[89] WORK OV FISH C(^MMLSSION srEAMP:R ALBATROSS. 205 



upon tlie forward port end of which is a Baird's distiller, capable of 

 producing 2,000 gallons of water in twenty-four hours. Forward of the 

 engine-room and immediately over the starting gear of the main engines 

 is the kitchen, which contains a large and improved galley. Next to 

 galley is the npper boiler-room, and forward of this are four state-rooms, 

 two on each side, which are the quarters for members of the Fish Com- 

 mission. These rooms are exceedingly well lighted and ventilated, each 

 one having a large door and window opening from the gangway. Above 

 each door are a number of apertures communicating with the outside 

 air, and in cold and stormy weather, when doors and windows are 

 closed, there is ample ventilation through these. In addition to these, 

 the longitudinal bulkhead dividing the house has in itsupjDer part per- 

 forations of considerable size and number. Cubic capacity of each of 

 these rooms is 306 feet. Next comes the upper laboratory, which has 

 the same beam as the rest of the house, is 183% feet long, and has a 

 cubic capacity of 1,249 feet. A hatchway leads from this to lower or 

 main laboratory. In after end of upper laboratory is a large bookcase for 

 a scientific library. To the right of library is a case for scientific in- 

 struments, and on opposite side are two large tanks, one for alcohol and 

 one for sea- water. On the starboard side of the forward bulkhead is 

 the medical case, the upper part of which has large glass doors, and 

 contains the dispensing bottles, measures, balance, &c. The lower por- 

 tion of the case is filled with drawers, sufficient in number and size to 

 contain the admirable outfit of medical and surgical instruments with 

 which the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery has supplied this ship, and 

 medical stores for six months' use. Prof. S. F. Baird has snpplied the 

 medical department of the ship with a number of the latest standard 

 works on various medical and surgical subjects. In the center of the 

 room is a large table directly under the skylight, at which four persons 

 can be seated at one time. Along the sides of the room are three 

 folding tables. This ai)artment is admirably lighted and ventilated by 

 means of one hatch 6-{'2 ^J ^ ^^^^U two windows and one door on each 

 side. Immediately below the upper laboratory is the lower or main 

 laboratory, of larger size than the former, as it extends from side to 

 side of the ship, which here has a beam of 26 feet. It is 20 feet 

 long and 7y^ feet between decks. This apartment, as well as the 

 laboratory store-room immediately below, is separated from the rest 

 of the ship by iron water-tight bulkheads, an important matter, as 

 hundreds of gallons of alcohol are kept in them. The after end of this 

 room contains a table for chemical work, and drawers for the storage 

 of chemical apparatus. In the early part of the cruise repeated efforts 

 were made to eliminate the constituent gases of sea- water by means of 

 Behren's apparatus ; but the apparatus, when set up, was so easily dis- 

 arranged by even slight motion of the ship that the attempt was finally 

 given up. The water specimens are now sent for analysis to the Fish 

 Commission laboratories at Washington, D. C, and Wood's Holl, Mass. 



