From 1888 to 1900 the USS (USFC) Albatross was engaged in research around the Pacific Ocean. She was an iron-hulled, twin-screw steamer in the United States Navy and the first vessel ever built specifically for marine research. But during those years she was frequently assigned other duties including being upgraded to become and armed cruiser during the Spanish American War. The data was recorded on a navigational chart and published along with a book describing the data.
Click on chart to see full size (5500 x 3500).