Wednesday 20 July 
The green vendure of Socorro Island as we approached was a welcome 
sight to eyes a hit fed-up with the barren wastes of Baja California. The 
island’s coastline was rugged and broken but the terrain beyond gradually 
rose to a central peak some 3,700 feet high, whose slopes were grass 
covered . 
The Houston and McDougal anchored about 0830 off the entrance to 
Braithwaite Bay, on the southern coast, where a measure of shelter from 
the prevailing ’’trades” was afforded, though not from a fairly heavy ground 
swell. . 
The poor fishing luck of the previous day whetted the piscatorial 
anticipations of the President and his party, all of whom eagerly embarked 
in the fishing boats as soon as they were hoisted out. The reward was 
nearly three hours of excellent fishing, the waters in and near Braithwaite 
Bay abounding in fish of all species, particularly Groupers of which a 
large number were caught. The honor for hauling in the largest fish of 
the morning went to the President, by virtue of a Jack which tipped the 
scales at thirty-eight pounds. This streamlined finny ’’critter” put up 
quite a battle before he was landed, affording the President the best of 
sport. Honors for the largest catch went to the boat occupied by ”Doc” 
Mclntire and Steve Early with a total of 48 - a sizable catch for the 
less than three hours of sport. Much to his discomfort. Pa Watson did not 
participate in either of the day’s fishing prizes. Much chaffing at the 
dinner table ensued over Pa’s failure to ’’bring home the bacon” by his so- 
called ’’Commercialized” methods. In order to reach Ciipperton Island by 
early forenoon the next day at a reasonable speed, it was decided to cur- 
tail further fishing exploits at Socorro. So, at 1230, the Houston and 
McDougal got underway in company and proceeded toward the French-owned 
Ciipperton Island. 
The weather during the trip to Ciipperton was a bit on the ’’muggy” 
side though the temperature was tempered somewhat by a fifteen knot breeze 
from the southwest. 
Thursday 21 July 
Coral-reefed and circular Ciipperton Island was sighted about 1000 
just as it emerged from a curtain of rain deposited by a passing squall. 
Its low-lying sandy terrain was distinguishable by one prominent 62-foot 
rock, resembling a sail at a distance, and a few lonely and scattered 
palms. Because of lack of charted soundings it was approached with caution 
and the Houston and McDougal did not anchor until about 1055, the former in 
seventy-two fathoms of water. 
Despite a somewhat choppy sea and moderate swell the Presidential 
Party took to the fishing boats shortly after luncheon for a resumption of 
fishing activities after a twenty-four hour respite. Hardly had the Presi- 
dent’s boat shoved off from the Houston before he had hooked and landed a 
sixty pound shark - a forerunner of the type which played havoc with fish- 
ing tackle and spoiled, after a fashion, the day’s sport. For, hardly had 
one hooked a Grouper, Jack or Yellow Tail before it was snatched bodily by 
a voracious 'Shark. The waters in this area are literally alive with them 
as with other species as well. Steve Early had a monumental struggle with 
a 175-pound Shark for an hour and forty minutes, finally passing the combat 
to another member of the party when cramped leg muscles cried for relief. 
i 
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A Typical Presidential Catch 
Anent Sharks, much argument ensued at the dinner table this night as 
to whether or not a shark was, in reality, a fish, and should or should 
not count in the day’s catch as to size and quantity. Pa contended that 
the ’’revolting Shark” was not edible (none contested that statement I ) and 
therefore should not be counted. Arguments pro and con were settled when 
the President announced his decision that now and henceforth Sharks would 
be counted as part of the day’s catch. 
During the fishing period Dr. Schmitt accompanied by a large volun- 
teer party of officers and men landed on the Island through the surf and 
conducted a bit of scientific exploring. Among the trophies brought back 
by this party were a small black and young pig which fell to the unerring 
marksmanship of Lieut-Commander Kelly, and an innumerable number of land 
and sea crabs, shrimps (burrowing type!), etc. 
The omnipresence of Sharks, and the calamitous loss of a large amount 
of fishing gear rather dampened the ardor of the piscatorial enthusiasts, 
and all hands were pleased when, at 1719 this day, the Presidential Detach- 
ment got underway and headed to the southeastward at twenty-three knots 
for the Galapagos Islands. 
(P.S. Colonel Watson was seen walking the quarterdeck with another 
scientist, Dr. Schmitt. This Smithsonian agreed with the Colonel that a 
Shark was after all onlv a mammal.. They were heard to laugh heartily 
over the entire affair.) 
Note: Another of Pa’s own postscripts! 
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