218 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [102] 



The Eoberts compound, furnished by Devoe & Co., was practically 

 gone from the water-line down to the bilge keels ; below this point 

 it was in fair condition. In justice to the composition it should be men- 

 tioned that it was applied during very hot weather, and a large por- 

 tion of it melted and ran off before the vessel was put into the water. 

 The red-lead paint still covered the bottom except on the starboard 

 side, where it had been scraped off by the dredge-rope, red rust forming 

 ]:ipidly on the bare spots thus left. Small barnacles were distributed 

 (piite thickly over the bottom, both on the compound and red lead; those 

 growing on the compound were, however, not more than two-thirds the 

 size of those found on the red lead, indicating that their growth had 

 been resisted longer on the former surface or that the compound was 

 less favorable to their development than the red lead. 



The benefits derived from the use of the compound were not suffi- 

 ciently apparent to induce us to continue its use. It is fair to say, how- 

 ever, that had it been applied in cooler weather it would probably have 

 proved more satisfactory. 



The bottom was thoroughly cleaned and given a coat of red lead, 

 which was allowed to dry thoroughly ; then a coat of white zinc was ap- 

 plied, and given time to dry before the vessel was put into the water. 



The following officers were attached to the vessel at the conclusion 



of this report : 



Commissioned officers. 



Lieut.-Commander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. IST., commanding. 



Lieut. Seaton Schroeder, U. S. N., executive officer and navigator. 



Lieut. S. H. May, U. S. N. 



Lieut. A. 0. Baker, U. S. Is^. 



Ensign C. J. Boush, U. S. K 



Ensign E. H. Miner, U. S. :N^. 



Passed Assistant Surgeon C. G. Herndon, U. S. N. 



Paymaster C. D. Mansfield, U. S. N. 



Passed Assistant Engineer G. W. Baird, U. S. N. 



Petty officers. 



Charles Wright, master-at-arms. 



G. B. Till, equipment yeoman. 



'H. B. Miller, apothecary. 



G. A. Miller, paymaster's yeoman. 



F. L. Stailey, engineer's yeoman. 



S. M. McAvoy, machinist. 



John Hawkins, machinist. 



H. E. King, machinist. 



Surgeon J. H. Kidder, U, S. IS"., was relieved April 18 by Passed As- 

 sistant Surgeon C. G. Herndon, U. S. N., and Paymaster George H. 

 Eead, U. S. N., was relieved by Paymaster C. D. Mansfield, TJ. S. N., on 

 the loth of ]!^Iovember. 



