DEEP-SEA EXPLORATION. 
261 
THE ALBATROSS: HER DIMENSIONS, GENERAL DESIGN, AND METHOD 
OF CONSTRUCTION. 
The Albatross is an iron twiu-screw steamer constructed in accordance with 
Lloyd’s rnles for vessels of her class, except where extra strength and protection were 
given her in view of the severe strains and unusual exposure to which she would be 
subjected in the prosecution of her special Avork. She was built by the Pusey & Jones 
Company, of Wilmington, Del., launched August 19, 1882, and went into commission 
oil the 11th of the following November. 
Her general dimensions are as follows; 
Length over all, 234 feet. 
Length at 12-foot water-line, 200 feet. 
Breadth of beam, molded, 27 feet 6 inches. 
De])th from top of floor to top of deck heum.s, 
16 feet 9 inches. 
Sheer forward, 5 feet 2 inches. 
Sheer aft, 3 feet. 
Height of deck house amidships, 7 feet 3 
inches. 
Displacement on 12-foot water-line, 1,074 tons. 
Registered tonnage (net), 384 tons. 
She is rigged as a brigantine, carrying sail to a foretop-gallant sail. The spars 
are white pine and spruce. 
Sx>ars. 
!Name. 
Feet. 
Diameter 
in inches. 
Mainmast above main deck 
56 
20 
Maintop-mast above caji 
32 
Oi 
Foremast above deck 
52 
21 
ForetoiJ-inast above cap 
30 
lOi 
Fore yard, length 
50 
11 
Foretop-sail yard, leiigtli 
40 
9 
Foretop-gallant vanl, length 
27-k 
5J 
Fore naff 
27 
7A 
Main boom 
56 
m 
Main c;aff . . 
36 
94 
Dredging boom 
36 
10 
Sails. 
FTame. 
Canvas. 
Square 
feet. 
Mainsail 
No. 2 
1, 488 
Gali'-top.sail 
No. 7.... 
578 
Foresail (27-foot (iroi)) 
No. 2.... 
1, 156 
Fore trysail 
No 2.... 
872 
Foretop-sail (24§-foot hoist) 
No. 4. . . . 
934 
Foretop-gallant sail (It-J-l'oot hoist).. 
No. 6 
389 
Fore staysail 
No. 2.... 
660 
Jib 
918 
Flying jib 
No. 6 
526 
Total sail area 
7,521 
Bowsprit, 13 iuclies square, 10 feet outboard to shoulder. Hound-top on foremast. Cross-trees on mainmast. 
Anchors and chains: One 1,900 pounds, 120 fathoms, Igrinch chain; one 1,288 pounds, 120 fathoms, Ijlj-inch chain; 
one 1, 030 pounds ; one 600 i)omids ; 250 fathoms Bulli rant’s elastic steel wire cable, 3A inches circumference. 
DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Hull: The Albatross has a “bar” keel of the best hammered iron, 8 by 2| 
inches, scarfs 25 inches in length. There i.s one bilge keel ou each side, 10^ feet from 
center line, parallel thereto, of two angle-irons 4 by 6 by inches, with a ^-iuch iron 
plate, 10 inches deep, riveted between, 80 feet in length, tapering in depth to nothing at 
each end. 
The stern-post is of the best hammered iron, 74 by 2J inches; and the stem is of 
the same material, 7^- by 2| inches. The frames are of angle-iron; those under the 
engines and boilers 4 by 3 by inches; forward and aft of these they are 34 by 3 by 
inches. Frames and floor spaces, 21-inch centers. 
The floors are in one piece, 18 inches deep and inch thick for three-fifths the 
vessel’s length amidships, inch thick forward and aft. They are on every frame 
extending 20 inches above top of floor amidships, molding to size of frames. 
