4o6 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [April 
instant a catch came in-board Lillie was surrounded by 
an interested group of men, very anxious to see if any 
startling novelty had at last been dragged up from the 
bottom. 
Across the Atlantic the plankton nets were put over, 
when possible, for half an hour every night, and a good 
series of catches was made ; the middle watch was chosen, 
as experience had shown the practical impossibility of 
entirely preventing garbage, ashes, &c., from being thrown 
overboard during the day, and the nets faithfully col- 
lected everything that went over. At night, however, 
after washing down the shoots and the ship's side where 
ashes had been thrown over, the haul was made and the 
net brought in absolutely clean. 
Rio was reached on April 28, and the ship stopped 
here four days, coaling, taking in fresh provisions, and 
giving leave. 
While crossing the Tropics the dog watches were 
taken in the stoke-hold by the after-guard. This gave 
each fireman a sixteen hours' spell free of watch two days 
out of every three : a great boon when the conditions are 
trying, as they undoubtedly are, in the engine-room and 
stokehold in the Tropics. 
The ship called at Fayal in the Azores, in order to 
cable home, and anchored off Horta on June 2. She 
was placed in quarantine, much to our chagrin, though 
facilities were allowed for sending cables and getting 
provisions. 
At last, on June 11, the ship dropped anchor in Crow 
Sound, Scilly Islands, where two days were spent painting 
