[3] Her propulsion plant consisted of two vertical triple-expansion steam engines with a combined output of 1,160 horsepower (981 kilowatts) and two single-end Scotch marine boilers.

[3] The BOF made plans to modify her extensively to provide quarters for a crew of 26, ample accommodations for embarked scientists, and a large laboratory, and to install oceanographic and collection equipment aboard her.

[2] Assigned to take over fishery and oceanographic efforts in and around the Gulf of Maine previously performed by Halcyon – which had been laid up pending condemnation and sale – Albatross II put to sea in early August 1926 on her first scientific voyage.

Before fiscal year 1927 ended on 30 June 1927, she had steamed 4,921 nautical miles (9,114 km; 5,663 mi), made observations at 69 oceanographic stations, and tagged 7,785 fishes.

[5] Albatross II made a total of nine scientific cruises during fiscal year 1928 (1 July 1927–30 June 1928), engaging in fishery investigation work in waters from Mount Desert, Maine, to the Virginia Capes.

[6] In the spring of 1928 she made a cruise to the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean off New Jersey to tag cod, pollock, and haddock, but had disappointing results.

[10] Pump problems forced her to abort a cruise she attempted from the continental shelf off the United States East Coast to Bermuda, but otherwise she operated along the U.S. East Coast from Cape Ann, Massachusetts, to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, making observations at 273 oceanographic stations ranging from a few nautical miles to 180 nautical miles (330 km; 210 mi) offshore.

[11] She made numerous 30-foot (9.1 m) and 60-foot (18 m) otter trawls, took readings at 286 oceanographic stations, and tagged 352 cod, 280 haddock, 33 pollock, and a combined total of 248 butterfish, croakers, flukes, sea bass, and scups.

[13][14] The aging ship required a great deal of maintenance, and by the time the BOF decommissioned her in 1932 most of the funds allocated to operating her had to be spent on repairs.