FIJI-NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITION 197 
novel experiences. Of course my situation was a comfortable one 
as compared with that of the others. To be sure I suffered a 
good deal from the cold and did not completely undress during 
the whole cruise; my bunk was narrow and trough-like with con- 
siderable topographic details in the way of hard bumps. But I 
slept well and greatly enjoyed the good meals which the cook 
climbed the iron ladder to serve in my cabin. To be sure the 
constant, often violent and erratic pitching and rolling of the 
boat was monotonous, but I was a ‘‘good sailor’’ and immune 
from sea-sickness, that blight on the pleasure of many who ‘‘go 
down to the sea in ships.’’ The captain gave me a fine compli- 
ment when he remarked, ‘‘The fact is you’re hardy!’’ which 
expressed a world of appreciation of my good behavior. Of course 
some of the refinements of home life were lacking, as for instance, 
anything whatever in the way of toilet facilities. 
But this experience is one to be remembered with more than 
ordinary pleasure, for during it I made the acquaintance and 
formed friendships with real men, such as the captain and the 
chief, men who were hearty and genuine, who had had a world 
of experience and would swap yarns, sometimes by the hour, with 
the stranger in their midst. They were really interested in my 
work and every man on board was on the alert to find things they 
thought I would want. As soon as they got an idea what sort of 
specimens I was after they were eager to pick over the catch, and 
I thus secured many things of real scientific interest, so that I 
was able to end the cruise with a full cargo in the box which I 
had brought for specimens. 
I was kept busy most of the time. With an empty oil-can I 
was at hand when the catch was dumped on the deck and after 
most of the fish had been put in the baskets I overhauled the 
debris that had been in the bottom of the purse, picked out any- 
thing that promised to be of interest, dumped it into the can, and 
examined specimens which the men brought for inspection. It 
should be noted that they usually waited until I was through 
before dumping the refuse over the rail and washing down ihe 
deck. 
Sometimes when the trawl was down and supper disposed of, 
the skipper and ‘‘Chief’’ Crawford would spend an hour or so 
chatting in my room. Both of these men were wise in the lore 
of the sea and both were canny Scotchmen with wide experience 
in things marine. Captain McKay was a keen observer and knew 
