22 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL. 1 



Oaxaca, he was well equipped to do so. At this time the California Acad- 

 emy of Sciences was particularly eager to obtain specimens of some of the 

 characteristic species of animals of the Galapagos. The synchronism was 

 perfect. On November 27, 1927, the Oaxaca, with a crew of 35 men and 

 a passenger list of 12, left San Pedro, Galapagos bound, on a seven weeks' 

 cruise. Joseph Slevin, who was with the Academy party in 1905, and 

 Frank Tose represented the California Academy of Sciences. The route 

 followed the mainland coast to Panama, and then, by way of Cocos 

 Island, to the Galapagos. The principal faunal attraction consisted of 

 birds and reptiles, but observations were made more or less incidentally 

 on many of the other groups. For this first visit to the Galapagos, the 

 islands put on a special display of fireworks. From the channel between 

 Albemarle and Narborough the ship's company had a grandstand view 

 of the violent volcanic eruption on Narborough Island. 



In the following summer, after carrying a load of freight to New 

 Westminster, B.C., the Oaxaca was outfitted for a cruise in Alaskan 

 waters, and a pilot familiar with local waters was engaged. Northward, 

 the trip ended at Skagway. On the return, owing to faulty beacon mark- 

 ing, the Oaxaca piled up on Burnt Island Reef in Wrangel Narrows. 

 Later she was released and with some temporary repairs was taken south 

 to Vancouver for a thorough examination. The damage was extensive 

 and rather than contract for repairs that would not give assurance that 

 the ship could be made seaworthy, she was sold without further ado. 



The Velero II was still available for cruising, and she continued in 

 use for that purpose, but she was scarcely large enough or well enough 

 equipped for the longer scientific expeditions that the Captain now had 

 in mind. An association with the late Dr. Harry Wegeforth, who was 

 doing so much to increase interest in the Zoological Gardens in Balboa 

 Park, San Diego, could not fail to arouse enthusiasm in the expansion of 

 this institution. Hence there was another incentive to visit the southern 

 seas and southern lands, to bring back animals alive for the San Diego 

 Zoo. 



No mention has been made of the extra time that Captain Hancock 

 had put in with the Merchant Marine, to gain experience and to obtain 

 the necessary papers to permit him to take command, as Master, of ships 

 of any size on any ocean. 



With his familiarity with navigation in the Eastern Pacific and with 

 his experience in sponsoring expeditions, it is not surprising that he had 

 some very definite ideas as to the essentials necessary to provide a ship 



