1894
Feb.21

At sea on Str. "Madiana"

Noon observation: lat. 24"14; long. 65"36; run 286 miles.

11A.M. Thus far a sunny day but the sky filled
with cumulous yet diaphanous clouds driving, low down,
before the strong, steady trade wing which has blown
unceasingly since yesterday. The sea is white-capped but
the waves are of only moderate height and the ship
is but little affected by them. The water is an even
richer, purer blue than it was yesterday. There is much
more sargossa weed, also. To-day it is in rafts or ribbons
some of which are many yards across. These are disposed
in betts or ribbons which stretch straight away as far
as the eye can reach. Between the betts are spaces of
immaculate blue water from one to three or four hundred
yards in width - blue lanes leading westwards, to
the horizon and beyond.

  Flying fish have literally swarmed at times ever since
breakfast. They are far more beautiful than I had
supposed and I never time of watching them. As a rule
thing spring from the crests of the waves and flag
twenty or thirty yards only, at first directly into the
wind, then turning and skimming down wind, just
clearing the tops of the higher swells and often failing
to do this even.  Some, however, rise four or five feet
above the water and fly directly down wind for one
or even two hundred yards. These are usually the
larger ones for they vary greatly in size. The flight
is very similar to that of a dragon fly. Several times
this morning I distinctly saw the movement of the
"wings" or the ha[?][?] produced by [delete]which[/delete] their rapid vibration, but
often they appeared to be and doubtless were held rigid.
especially where the fish had attained a good momentum.
[margin]flying fish[/margin]