The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-12


the machinery. since the substitution of the
light four-blad propeller for the old heavy
four-blade one, at her trial alongside the
dock worked so smoothly that that the Off
GERS express themselves greatly pleased
with the change. An air and circulating
pump has been put in 10 act as an auxiliary.
She will probably leave for the lower coast
Monday to commence survey duty. Her
pleasant and genial officers will be greatly
missed at the tation, as they each and all
have made many warm and fast friends.
Two of the boilers originally intended for
the MenaGnock have been placed on board
OF the Albaiross and force of machinists
will proceed Immediately TO fit them up.
There seems to be a very laUdable desire on
the part of the yard authorities to expedite
the work on the Albstross and TO have it
done at the most reasonable cost.
This being a class of work that is so fire.
ouently done at outside establishments an
effort is being made 10 illustrate by this
vessel that the Dayy-Yard is the place to
repair the ships belonging to the United
st ates-1hether of the navy, revenue, coast
survey or Fish Commission service. and to
dissipate the opinion so prevalent IN years
gone by that it costs more TO do such work
at the navy yard than at private establish
ment. Her boats are il the shops under
going repairs A new style OF a deep-sea
drag net. the invention of the captain and
the chief engineer is being made. This Is
used for the purpose while at sea OF secur-
ing specimens of fish, The net is thrown
over the side, and by the means of weights
sunk to q certain depth required and troiled
astern. After beingdown sufficient length
Of time the net is hauled IN by reel. As
the net begins 10 rise the mouth, by an H.
genions continuance, is closed, so that any
fish that may chance TO be in il may not
escape. Ii the net works as well as ex-
pected Captain Tanner is IN hopes TO be
able TO secure specimens of fish from the
! oceans surface to the depths of the sea.
The visitors 70 the AlbatrOss will find an
| interesting study, as already nearly 200
| specimens OF deep-sea bSb have been Sc
| cured, but with the aid Of the new net ii is
| expected as many more varieties VIII be
! found or this side OF the continent. The
! deep-sea fish as rule are very soft In body,
/ almost black in color and many OF them
! covered with phosphorescent spots by
| which they can see their way IN the dark.
They live in the open sea at q great depth
aud their soft bodies are made firm by the
| pressure of the surrounding water. The
| next trip out the officers expect to return
! with specimens Of most interesting and
startling nature.
| The Ranger is still in the stone dock, and
| the repairs which could not be made prior
! 10 her trip 10 the Bering Sea, owing TO lack
! of time, have been pushed rapidly. A small
| force of meu have been during the past few
| OdyS UEhlER III inc indCHlDt-Snup uutil
| after 10 o'clock by the aid OF electric lights
which have proved TO be OF great value.
The tail shalt has been removed and
! turned, new clutch coupling secured there
| on and the whole returned 10 the ship.
New lgnum vitae has been inserted in the
| sleeves of the stern tube and bored TO suit
| the tail shaft. On running lines through
| the stern tube il was found necessary TO
raise the after end of the en- CINE about three
| sixteenths of an inch. The engines will
30 lid ov.1 Erafe had l,xv
! the middle Of next week. All other work
| will be finished as soon as possible that she
| may get away from the yard and start Tor
| the South Sea Islands.
The boiler-makers have been at work at
! night on the MOhican making necessary re-
| pairs to the boilers. 1t having been found
| requisite 10 renew many of the braces as
we'll as tubes therein. The repairs TO the
! machinery being comparatively slight the
maehinists have not been required 10 work
| overtime.
1t is hoped that by the time Admiral
! Skerrett Is ready to hoist his flag on board
Of her she will be ready for sea.
Lieutenant Downs l.. Wilson, U. S. N,
! who has lately been on ordnance duty at
| Washington. will come out with Admiral
| Skerrett as his flag lieutenant.
/ In Few days several officers OF high
! rank, who have been detailed for duty on
| the coming court-martial, will arrive. Lieu
| tenant Lincoln kaTmany, u. >. NJ. c., has
! been ordered as ludge-ad vocate in place of
| Lieutenant Commander Carmody, L. 5. \.
Work is going right along on the Meuad-
| mock. The boilers, engines and auxiliary
| machinery will soon be put on board and
| completed as fast az possible.
| Considerable work of a minor character
viii be done about the yard buildings and
! officers quarters during the next few
| months in the way of putting 10 heating
apparatus, painting, etc.
gang Of wbarf-buiiders have during the
| past week been taking advantage OF tho
tides and working long into the night on
| the foundation OF piece OF the new section
| CT quay-wall under course of construction
| south of the stone drydoek. If Congress
will only allow the money that has been
| recommended for extending the wharves
! the water front will be greatly improved
and last for years TO come without need Of
| repair.
Chaplain J. r. Lewis, L. S. N. officiated
| Wednesday last at the marriage of Assistant
Engineer Solen Arnold. u. 5. n, of the
Mohcan to Miss Ida a. Campbell. the pretty
| and accomplished daughter of Senator and
Mrs. j. q. Campbell OF this city.
Captain A. A. McAliisteT. U. S. N. who
| is on leave from the cruiser Chicago, Wis
tied the yard last week and was welcomed
| by bis many friends.
An examination for The position of fore
man plumber in the construction and repair
| department Will be commenced ON the 18th
| inst. The board appointed 10 examine the
| applicants consists Of Captain II. l.. How
ison, president; Commander Henry Glass.
| Lieutenant G. f. Pond, Constructor A. W.
| Stahl, Passed Assistant Engineer William
Robotham and Lieutenant ID. p. Henefee,
| recorder,
No applications will be received after the
| 14,h inst. The examination will be practi-
! cal In character, having reference exelu-
| sively 10 the requirements TO be hlled.
Assistant Surge0n-General +. Smith, who
has been on duty at the station for the past
three years, will leave Monday for Brooklyn,
having been ordered to the receiving snip
| Vermont.
Paymaster A. W. Bacon, u. S. N, has
been ordered, as general stoTeReeper al the
| yard, 10 take the place of Pay Inspector
George W. Beaman, who is to go East.
Passed Assistant Engineer 4. f. Buredorff,
| u. ;. N, has been detailed from the ward
and ordered to the Thetis, and Passed As
sistant Engineer William Robotham from
| the Ihetis and ordered 10 the Independence
The condemned tug Ivy, formerly known
as the Monterey. so well known to all San
| Francisco wharf-Tangers, was disposed of
| by closed bids last week and brought some
| $500. This is considered very cheap bar
gain, as the purchaser claims he can take
out the engines and boilers and set match
to the hull, and from the ashes gather
enough composition and metal TO more
than pay the purchase price.
| he same party bought the old boilers
that came out of the Albatross and had
them towed to the city the same time the
Ivy went down.
1t is anticipated there will be consider
able lively bidding for the old wooden sec
tlonal docks as soon as they are advertised
In The CALL as being for sale. This will
probably be In the course of a couple of
weeks.
While there is enough wood and metal in
the seven sections 20 more than pay the
purchaser III he should break them up there
is little lear they will ever meet such a
fate with such competitors as the San Fran
anC IAn IL