Thursday - £1 July 19S8 
Coral-reefed and circular Clipperton Island was sighted 
about 100C just as it emerged from a curtain of rain deposited 
by a passing squall. Its low— lying sandy terrain was distin- 
guishable by one prominent 62 -foot rock, resembling a sail at 
a distance, and by a few lonely and scattered palms. Because 
of lack of charted soundings it was approached with caution 
and the Houston and ^cDougsl did not anchor until about 1055, 
the ormer in 72 fathoms of water. 
Despite a somewhat choppy sea and moderate swell, the 
presidential party took to the fishing boats shortly after lun- 
cheon for a resumption of fishing activities after a 24-nour 
respite. Hardly had the President’s boat shoved off from the 
TT ouston before lie had hooked and landed a 66-lb saark - a 
forerunner of the type which played havoc with fishing tackle, 
nd spoiled, after a fashion, the day’s sport. For, hardly 
had one hooked a "Grouper'*, "Jack" or "iellowta il" before it 
was snatched bodily by a voraci.us "Shark". The waters in this 
area are literally alive with them, as with other opecie , '*■> 
