20 ALBACORA 



scientists at Miami University for a full year. There is 

 a real and exciting possibility that a palatable and 

 nutritious substance eventually may be created from 

 plankton. When that day comes the world's food prob- 

 lems may be solved. For Lou and me in the Explorer, 

 though, more immediate problems lay at hand. Captain 

 Walt Gorman suddenly sniffed a few times and an- 

 nounced, "I smell broadbill." Lou started sniffing. "By 

 golly," he said, "so do L" Then Mario pointed ahead 

 of us and shouted, "Albacora!" A great black sickle 

 cut the surface. During the six weeks of our expedition, 

 we sighted ninety-six albacora. None was as thrilling as 

 the first. 



"Hedley," Lou called. "Get those cameras into ac- 

 tion. Come on, man." Then, in the next confusing mo- 

 ments, Lou seemed to forget his intricate plans for 

 shooting movies. Walt Gorman stayed at the wheel of 

 the Explorer, No one moved toward the WaWa. "Come 

 on," Lou shouted up at Walt. "Let's close in on that 

 fish." 



I had been standing topside when Mario spotted the 

 albacora and I tried to hurry down the same route that 

 the men take when they are in a hurry. Passing up the 

 chrome ladder, I planned to hop onto the bait box, then 

 step onto the lower deck. Since the boat was pitching 

 considerably, I lay down on my stomach before sliding 

 my legs over the topside. Unfortunately, my legs could 

 not reach the bait box. Stomach down, fanny up, I was 



