no. 1 fraser : scientific work, velero iii, eastern pacific 43 



Personnel 



Crew 



The ship was constructed and ready for action ; but, although she 

 was well built and well equipped, of herself she could do nothing — the 

 human element had to come into the operation. This job was too great, 

 even for Captain Hancock. He may have been able to handle the Cricket 

 alone, but the Velero III was not the Cricket. By taking some of the offi- 

 cers and operating crew that had served him on other vessels, and by 

 making some additions, the Captain had a capable ship's company, ready 

 for action when the ship was ready. Some of those men may boast of 

 twenty-five years of service with Captain on these ships. They were fully 

 familiar with their ship's duties from the start, but making proper use 

 of the scientific equipment was something new. It did not long remain so, 

 for soon everything was running without a hitch. During these years of 

 experience, they became such masters of the situation as to be able and 

 ready to make many a suggestion for the improvement of the apparatus, 

 or of its operation, and, better still, have carried out these suggestions to 

 the greater success of the operations. 



To anyone who has recently watched these operations for the first 

 time, they serve as a fine object lesson of how efficient work can be car- 

 ried on smoothly and uninterruptedly. No one who has not been on one 

 of the longer cruises can really appreciate how much this capable, cheer- 

 ful attention to every need contributed to the success of the expeditions. 



On the longer cruises, the full complement of officers and men con- 

 sisted of two or three qualified officers, three mates, one radio operator, 

 three engineers, three oilers, three seamen, two stewards, two cooks, and 

 one messman, a total of eighteen persons. In home waters the number 

 was slightly reduced. 



Scientists 



Needless to say, much of the success of the Expeditions depends upon 

 the scientific personnel. This has included a rather extensive list of men 

 who have had practical experience in marine investigation. Apart from 

 those who are, or have been, directly connected with the Allan Hancock 

 Foundation, very few have found it possible to leave their duties at their 

 home institutions to take part in more than one expedition. This may be 

 considered as either fortunate or unfortunate: fortunate because, with 

 extensive changes from year to year, specialists in a greater number of 

 groups of animals and plants have been included; unfortunate because 



