DISTRIBUTION 363 



forms obviates the danger of the population being swept out of its optimum environment by the wind. 

 The mere fact of being drifted by the wind at 20-30 m. per minute must be of great value in food 

 capture and must aid maximum distribution. 



DISTRIBUTION 



It does not seem an adequate treatment of this subject to deal merely with such observations as may be 

 recorded in the literature. It is hoped to make a special study of the question later on, basing it on 

 replies to a questionnaire circulated through appropriate channels to seafarers. 



The potential value of ships' logs is shown by the following extracts provided by the Marine 

 Superintendent of the Meteorological Office from meteorological log-books of various ships: 



(1) M.V. San Veronico (Eagle Oil and Shipping Co.) 

 Captain S. Miller, O.B.E. Curacao to Rotterdam. 



13 May 1957, at 12.00 G.M.T. in 36 30' N, 36 24' W. While the ship was stopped for engine repairs 

 many Portuguese Men-o'-War were observed. They consisted of.. . .The bladder size varied up to 

 about 8 in. in length. On puncturing the bladder of one caught in a bucket (see photograph) it was 

 observed. ... [A note on ' deflation ' and subsequent ' re-inflation ' follows, but is not precise enough for 

 evaluation at present.] 



(2) S.S. Loch Garth (Royal Mail Lines) 



Captain G. S. Grant. West coast of North America. 



30 May 1957, at 39 50' N., 124 32' W. 



At 17.40 G.M.T. the ship passed through a line of small Portuguese Men O'War formed in a direction 



N.E.-S.W. The line approximately a quarter of a mile in length and 50 ft. in width, was of a dark 



green appearance. [Query: were these Velella}] 



(3) S.S. Tekoa (New Zealand Shipping Co.) 

 Captain F. C. Taylor. Curacao to London. 



(a) 15 June 1957, at 19.00 G.M.T. in 36 N. 43 20' W. passed through numerous Portuguese Men 

 O' War (Physalia) and By-the-Wind Sailors (Velella). These siphonophores are usually seen when 

 entering the Gulf Stream, but they have been sighted this time without the usual accompanying rise in 

 sea temperature which generally ushers you into the Gulf Stream. 



(b) 16 June 1957. Vessel still passing many of the above 



(4) S.S. Orion (Orient Line) 



Captain J. O. Birch, D.S.C., R.D. Honolulu to Vancouver. 



25 August 1957 in 44 18' N., 132 06' W. The sea was observed to be thickly speckled with trans- 

 parent colourless jellyfish, circular in shape and about 2-4 in. in diameter. When viewed through 

 binoculars a dark centre could be seen and also what appeared to be a small vertical fin. No tentacles 

 or feelers however could be seen and the observer therefore is not definitely sure as to whether they 

 were Portuguese Men O' War or not. The sea continued to be speckled with these jellyfish until dusk, 

 sometimes lying in bands down-wind. The vessel therefore has passed through a field of these 

 marine creatures at least 164 miles wide. Wind N. x W. Force 3. Ship's course 048 , speed 17-8 knots. 

 [Internal evidence seems to indicate that what Captain Birch saw were specimens of Velella.] 



(5) A note headed Physalia appeared in The Marine Observer's Log, vol. ix, 1932. It was an extract 

 from the Meteorological Log of S.S. Niagara, Captain T. V. Hill. Auckland, New Zealand to 

 Victoria, B.C. 'At 4.0 p.m. 19 May 1931, large numbers of Physalia. ...' [Once more the evidence 

 pointed to a mis-identification, but similar logs must contain a wealth of useful information.] 



To the Hydrographer of the Navy, Rear-Admiral K. St B. Collins, O.B.E., D.S.C., I am indebted 



for supplying the following information in response to a request for observations to be made if 



possible by ships of the Fleet during a cruise in the West Indies at the beginning of the year 1958. 



Portuguese Men-o-war were sighted from H.M.S. Delight between 13.00 and 15.30 on 5 February 



1958, off Havana, Cuba. The ship was steering course 260 speed 14 knots, and the men-o-war could be 



