Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-03-17
WORK OF THE ALBATROSS
Lieutenant Commander Tanner
Reports to the Fish
Commission
Importance of the Coal Mines
in Herenden Bay to
Shipping
Valuable and Extensive Fish
ing Grounds Found in
Bering Sea

WAsmNGToN, March l6-The fish com
mission has received the report OF Lieu
tenant-C Commander j. l.. Tanner, OF the
navy, upon the investigation OF the fish
commission steamer Albatross in Bering
sea during the season Of 1890 The object
Of the cruise was to develop the off shore
fishing grounds of Bering sea. The eX-
ploration of the cod bank Of Bristol bay
occupied most of the time, and the report
is chiefly limited to discussion of that
region A partial reconnaissance OF the
coast line as an Indispensable preliminary
to the fishery investigation was also
made. In prosecuting this work the
region was thoroughly sounded, the cur
rents, winds and weather observed, and
other information obtained of value to
the mariner and fisherman.
Port Mollen and Herenden bay have
had no commercial value, the report says,
until the recent opening of coal mine at
Herenden bay, which has drawn attention
to this almost unknown region. The
AlbatroSS visited the mine twice during
the season, and made survey sufficiently
accurate for purposes Of navigation.
The opening of this mine Is an event OF
no little importance to vessels visiting
Bering sea, and the AlbatrOss, having
used between POO and 300 tons of its first
output, submits as part Of its report
statement of Past Assistant Engineer
ROlecker on the results obtained by the
consumption of eighty tons of this coal.
Engineer ROlecker says: The quantity
of coal consumed and the amount of re-
fuse matter were carefully measured, the
behavior of the coal In the furnaces was
closely observed, and the results obtained
carefully noted. The average consump-
tiOn of coal, was at the rate OF thirty five
pounds per square foot of CRATE per hour.
The boilers furnished the same amount Of
heat as when a fair quality Of Wellington
was used, but TO obtain the same result IL
was necessary to burn from 20 to % per
cent more of the llercnden bay coal.
The coal ignites readily and burns with
considerable flame, forming closely COW
ering coke which easily breaks up into
small pieces. Thus many particles ofcOal
are lost through the CRATES. There was
large proportion of fine stuff In the coal,
which burned well but contained an eX-
cessive quantity OF refuse matter. The
refuse matter amounted TO 20 per cent. OF
the total weight of fuel consumed and
consists of ash and cinders. The smoke
Is lighter in color than that Of the Wei
lington coal and less SCOT Is formed.
To form a correct estimate Of the value
of this coal for steaming purposes from
the foregoing statement, the following
facts should be taken into consideration:
The coal received by us was the first lot
taken from this newly opened mine. 1t
came from one OF the smaller veins,
through which tunnel had been driven
a distance OF about 200 feet In order to get
access TO the veins. No proper facilities
for screening coal existed, and In order to
supply the quantity required by uS large
amount Of fine coal containing much dirt
was delivered.
In conclusion, Roleckcr says 1t may be
reasonably expected that as the mine
becomes further developed and proper
screening facilities are provided, the
amount Of refuse matter in the coal Will
be greatly diminished and It's steam gen
Grating power cOrreSpOndinRly Increased.
1t will be absolutely necessary, however,
to store the coal under shelter as It APP
pears to absorb moisture readily, and the
constant rains which have prevailed In
this region during the present season
would so saturate IL TO such an extent as
TO greatly diminish its value as fuel.
The Bayard bank, the report says, Is
the largest and most valuable OF the fish
ing grounds yet discovered In Bering sea.
Commencing I'm the vicinity Of Amak
island il stretches along the coast OF the
peninsula to Cape IschitagOf, 23G miles,
with an average width Of forty miles.
Goldfish i'm great abundance and OF good
quality were found over the whole bank.
Bering sea, the report says, suffers In
common with other grounds that are not
much frequented by fishermen, in that
numbers OF fish are left to die OF OLD age
or natural causes. This trouble decreases,
however, as a bank becomes more gener-
ally iished.
Specimens of small hallbut Of fine quail
ity were found on the Baird bank, and
founders of several species were taken in
the beam trawl, whenever it was lowered