NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE 



305 



The seven-week passage to Samoa gave us ideal weather but 

 feeble winds. The engine was used frequently so that we would 

 not fall behind schedule and have to sail round the Horn in an 

 unfavorable season. The full program in magnetism, atmospheric 

 electricity, oceanography, and meteorology, was carried out with- 

 out interruption; but heavy cross-currents near the Equator caused 

 appalling losses of oceanographic equipment. On October 11 

 two silk-nets were lost when the tow-wire jumped its sheave and 



The "Gannet" Salutes 

 These birds are common in the Pacific. 



wore through. To avoid this trouble in the future, the rubber 

 shock-absorber rope was attached directly at the forecastle-head, 

 eliminating blocks entirely. The same day brought another 

 accident, in which we lost a complete bottom-sampling and 

 bottom-temperature outfit, through the catching of a splice in 

 the meter-wheel. But on the 25th we were to suffer the most 

 serious blow of all. The confusing currents below the surface 

 entangled the bottom-wire and the bottle-series. In clearing 

 them, the new aluminum-bronze cable was cut by catching on 



