Alaska 200 Letters Fishery Exploration Ship Captain 1898 Archive

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Alaska 200 Letters Fishery Exploration Ship Captain 1898 Archive Steamer Albatross Spanish American War This is a fantastic letter copybook of over 200 letters from Lt Commander Jefferson Moser of the Steamer Albatross. He was a part of the US Commission of Fish and Fisheries as an expedition to Alaska, California and the Pacific Ocean. There are several letters dealing with the beginning of the Spanish American War, which the ship was being retained to be a part of. Many are typed and some are handwritten and all are signed. They are from 1897-1898 and have great content throughout. They say in part: We have finished work in the vicinity of San Diego and came up here yesterday. I was outside two days with the vessel dredging and fishing and can’t say that we were very successful. Parameter started for Mare Island Sunday and Ensign McLean reported on Saturday…When we returned to San Diego on Saturday we were much surprised at the startling preparations for war. We learned that the Coast Survey vessels had been laid up, officers detained, and we wondered whether it was our turn next. Sunday and Monday it looked more quiet but at this long range I hardly see how war can be prevented unless Spain takes a decided back step…I don’t want to give up this job and learn afterwards that there will be no war, and yet I feel that I should be on hand in the East when hostilities commence… Naturalist trained to the collecting and scientific work an assistant who also acted as photographer, and a Fishery Expert who was a practical fisherman and knew all the methods of practical fishing. The gentleman filling the place of naturalist, Mr Townsend, was promoted, and the position filled by an office man who never saw and never expects to see the ship… Last summer on the salmon investigations fearing that the work would not be done as I wanted it. I did a large part myself, the result is such a great mass of material that I have been all winter digesting it and even now for want of time I have cut many things so as to finish up… Please regard yourself detached from duty on board this vessel and proceed to San Francisco and thence to Honolulu taking passage in the steamer sailing from San Francisco on April 6 th , 1898. Upon your arrival at Honolulu, report to the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Station for duty on board the USS Mohican… I send you herewith the record of Tides taken in Alaska last season by this vessel. These comprise the only tidal observations made for record in a few other instances we accepted the nearest Coast Survey reductions in correcting our soundings… Orders received from Commissioner to land equipment not necessary for naval purposes… I have the honor to report that I have been directed by US Commissioner of Fishery and Fisheries to remove and store all laboratory, fishing and dredging and other scientific outfit of this vessel not required for naval purposes and then to turn the vessel over to you for naval purposes….Mr A.B. Alexander agent of the Fish Commission at San Francisco with whom I have been directed to confer concurs in the opinion expressed in this letter… As this vessel has been transferred to the regular Naval Services and will therefore not make the intended cruse in Alaskan waters this coming summer, I beg leave to inform you that the folding boats will now not be needed… Honorable John Brady, Governor of Alaska…During my recent visit to Sitka you seemed to take much interest in the salmon fisheries and I am sure depreciate the illegal fighting as much as any loyal subject possibly can. It has occurred to me that with the machinery at your hand it would be possible to ascertain what the reported condition of the different streams is through the Indians that visit Sitka… Does the stream carry Red, Cohoes, Humpback or Dog Salmon. What is the average value of the stream in numbers of salmon. Is the stream barricaded…There are many small streams on Baranof Island and Chichagof Island both on the outer coast and inside and known only to the Red Fish Bay Cannery and the Indians… I fancy next s... read more

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