ALBACORA 115 



like that to food authorities is as effective as working 

 up a frenzy over real estate taxes and telling that to 

 city hall. 



What I learned from Dr. Smith, Dr. Schmitt and 

 Rivas is no more than a primer in the science of the 

 sea. Quite probably, some college students can learn 

 more about the life of fishes in a single intensive course 

 of study than I have been able to find out in my lifetime. 

 But for the days when I sat crippled in Iquique, the 

 little science that I had learned was invaluable. With it 

 came something to tide me through the darkest days, 

 the quality of selfless curiosity. 



"How is it coming?" I could ask Rivas, when he re- 

 turned to the Hotel Prat late each evening. 



"Fine," he liked to tell me. "I'm making great strides. 

 We missed you at the last dissection." 



It was an offhand compliment, but one that I thor- 

 oughly appreciated. 



All that week "Uncle Lou," the Mannings, Rivas and 

 everyone else worked long hours every day. Yet there 

 was always someone taking the time to chat with me and 

 answer my questions. A few years earlier all I could 

 have said was, "Catch anything out there today?" And 

 I would have responded to a "yes" with envy, while 

 "no" might have led me to announce, "Too bad. I would 

 have." But with science, there were interests that we all 

 could share. There was more to our fishing than catching 

 fish. 



