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THE LAST CRUISE OF THE CARNEGIE 



circled about the ship for several hours as we lay becalmed in the 

 neighborhood of what is marked on the charts as "Podesta Island 

 — Existence Doubtful." On December 26 we had been able to 

 head up for Peru, having reached 40° south at noon. We had 

 been driven 10° out of our intended course and we were not far 

 from the iceberg-region. Enormous quantities of salps were seen 

 in the water, and many specimens were dipped up at night with 

 the depth-light hanging from the quarter-deck. 



A Small "Bottle-nose" Whale of the South Pacific 

 Coming up for air near the Carnegie. 



Captain Ault determined to search for the mysterious Podesta 

 Island before we left this area. We passed within two miles of 

 its charted position, but we did not see any signs of land. The 

 visibility was excellent, and the soundings gave no hint of shoaling 

 in the neighborhood. It is very difficult to get a "doubtful island" 

 off a chart, once it has been entered there. We could only send 

 our report to the Hydrographic office to be added to the numerous 

 others that have come in from unsuccessful searching parties. 



