443 
INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 
The ship was thrown open to visitors and large numbers availed them- 
selves of the opportunity to see a vessel of which they had heard so 
much. We left the harbor at 0:15 the following morning with two coal 
lighters in tow, arriving in Pichilinqne Bay at 7:40. Coaling com- 
menced soon after and continued with slight interruptions until the 
morning of April 6, when we had received 95 tons, sufficient for the 
return trip to San Francisco. Getting under way at 9:05, we returned 
the lighters to La Paz, made final preparations for sea, and left the 
harbor at 1:25 p. m. for Cape San Lucas, arriving at 12:10 p. m. the fol- 
lowing day. Fishing and seining parties went out as usual, returning 
at 4 p. m., having met with little success. A few fish were taken with 
the seine, and great numbers were seen around the Frailes, but they 
refused the hook. The run from La Paz to Cape San Lucas was made 
with one boiler, using the coal recently taken from the naval station 
at Pichilinque Bay, and although the sea was smooth we found it im- 
possible to make more than six or seven knots an hour.. This speed 
would have been reduced to four or five knots after reaching the 
Pacific, with the coast winds and swell to contend with, so time being 
an important element, we lighted all fires for the first time since our 
arrival in Bahia, December 19, 1887. 
Cape San Lucas to San Francisco . — We left San Lucas Bay at 4:20 p. 
m., and encountered a moderate head wind and sea after rounding the 
Frailes into the Pacific. Two hauls of the trawl were made off the en- 
trance to Magdalena Bay the following morning in 31 and 47 fathoms, 
and at 12:46 p. m. we anchored in Man-of-War Cove, off the village of 
Magdalena. The collectors went out at once, returning at dark fairly 
successful, although the variety of fish was not so great as we were led 
to expect from various reports. Information was received that excellent 
oysters could be found in the bay, but on investigation it was ascer- 
tained that they were the mangrove oysters, growing about 40 miles to 
the northward, near Boca del Soledad. 
The collectors were out at daylight on the 9th, and at 1 p. m. we got 
under way, picked up one of our seining parties, and made several hauls 
of the trawl, in which many flounders and other species of fish were 
taken, finally anchoring again at 4:30. The collectors returned an hour 
later after a successful day’s work, when we got under way and pro- 
ceeded to sea. The IJ. S. Coast Survey steamer Gedncy , en route from 
the Atlantic to San Francisco, was sighted as we left the bay. Moderate 
head winds and seas were encountered during the night and following 
day. Three hauls of the trawl were made in 74, 58, and 184 fathoms. 
At 7:15 a. m., on the 11th, we anchored in San Bartolome Bay, where 
we found the U. S. S. Ranger, which had arrived from San Diego the 
previous evening. Fishing and seining parties were sent out during 
the day, but met with indifferent success, although the bay is reported 
to be an excellent fishing ground. The officers and crew of the Ranger 
made three hauls of the seine, the first being practically a water haul, 
