The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-03-25

u
there may be seen off shore from
u the various islands of the group,
a trim white steamer, which, with sail
and steam, will be moving about slow
ly, crossing back and forth over Civ
en- track. The short legs of a mile or
so will be made all during the cruises
which will last from two to four or
even six weeks from this port. The
shin which is to make the maneuver.
is the Albatross, and the work in which
she will be engaged is the exploration
of the off-shore fishing banks. The
cruise is to occupy the summer and its
scientific interest is of the first order
The Albatross arrived yesterday
from San Francisco. and though only
one stop was made. that at Erben
Bank, six hundred miles out of san
Francisco, the nets which were dragged
astern all the way developed sufficient
sea life to keep the laboratory force at
work, and yesterday the first thing the
scientists did was TO visit the fishmar-
ket and secure some pretty specimens
which occupied their attention during
the day, for the trip is one for work.
and there promises to be little sight
seeing for the men who have taken on
the cruise for its scientific value.
The chief scientist of the party on
board the Fish Commission vessel is
DR.. Charles II. Gilbert, who occupies
the chair of zoology at Leland STAN
ford. Jr. University. DR.. Gilbert has
never before visited these waters. and
he expects that the work he will do
here will be of rare scientific interest.
This is due to the fact that this is the
very first time there has been given to
a tropical water such an opportunity
for thorough investigation. Heretofore
the work has been sparodic, some spec
linens being taken here and there, and
the results have always been most in
teresting. Now there is time and OPP
portunity for the exhaustive study OF
sea life, and that it will be productive
of many new things is certain, for DR..
Gilbert said yesterday that he had
found several new forms of life in the
nets which were dragged on the way
down.
The primary work of the vessel in
these waters Will be the study OF sea
life Coupled with this scientific labor
will be the investigation of the fishing
banks the extent Of the grounds and
the estimated amount Of fishes which
might be taken there. This branch of
the work is more particularly that OF
the fisheries expert attached to the Al
batross. Mr.. A z. Alexander. who will
hxr
Chamberlain. of the commission SER
vice. The later is the photographer Of
the party.
DR.. Gilbert has in his party DIR. c. G.
Nutting of the University of Iowa, and
Messrs. ]. L. Snyder and w. *. Fisher
of Stanford. They will be in charge OF
the preparation and classification Of
the specimens taken, also making
paintings of the fishes as soon as they
are brought from the water. so as To
secure the colors as bright as they are
in life. The equipment of the Albatross
for her work is magnificent, as the
vessel has a complete set of deep sea
travis and nets. and will work at
depth of at least 2000 feet much OF the
time For the purpose of preserving the
fishes, the cargo Of the ship includes
ten barrels of alcohol. and there are
scores of bottles in racks. copper tanks
in cases and specimen jars which will
be sufficient to contain all the individ
ual specimens that the scientists may
wish to preserve on the trip.
The intention of the officers is to
make a complete survey Of the Off
shore grounds about the entire group.
Honolulu Will be the center of opera
tons and the mail station. but the
cruises viii be made everywhere, not
according to d fixed itinerary, owing 70
the fact that the weather viii have
much 70 do with the windward and
channel trips, so that there will be ad-
taken Of any falling off in the
trades and any south wind periods. The
work viii consist Of the using OF the
nets for surface and deep sea as well,
the sounding FOR banks and their ex-
and the studying Of the
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