In One Ear: Awaiting the Albatross

Published 9:45 pm Thursday, March 27, 2025

• The USS Albatross, about to arrive upon our coast upon its voyage of scientific discovery and research, required quite a variety of nets, seines, etc. 

Note: Claimed to be the first vessel built specifically for marine research, the 234-foot steamer Albatross was Navy-manned, but assigned to the U.S. Fish Commission.

In mid-1888, the awaited vessel did arrive in the Pacific Northwest, and explored the waters off Oregon, Washington and Alaska for several months.

In 1898, the vessel was armed for the Spanish-American War just as it was ending; the guns were removed and back it went to the Fish Commission. The ship actually did participate in World War I, then returned again to its research and discovery mission.

Decommissioned in 1921, the vessel was sold as a school ship. Last heard of as being auctioned off in Germany in 1927, her ultimate fate is unknown.  (Photo: Puget Sound Navy Museum)