NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE 121 



the salinity-apparatus to a 104° temperature, for there was no 

 cooling device. These were glorious days for the cats on board. 

 Flying-fish were skimming the water in every direction. At 

 night they would be attracted to the lights and strike the ship, 

 sometimes falling on deck. A cat was usually the first on the 

 scene when this occurred, and so we would be deprived of the 

 specimen. We had been asked to collect these fish for Mr. 

 Breder of the New York Aquarium, for he was interested in the 

 geographical distribution of the different species. Mr. Kellogg, 

 research associate of the Carnegie Institution, had supplied us 

 with harpoons for collecting porpoises, but we never had occasion 

 to use them. He was making a study of the evolution (or de- 

 volution!) of the whale-family, and was anxious to complete his 

 collection. 



There were two questions that furnished lively arguments on 

 board and were never settled: Does a flying-fish fly.'^ Do sharks 

 attack human beings.^ The discussions became so heated at 

 times that it was well some routine duty separated us before 

 belay ing-pins began to fly. In the beautiful evenings on deck 

 everything was close-harmony again. Torreson led the singing 

 of the old-time moonlight favorites; and invariably began and 

 ended with his musical signature, "Among my Souvenirs." 



The last week in August was spent in glassy calms. The 

 timbers groaned, and the sails flapped till the reef-points were in 

 shreds. One looked over a sea like lubricating oil, reflecting all 

 the pastel shades when the sun was on the horizon. The engine 

 was operated almost continuously. This made evaporation- 

 observations impossible, and increased the difficulties in other 

 work, because of the constant vibration of the instruments. 

 Always a squall was greeted with cheers. These calms were 

 aggravating for another reason. We were not allowed to jump 

 overboard for a swim, no matter how hot or cloudless the day. 

 The rule seemed very unreasonable at times; but no doubt the 

 Captain had good reasons. On one of the previous cruises there 

 had been a close accident of some kind, and this time no chances 

 were to be taken. 



We were in the doldrums, there was no doubt about that. 



