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off the continental slope. From January to May, 1884, the Albatross was detailed for hydrographic work in the interest of the Navy Department, by which all expenses were paid. The regions explored were the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, the former never having been previously investigated outside of the shore soundings. The number of deep-sea soundings taken was 646, but opportunities were also found for dredging and trawling in deep water, and over 50 such stations were made. The latter part of the winter and the spring of 1885 were spent in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the spring of 1886, the services of the steamer were again given to the Hydrographic Bureau for sounding operations among the Bahama Islands and reefs, as previously described