The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-11-24
DEPARTMENT OF DISAGREEMENT
The Work of Lieut.. Com
mander Moser.
Description OF Applianes-ValuabIe
Curiosities of the Deep-The
Vessels Present Cruise.

From a scientific point Of view there
is perhaps no more interesting vessel
in Uncle Sans navy than the United
States Fish Commission steamer Alba
tross. Of which Lieutenant Colonel J.
f. Moser is in command, and which
will not leave this port until after
Thanksgiving.
The following report by Commission
er Spencer F. Baird will give a very
good idea Of the points leading up TO
the construction Of the AIbaross:
The alleged decrease of the food
fishes along the sea coasts and in the
lakes Of the United States induced the
passage by Congress, in 1871, OF an
act authorizing the appointment b.
the President. with confirmation by
the Senate. OF a Commissioner of Fish
and Fisheries, TO investigate the sub
ject and report the facts as ascer-
tained. with any recommendations
that might seem desirable; and Prof.
Spencer A. Baird. the then Assistant
Secretary OF the Smithsonian Institu-
ton. received the appointment.
The Investigations in question were
at first restricted TO the examination
OF the inshore waters. but the many
questions arising in regard to the
movements Of the mackerel, the blue
fish. the menhaden and other pelagic
species. caused the Commissioner TO
make application TO Congress for the
means 10 build a seagoing steamer, by
the aid OF which the movements of the
sea fsh could be more readily followed
and their lines Of migration and win
ter habitat determined. An appropria-
ton Of SOB 900 was accordingly made
in ISL for building such a vessel,
which was. however, found insufficient
10 construct a steamer upon the ap-
proved plans Of Mr.. Charles W. Cope
land of New York. An additional sum
having been allowed by Congress,
making an aggregate Of S145.0OO, pro-
posals We're invited. and Messrs. Pusey
4 Jones Of Wilmington, Del. being the
lowest bidders. and their offer coming
within the amount Of the appropria-
tion, work was commenced by that
firm in March. 1882. and the trial trip
was made December Both, 1882.
Some repairs and alterations made
II necessary TO send the steamer back
70 the ship yard Of the builders, and
in April. 1888. the vessel made her
first cruise on the business of the com
mission
Lieutenant now Lieutenant Com
manderl J. L. Tanner was ordered by
the Navy Department TO superintend
the construction of the vessel. He
made many important suggestions and
his practical experience was of the ut
most benefit in the final determination
Of the plan Of construction. The equip
ment Of the vessel was entirely under
his direction. and TO his ingenuity is
due a large number Of the novel and
important devices and improvements
adopted
CONSTRUCTION OF THE ALBA
TROSS.
The United States Fish Commission
steamer AIbatross is an iron twin
screw vessel. built by the Pusey &
Jones Company Of Wilmington. Del
She was launched August 19, 1882. Her
general dimensions are as follows
Length over all, 294 feet.
Length at 12-foot water line, 200
feet
Breadth Of beam. moulded. p feet
. inches.
Depth from top Of floor to top Of
deck beams, Is feet 9 inches.
Sheer forward. feet ? inches.
Sheer aft. 3 feet
Height Of deck house amidships. 7
feet 3 inches.
Displacement Of 12-foot water line.
l.074 tons.
Registered tonnage, net, 3S4 tons.
A complete write-up OF the work Of
the AIbauoss would take up much
more space than can be given at this
time. II is the intention in this article
scientific apparatus, the manner of
work, the specimens obtained, and a
short account Of the Joint Commission
sent out in 1896 to investigate the
matter Of fur seals in the North Pa
cifc.
Through the kindness of Captain
Moser and his clerk, Mr.. N. C. Fasset.
q representative of the Advertiser was