WORLD VOYAGE BEGINS 



being maddened by the roar of pneumatic riveting hammers and 

 the general frustrations of working in a ship 'in dockyard hands', 

 the men had no prospect of home comforts at the end of the day. 



The crew for this world voyage were volunteers and were 

 anxious to be away, but the inevitable delays took place and week 

 after week the sailing date was postponed. Soulsby, the Leading 

 Sick Berth Attendant, who proved to be quite a wit during the 

 voyage, requested to see the Captain for a 'foreign service draft'. 

 Petty Officer Greenshields was once more onboard Challenger, 

 this time as the Senior Recorder. 



When one reads the accounts of voyages of scientific explora- 

 tion it is seen that naval officers and scientists do not often see 

 eye to eye on all things, particularly at the beginning of a voyage. 

 This is not really strange, as the naval man's ideals are usually a 

 definite programme to work to and a ship of a smart and seaman- 

 like appearance. A concession on both these points has to be made 

 to the scientist if the advantages of good weather and of locating 

 an interesting area are to be seized, and if scientific equipment, 

 assembled with labour and enthusiasm, is to remain in position 

 despite its unseamanlike appearance. 



Tom Gaskell and John Swallow, the scientists who sailed in 

 Challenger, were both outstanding in their way, although com- 

 pletely different in outlook. Tom was hard-working in the ex- 

 treme when he had work to do, but when his experiments were 

 complete and his records made up, then he would enjoy life as 

 few others can; his enthusiasm for every new project was un- 

 bounded and carried others along with him. Whenever one did 

 anything with Tom he made it seem really worth while doing. 

 He was an inveterate sightseer in the scientific field or any other : 

 as the voyage went on his cabin became fuller and fuller of 

 souvenirs which he picked up at every port of call. John Swallow 

 was serious, never happier than when he was working on the 

 results of his experiments, and he was intensely interested in all 

 forms of science and in natural history. John could relax, how- 

 ever, and when he started mixing highballs a good evening lay 

 ahead. He was a good trencherman and was to uphold the ship's 

 reputation when faced with giant steaks in the restaurants of 

 Victoria, B.C. 



John Swallow's arrival did not portend good relations between 



