NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE 



307 



on the surface near its northern boundary at nine degrees north, 

 with no velocity at two hundred meters depth. . . No wonder 

 our fishing-hnes get tangled." 



While sailing northward from Honolulu we were struck by a 

 series of wind-squalls that reached such force as to rip the middle 

 staysail, gallant, and foresail. The old sails, some of which had 



Captain Ault Releasing Pilot-balloons 



These balloons trace the direction and velocity of air-currents in the atmosphere as 

 they rise from the deck. 



seen ten years' service, were going one by one. Nevertheless, 

 they were repaired and put back into use to save the new suit 

 of canvas we carried for the voyage from New Zealand around 

 the Horn. Two days later we encountered some remarkably long 

 swells from the northwest. The statoscope was brought out to 

 measure the distance between trough and crest. By observation, 

 the swells were about six hundred feet apart. 



