238 CHALLENGER 



surveyed a new seamount that she decided to do no more. When 

 the engine was put ahead nothing happened, no coaxing would 

 turn her single screw. The Engineer Officer tried everything he 

 knew as she lay wallowdng in the long swell. At long last, by giving 

 her an immense amount of steam and opening the throttle with 

 a rapid movement, there followed a resounding bang like a clap 

 of thunder and she was on her way. There could be no risk of 

 a repetition of her single screw refusing to turn while still over 

 1000 miles from home, so her head was turned for Pompey and 

 the now willing old girl never stopped until she arrived safe and 

 sound in her own Home Port, after two and a half years on the 

 wide oceans of the w^orld. 



An oceanographic voyage remains today one of the last retreats 

 where man may observe and study unmolested. It is well known 

 that a captain's troubles commence when land is sighted and 

 reach their peak as the ship is finally berthed to permit agents, 

 authorities, customs, press and tradesmen to surge over her like 

 an invading army, and all privacy is gone. 



The peace which comes upon the commander of a deep-sea 

 expedition as the land slowly sinks below the horizon astern and 

 he heads for the limitless ocean is profound. The ship is clear of 

 all but those who are there with a purpose, no telephone is con- 

 nected, no unwanted midday caller will arrive ; all that matters is 

 the one job in hand, that of surveying and studying the ocean. 

 Even the wireless office is usually silent upon such a ship, for 

 the Admiralty sends few operational signals to a lo-knot survey 

 ship with an extensive oceanographic programme ahead of her. 

 There is time to think, time to stop at a moment's notice to 

 study some passing phenomena and to remain there a day if need 

 be to investigate the matter. 



One night in the Pacific south of Japan the ship passed through 

 a great area of sea, brilliantly illuminated, the water glowing from 

 the ripple of the bow- wave across the gently ruffled water to the 

 very horizon. The ship was stopped and some of the phosphores- 

 cent matter in the water was netted and placed beneath the micro- 

 scope. Small spherical objects could be seen, each with a tail 

 sticking from it. These were dinoflagellates of the form Noctiluca. 

 Scientists have not yet decided among themselves whether this 



