NO. 1 FRASER : SCIENTIFIC WORK, VELERO III, EASTERN PACIFIC 9 



Preparation for the Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions 



This brief account is sufficient to indicate that, from a scientific view- 

 point, the shallow-water area along the coast of the mainland and of the 

 numerous islands of the Eastern Tropical and Subtropical Pacific had 

 received but little attention, when, in 1931, Captain Allan Hancock, 

 in the newly commissioned Velero III, turned his attention to the explo- 

 ration of this area. 



The venture was the result of no hasty decision, for, directly or in- 

 directly, there were years of preparation for this very expedition, but 

 even the Captain, as on December 3 he set his course southward from 

 Los Angeles Harbor, could scarcely have dreamed of the immensity of 

 the project that would develop from this unpretentious embarkation. 

 Looking back over ten years of operation, it is an easy matter to see the 

 manner in which the whole plan has unfolded and developed. It is only 

 after having obtained a full appreciation of the comprehensiveness of the 

 work that has been done, and the results that have been obtained, that 

 due credit can be given to the man who had the foresight to plan the first 

 expedition and, as experience indicated, to continue the expansion of the 

 project, always ready and willing to "take occasion by the hand" in mak- 

 ing the most of his own experience and the experience of the scientists 

 who were brought from hither and yon to assist in carrying out the ex- 

 ploration, year after year, to the greatest advantage. 



This is not the place to refer to Captain Hancock's multifarious ac- 

 tivities. That has been done and can be done by others who have more 

 carefully followed these activities ; but it is appropriate here to say some- 

 thing concerning the development of his enthusiasm and aptitude for 

 navigation and marine investigation. To make the story complete, it is 

 necessary to say it. (Illustrations, plates 1-3.) 



The story begins back in boyhood days on the Rancho La Brea, when 

 Allan Hancock built for himself and his brother Bertram a punt, still 

 intact beside the old ranch house, with which to explore the tar pits. This 

 is of importance because it is the first association of navigation and biology 

 in Allan's experience. The La Brea pits were soon to become famous as 

 the great depository of fossil remains, in which, of course, Allan took 

 much interest. This interest in the La Brea fossils has developed to in- 

 clude animal life in general, especially as it appears in its own habitat. 

 The other side of the association, navigation, has developed and has been 

 nurtured until it has become one of the Captain's major activities. 



