[7] She soon established the annual routine for her career, which involved supporting fish-culture work at Woods Hole and on the Potomac River at the fish hatchery at Bryans Point, Maryland.

During fiscal year 1904 (1 July 1903–30 June 1904), new copper tanks were installed aboard Phalarope and alterations were made to her engine room and cabin.

[23] Phalarope returned to her routine pre-war duties, supporting fish culture work at the Bureau of Fisheries stations at Woods Hole and on the Potomac River at Bryans Point, Maryland, and later at Fort Humphreys, Virginia.

[24] Due to a lack of operating funds during fiscal year 1922 (1 July 1921–30 June 1922), her operations were very limited, only occurring at Woods Hole and only during August 1921; her crew was occupied during July, September, and October 1921 with getting USFS Fulmar prepared for fisheries work and with transferring Fulmar from Woods Hole to her new home port at Charlevoix, Michigan.

[28] During the summer of 1924, Phalarope joined the Bureau of Fisheries steamer USFS Gannet in using seining and trawling to conduct a survey of the coast between Mount Desert, Maine, and Woods Hole to support an investigation of the early development of cod, haddock, and pollock off the New England coast by gathering information on the migrations, feeding habits, and enemies of the young fish after they leave the surface waters and enter the shallow shore zone.

[29] During the rest of fiscal year 1925 (1 July 1924–30 June 1925) she followed her usual routine of fish culture work at Woods Hole and Bryans Point.

[30] A 1962 publication of the Bureau of Fisheries′ successor organization, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, described Phalarope′s typical working day at the Bureau's Woods Hole station during the 1920s as follows: The working day at the Fisheries Laboratory usually started with a collecting trip to fish traps, or for dredging or taking plankton samples.

With the exception of long trips, which sometimes lasted the whole day, the Phalarope would return about noontime, early enough for the participants to change and be ready for their luncheon, which was served by the MBL mess hall sharply at 1:30 p.m.

The collecting trip became so popular, especially when the weather was good, that the number of passengers on board had to be restricted to conform to safety regulations enforced by the United States Coast Guard.

If something exciting happened during the trip, for instance the catch of a big shark or large moonfish, everybody would dash to one side of the vessel and cause a dangerous list.

In addition to the material needed for research at the Fisheries and collected by the scientists themselves or under their supervision, the Phalarope brought live fishes for the aquarium, which was open to the public every day of the week.