectfully, yours, 



SPENCER F. BAIRD, 



Commissioner^ 



Oapt. Z. L. Tanner, 



Commanding Alhatross, Navy- Yard, Washington, B. C. 



