223 



they wanted to do general oceanographical work, that was quite 

 another matter; so I let it go, but told them that I at least could 

 see no part in it for me, and did not intend to participate. I had 

 plenty to do besides. I wanted to get on with my work on the 

 fishes of the western Indian Ocean. I made it plain that as soon as 

 the home of the Coelacanth had been established, my own work 

 in that field was done. Until then my knowledge and experience 

 would always be at their service, and I visualised the possibility 

 of assisting them while engaged in my own work. I told them 

 my own plans to hunt Coelacanths, and outlined how I had 

 intended to try to keep them alive by using a fairly large decked 

 boat, partly filled with sea- water, as a temporary aquarium.* 

 They were startled when I said the chief problem was that 

 Coelacanths transported in this way or in tanks might get seasick 

 and die, for strange as it may sound fish in aquaria at sea do get 

 seasick. I noticed that when possible vessels were discussed, 

 Millot made no mention of Stuttard's La Contenta (see p. 205), 

 and when I raised the issue of Cousteau and his research vessel 

 (about which I had written earlier to Millot, see p. 214) as part of 

 the expedition, the others indicated that this would be useless as 

 the Coelacanth lived in water too deep for such methods to be of 

 any value ! 



This meeting had its lighter moments. We were discussing 

 personnel and equipment for the vessels, and it was established 

 there would be quite a number of scientists and assistants on each. 

 One Frenchman said, *It weel be necessairy to provide a wench 

 on each ship.' This certainly shook the Britishers. As they looked 

 up sharply I could see in their faces the unspoken comment, *It 

 may be the tropics, but really. . . .* I said mildly, *He means 

 winch'; and there was some laughter, which the French at first 

 did not understand. 



The Committee composed a statement about the international 

 project, which was later given due prominence in the press. 



Millot showed me photographs of the third Coelacanth. It was 

 wonderful to see them. It was complete, and the first dorsal and 

 that little extra tail made it look as if my old Malania was indeed 

 a freak, a gigantic practical joke on the part of nature. Still, I 



* It has been interesting to note that the French used this method in attempt- 

 ing to keep ahve the first live Coelacanth to be brought in (see p. 239). 



