Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-18
STUDYING SEA DEPTHS.
The Steamer AIbatross at San Ftanclsco-
 Her Researches.

Her Researches.
 THE iron twin-screw steamer Abatross built for the United States Fish Commissioner, and for several months past engaged in prosecut- ing scientific Investigations, arrived yesterday morning at eight o'clock, having on board the following officers: Lieutenant Commander, 2. L. Tanner; lieutenant, H. s. Waring; en- signs, M, Johnston, Fl. E. Parmenter, E. w. Eberts, c. M. Mccormick; assistant paymas- ter, c. s. Williams; assistant surgeon, James E. Gardner; assistant engineer, H. R. Roel- ker; scientific staff, Professors Leslie A. Lee. Thomas Lee, c. H. Townsend, D. M. Cole.
 The Albatross left Washington, D. C., on November 21 last. On January she was at 24. at Acapulco. She is 2S4 feet long, 7.5 feet broad, 16.5 feet deep, and 6sS82 gross ton mage. She was built in 1882, at an expense of S145 900, under the direction of Lieutenant Commander Tanner, of the United States Navy. She is rigged as Q brigantine, carrying sail to a aforetOpgallant sail, with a total sail area of 7.521 square feet. She is divided up in- to campact and complete quarters for officers, the corps of scientists and crew. The vessel is lighted throughout by electricity, and there is a special electrical apparatus for lighting the submarine world, that investigations may be pursued at the best possible advantage. A system of ventilation is produced by means of an exhaust fan, and conduit pipes to every compartment below the main deck.
 The Albatross has five boats, including Q Herreshoff steam cutter, twenty-six feet long, and Q steam gig of the same manufacture, built in the general form of whale. A pro- peller under the bottom is 8 feature of this gig. It is so arranged that by Q universal joint in the shaft the propeller can be hoisted and lowered, and when hofsted does not pro ject below the keel. The propeller in use is al. ways submerged and is of great advantage. Besides there is a selneboat, g whaleboat, built at the Washington Navy Yard, and a dingy. rr afFFfgr
 Professor Lee, who is in charge of the sci entific work on the Albatross, states that from Panama she went southwest $50 miles to the Galapagos Islands, where by special request of Professor Alexander Aggassiz she made s very extensive collection of birds and also se- cured sixteen specimens of giant tortoises for the National Museum. These tortoises arc of value for food purposes and an effort will be made to propagate them in certain dry sections of the United States. Specimens were also secured of fish called bacalao. It resembles the cod, and is cured and ship ped in large quantities to Ecuador and Pan- anna. eY tt e;aS9sIG 9GF From these islands the steamer went to ACuPu1COS OAOu6AAS5 odArSAO Woy Ad1AA nCCO1A- plishing some work of interest. From that port up to San Francisco the work was sim ply of 6 character preliminary to closer in- vestigation for the purpose of seeing where best to work later. What Is considered by the scientists to be the best haul made during the voyage was made on Wednesday last off San Clemente, one of the Santa Barbara Islands. It was considered tho best because large proportion of the specimens raised from the depths there are entirely new to science Among others there wasa sole found in great numbers. In size this fish ranged from 6 foot to fifteen inches long. It is Q thick meated fish, somewhat soft in substance but exceedingly delicate in flavor.
 Commander Thomas, who has been with the AlbatrOss ever since she was built, was ir | 1876 -78 in the employ of the Pacific Mail Com pany, sailing between this point and China and Japan. He will await orders here, but expects to SO north after remaining montf for refitting. Special examination will bt given to the fishing banks of the Pacific coas and the development of the saltwater fish cries. This has been the work of the Alba tross on the Atlantic coast, and 8 similar dut! 1 will be performed on this side. It is antici 1 pated that the vessel will remain on this coas fully two years, aud perhaps three.
 The large collection of fishes and birds wil beforwarded at once to the National Museum at Washington, with full reports from Captail Tanner, Professor Lee and others.-[San Fran cisco Chronicle.