209 



valuable scientific material, but he did not indicate that there had 

 been any difficulty in taking them from French territory. 



The following is quoted from the Evening Post of Jersey, issue 

 of 2nd February 1955. 



END OF LA CONTENTA'S THREE-YEAR STAY 

 COELACANTH SEARCH RECALLED, 



The 1 60- ton motor yacht, La Contenta^ which has been in St. 

 Helier Harbour for nearly three years, left this morning for St. Malo. 



This former Admiralty Fairmile Class craft came into the news 

 in May 1953, when she was being fitted out to undertake an expedi- 

 tion in search of that extraordinary fish the Coelacanth. A specimen 

 of this supposedly prehistoric fish had been found in the Indian 

 Ocean, leading to arrangements being completed between the noted 

 Professor J. L. B. Smith and the owner-captain of the La Contenta^ 

 Mr. W. J. Stuttard, to equip the craft to search for another specimen. 

 However, after a period of time this expedition fell through and it 

 was understood that La Contenta would then be used to search for 

 treasure in the China Seas. This venture also fell through. 



Only Once Put to Sea 



In a stay of two years nine months in St. Helier Harbour, La 

 Contenta only once put to sea, and that was to Gorey on the occasion 

 of the regatta there in 1953. Recently La Contenta was thoroughly 

 overhauled and successfully underwent tests in St. Aubin's Bay. 



Mr. W. J. Stuttard stated shortly before leaving, *We are bound 

 for Vigo in Spain and from there we shall cruise in the Mediterranean 

 where we shall stay. We are tired of Jersey.' 



