DEEP-SEA EXPLORING EXPEDITION OF THE 

 STEAMER "ALBATROSS" 



By Hugh M. Smith, 

 U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries 



Unusual public interest has been manifested in the recent 

 announcement of Hon. George M. Bowers, United States Com- 

 missioner of Fish and Fisheries, that the steamer Albatross, be- 

 longing to the Commission, would soon be dispatched on an 

 exploring expedition to the Pacific ocean, the President having 

 approved the detail of the vessel for that purpose. With the 

 main objects of the expedition fully determined on, the arrange- 

 ments for the cruise about completed, and the itinerary mapped 

 out, it is now possible to give an outline of the leading features 

 of the voyage. 



The Albatross is the best-equipped vessel afloat for deep-sea 

 investigation, for which work she was especially constructed for 

 the Fish Commission in 1882, at a cost of nearly $200,000. She 

 is a twin-screw steamer of 384 tons burden, 234 feet long and 

 27 2 feet beam. The coal capacit}^ is about 240 tons, and the 

 steaming radius with that supply, in good weather, is over 4,500 

 miles, allowing a speed of eight knots an hour and a daily coal 

 consumption of 10 tons. A full account of the construction of 

 the Albatross and her appliances for marine investigation has 

 been given in the admirable work on " Deep-sea Exploration," 

 by Commander Z. L. Tanner, U.S. N., under whose direction the 

 vessel was built and who was in command from the date of her 

 launching until 1894. The reputation long enjo.yed by the Alba- 

 tross of being unequaled in effectiveness for marine research will 

 be more than ever deserved on the approaching cruise because 

 of the extensive improvements and repairs she has recently 

 undergone, including the installation of new boilers, ice-making 

 machine, cold-storage plant, etc., together with the thorough re- 

 plenishing of the scientific outfit. 



The Albatross will pass through the Golden Gate on August 

 21 and begin her long vo}'age to certain groups of islands in the 

 middle of the Pacific ocean, both north and south of the equator, 

 whose local fauna is almost unknown, while in the adjacent 



