404 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
LIBRARY. 
The ship’s library coiitaiiis over 400 volumes, under the headings of natural 
history, scientilic, publications of the IJ. S. Fish Commission, National Museum, and 
Smithsonian Institution, navigation and nautical astronomy, steam, history, biography, 
etc. It is the intention to provide such works as will be useful in all branches of 
investigation carried on by the vessel, text-books and professional works re(]uired by 
the officers, besides a few standard volumes of history and biography. 
PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION OF SPECIMENS. 
The methods followed on board the Albatross will be biietly described; and the 
location and arrangement of the laboratories with the facilities they offer for the work 
of the naturalist will be referred to again, more in detail, in order to give a better 
understanding of the descriptions that follow. 
They are located near the middle body of the vessel, at the point of least motion, 
forward of and free from the heat of the furnaces and vibration of the engines, where the 
naturalist may safely leave specimens and ai)paratus lying on tables and about the decks 
at times when in other i)arfs of the vessel they would recpiire to be carefully secured. 
The upper laboratory, in the deck house, 14 feet in length, 12 feet 0 inches wide, 
and 7 feet 3 inches high, has a large skylight overhead, two windows, and one door on 
each side, and a door comnnmicating with the stateroom of the resident naturalist. 
A small chemical laboratory occupies one corner of the forward end, nearly the 
whole after bulkhead being covered by a book case in which an extensive professional 
library is kept, while in the center of the room stands a table about 5 feet square, 
around which four persons may seat themselves, each having at his right hand a tii r 
of drawers conveniently arranged within frames which form the legs of the table. 
A false cover, surrounded with a 3-inch ledge, water-tight, is used at sea to 
jmevent specimens, etc., from sliding off in heavy weather; also to prevent the 
dripi)ing of muddy water on deck. Over a lead lined sink ai e faucets for water and 
alcohol, both leading from tanks, and above them, attached to tlie bulkhead, are two 
small aijuaria, with water connections, used for the study of marine life. An ample 
supply of natural light and ventilation by day and an abundance of electric light at 
night combine to make it an admirable operating room. 
The lower laboratory is on the main deck directly beneath the upimr one, its only 
means of access being by a stairway leading down from that apartment. It occupies 
a siiace of 20 feet fore and aft, and extends entirely across the vessel. It receives 
light and natural ventilation from three large air i)orts on each side and two movable 
deck lights 12 inches in diameter; it has also the means of artiticial ventilation and 
electric lights. The forward bulkhead is covered with specimen cases of sufficient 
capacity to hold the glass jars and bottles tilled during an ordinary trip, and tliere are 
appropriate lockers for copper tanks in which the larger forms are preserved. Work 
tables are ranged along the sides, a chemical table with appropriate lockers and 
drawers on the after bulkhead, a photograpliic dark room with a large lead-lined sink 
and running water on the ]>ort side, and on the starboard side a medical dispensary. 
The arrangement of the specimen case is simiile and convenient. Its face is 
composed of a row of wire ])aneled doors about 2 feet ti inches wide and 4 feet high, each 
having independent fastenings. Opening a door, from three to six sliding drawers. 
