by Dean C. Allard
Figure 8. - The Tanner sounding machine
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Figure 9. - Sigbee's machine for sounding
with wire, rigged for reeling in.
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Commissioned on 11 November 1882, the Albatross had her
trial run from 30 December 1882 to 1 January 1883. She was the
first large vessel specifically designed as a research vessel
to be built anywhere in the world (Coker, 1949:43; Cotter, 1967:301).
Writing in 1888, Alexander Agassiz (I, 51) noted another superlative
of the ship. Pointing out that the vessel allowed the Fish Commission’s
exploration to extend “to the deepest waters along the American
coast,” Agassiz concluded that the Albatross was
“the best equipped dredger for deep-sea work in existence.”
The Albatross had an overall length of 234 feet, a maximum
beam of 27.5 feet, and a displacement of 1,074 tons (Fig. 10).
Her crew, minus the ship’s scientific staff, numbered about
60 officers and men provided by the U.S. Navy. Constructed of
wrought iron, the Albatross had twin screws and a maximum
speed of 10 knots (Fig. 11). At her economical cruising speed
of 8 knots, her maximum steaming radius was 3,200 miles. As was
typical of oceanic ships in an era when steam plants were still
highly inefficient, she carried an auxiliary set of sails. The
ship’s deck logs show that sails were used frequently in
the 1880’s. In addition to her brigantine rig, a freshwater
distilling plant allowed for prolonged maritime operations.
Figure 10. - Plans of the Albatross
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The Albatross had two relatively commodious laboratories
(Fig. 12a, b, c), one on the main and the other on the berthing
deck. She also had a pair of powerful dredging engines carrying
4,500 fathoms of 3/8-inch steel rope. Finally, her sponsors claimed
that the ship was the first U.S. government vessel to be fully
electrified (Fig. 13). This feature, as Lieutenant Commander Tanner
pointed out, was especially important during prolonged deep-water
dredging since these operations often could not be completed during
daylight hours (Tanner, 1885:31–33; Tanner, 1895:107–124;
Hedgpeth, 1945:6–8). Views of the cabin, chart room, pilot
house, ward room, and berth deck are shown in Figures 14–18.
The Albatross began her distinguished career as a scientific
vessel of the U.S.
government—a history that would extend over the next 38
years—on 22 March 1883 when she established her first dredging
station in 519 fathoms of water off the Mid Atlantic coast (Smith,
1889:934). As we know, many of the world’s productive commercial
fisheries are typically found in relatively shoal waters, rather
than in the open ocean where this station was located. But, as
previously noted, Baird made no secret of his desire to undertake
a scientific survey of the ocean. He repeatedly argued that this
knowledge was needed for its own sake, as well as for the understanding
of commercial fishery issues. In addition to biological investigations,
Baird recognized the importance of physical oceanography for both
his applied and basic research programs. Hence, from the start,
the Albatross took frequent soundings, tidal observations,
bottom samples, temperature readings, and specific gravity and
salinity measurements of the waters in which she operated (Schroeder,
1922: 160–161).
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