32 Natural HlSTOK^■ Bi lletin. 



It was manifestly impracticable to do much stud} ing at 

 night, as the motion was too great to admit of basins or dishes 

 of water being used on the tables in the hold, and there was 

 no available light on deck. Collecting of pelagic forms is 

 carried on at a serious disadvantage on a sailing vessel, as most 

 of these animals come to the surface only during calm weather, 

 and at such times the vessel has no headway, so that the tow 

 nets cannot be used, and skippers dislike to have the boats 

 leave the vessel during a calm, not knowing when a favorable 

 breeze mav spring up. Thus it happened that the amount of 

 pelagic material secured b}' us was not nearly so great in pro- 

 portion to other forms, as is usually secured when steam 

 vessels are employed. 



Wednesdav, Mav loth, latitude 29" 50'. longitude 76" 5'. 

 The weather was still inclined to be squally, and the vessel was 

 kept under reefed fore and mainsail. About four o'clock p. i\i. 

 an ominous bank of black clouds appeared in the north, its 

 upper margin being regularly convex and clear cut, with a 

 fringe of white scud rolling on before. It came upon us with 

 appalling rapidit\'. Some of the young men proved of real 

 use in helping take in sail, the mainsail being too heavy and 

 bulkv to be quickly managed b}- the crew. Their college 

 athletic training stood the voung men in good stead, and they 

 gave effectual aid on this, as on many subsequent occasions 

 when prompt action was necessary. A torrent of rain came 

 with the squall, and a furious wind, sending the rain with 

 stincrincr force into the faces of those ^^■ho remained on deck. 

 The execrable joining in the skv-light over the main hatch 

 caused the w^ater to pour in streams into the hold, although 

 our effects were so stowed that no damage was done beyond 

 making the hold exceedingh' drmip. It was, however, some- 

 what uncomfortable to have a stream of water trickling down 

 the back of one's neck while at the table, as was the fate of 

 some whose places were unfortunately directly under the 

 hatch combing. 



The squall gave rise to a heavy sea, and destro}ed all com- 

 fort for the rest of the da}'. The seasick ones were made 



