INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 
445 
The Albatross remained at anchor, the crew being busily engaged in 
giving her a general overhauling, until the afternoon of the 9th, when 
we got under way and steamed to the U. S. light-house station, where, 
through the politeness of the inspector, Commander Nicoll Ludlow, U. 
S. Navy, we were allowed to stow a number of spare articles, which we 
were desirous of getting out of the vessel in order to give us a much- 
desired increase of room in the holds. From the light house station 
we went to the Union Iron Works to put new boilers, just received 
from the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, in the gig and cutter; to 
dock and paint the ship’s bottom, and make necessary repairs which 
could not be effected by our own crew. 
•The Senate committee formally accepted the services of the vessel on 
May 11 to take them to Sitka. It was stipulated that we would meet 
them at Victoria, British Columbia, on May 28, and return to Seattle or 
Tacoma June 7, the committee to pay the expenses of the trip. The early 
departure of the vessel in order to reach Victoria at the appointed time 
necessitated the utmost dispatch in our preparations for sea. She was 
docked and painted on the 14th and 15th. Paymaster’s stores were re- 
ceived from Mare Island on the 18th, and the installation of new boilers 
in the steam cutters was completed the same evening. Other repairs 
were sufficiently advanced for our own men to complete them. We left 
the iron works at high tide on the 19th, anchoring in the harbor until 
the following morning, when we went to the wharf, took on board 69J 
tons of coal besides various stores, and at 5 p. m. anchored in the 
stream. Professor Gilbert and Mr. Alexander returned to the ship on 
the 21st from their expedition up the Colorado and Gila Rivers. 
San Francisco to Seattle.— We were ready for sea on the morning of 
the 21st, and at 12:50 p. m. got under way and left the harbor en route 
for Departure Bay, British Columbia. Passing Point Bonita at 2 p. m. we 
reached Point Reyes at 6:27, the wind and sea increasing until at mid- 
night there was a moderate gale from NW., with a heavy head sea. This 
moderated during the 22d and 23d, and on the 24th the wind was light and 
variable, with a smooth sea. We passed the Columbia River during the 
forenoon of the 24tb, and at 12:30 a.m on •the 25th doubled Cape Flat- 
tery aud entered the Straits of Juan de Fuca. The weather was over- 
cast and foggy, lighting up at intervals until 4 a. m., and then a dense 
fog shut down till 7 a. m., when we ran out of it and had clear, pleasant 
weather during the remainder of the day. Passing Race Island light 
at 6:10, we steamed through Haro Strait, Swanson Channel, Active 
Pass, and the Gulf of Georgia, arriving at Departure Bay at 2:25 p. in. 
Going to the wharf at 3:15 we commenced coaling at once. Work was 
resumed at 5:30 the following morning, aud we left the wharf at 3:15 
p. in., having received 144^ tons. Leaving the harbor half an hour 
later we entered Active Pass at 9:17, and at 10 anchored in 10 fathoms 
in Miners’ Bay. The weather was overcast at midnight, with moderate 
southerly winds and frequent showers of rain. We were under way at 
