DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE COLLECTION ILLUSTRATING 

 RECENT SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS OF THE SEA AND FRESH 

 WATERS. 



VESSELS EMPLOYED EN" MARINE EXPLORATIONS. 



Steamer Albatross, of 400 tons net measurement, built expressly for all 

 classes of marine exploration, and intended especially for investi- 

 gating the off-shore fishing grounds of the United States. Repre- 

 sented by a model, photographs, and plans. 

 United States Fish. Commission. 



The United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross is an iron 

 twin-screw steamer, designed by Charles W. Copeland and built under 

 contract with the United States Government, in 1882, by the Pusey and 

 Jones Company, of Wilmington, Delaware. 



The ve^el was designed and constructed for the purpose of deep-sea 

 exploration. The hull is so modeled as to go astern safely in a sea-way 

 while sounding and dredging. The rudder and its attachments are of 

 extra strength, and, in addition to the hand and steam steering gear iu 

 the pilot-house, there is a powerful screw gear attached directly to the 

 rudder head, a heavy iron tiller on the poop-deck for relieving tackles, 

 and the usual rudder chains. The type of machinery and the various 

 appliances were selected with a view to the special work for which she is 

 intended. She is rigged as a brigantine carrying sail to a foretop-gal- 

 laut sail. 



Her general dimensions are as follows, viz : Length over all, 234 feet; 

 length at 12-foot water-line, 200 feet; breadth of beam, molded, 27 feet 

 6 inches ; depth from top of floors to top of deck-beams, 16 feet 9 inches ; 

 displacement (on 12-foot draft), 1,000 tons ; register tonnage (net). 400 

 tons. 



There are six transverse iron bulkheads, and six water-tight com- 

 partments. 



Of the structures which rise above the main rail, the poop cabin ex- 

 tends 30 feet forward of the stern-post, is the whole width of the vessel,, 

 and 7 feet 3 inches iu height from deck to deck. It contains two 

 state-rooms, bath-room, pantry, &c. 



The deck-house is 83 feet in length, 13 feet 6 inches wide, and 7 feet 

 3 inches high from deck to deck. It is built of iron from the funnel aft, 

 and sheathed with wood inside and out, with iron storm-doors; but from 

 the funnel forward, it is of wood. Beginning aft in the iron house, 

 the following apartments have been set off, viz: 1st, entrance to warcl- 

 543 j- 311 



