2 
The success of any exploring expedition depends almost wholly upon 
the adequacy of its equipment and personnel. Expeditions to otherwise in- 
accessible places are using ever larger airplanes, and so, too, the use of 
correspondingly larger ships has proved to be of untold value in marine in- 
vestigations. This, I know, is quite the reverse of what an uninitiated in- 
vestigator might be led to believe, but the use of a large battle cruiser 
such as the U.5.S. HOUSTON proved an unqualified asset and a blessing every 
day of the trip. Having this ship as our base of operations made it possible 
to accomplish as much as we did in a scant twenty-four days at sea. 
The HOUSTON is six hundred feet in length. Her full 
A. 
complement totals over ~[00 men and officers. On this particular cruise, how- 
ever, the crew numbered nearer 600. Thus, at all times there was ample assist- 
ance at hand for whatever undertaking the day might bring forth. 
The ship has a top speed of knots, which is something like Uo 
miles an hour. However, at no time did she find it necessary to go above 26 
knots, about 30 miles an hour. The HOUSTON, moreover, has fully equipped 
shops equal to any emergency: machine shop, carpenter shop, electrical shop, 
sail maker, airplane mechanics, print shop, barber shop, and, of course, 
superlative medical service and hospital, with complete dental laboratory. 
c 1 ini c , and s taf f • 
Built to serve as fleet flagship, this cruiser had ample accommoda- 
tions for a number of guests, as well as convenient laboratory and storage 
Al\ h 
facilities for my work. 
Our departure from San Diego on the afternoon of Saturday, the l6th 
of July, augured well for the success of the cruise. It was one of those 
perfect California days you hear tell of. 
