A late luncheon followed by a short siesta occupied the early hours . 
of the afternoon. At 1530, however, the fishermen were at the sport again. 
During the afternoon period the Presidents boat followed the northwestern 
coastline of the Island from Gardner Bay in the hopes of coming upon a 
school of large fish sighted in that area during the forenoon plane opera- 
tions. The Presidents jaunt was unsuccessful with respect to large fish, 
but he and Steve Parly brought back some small, brilliantly-colored fish 
caught while "bottom 11 fishing. Pa Watson’s boat returned to the ship with 
a forty-two pound Wahoo caught off the rocks south of Gardner Bay along 
with some fine Yellow-Fin Tuna. £>oth species are gamey fish and furnished 
the anglers with great sport! 
Movies followed the late dinner enjoyed by the President and members 
of his party — after which early retiring was the order of the evening. 
Friday 29 July 
In order to reach Seymour Island off the North Coast of Indefatigable 
Island at a seasonable hour the Houston and McDougal got underway at 0550. 
The two vessels anchored at 1055 in thirty-eight fathoms of water, just to 
the south ’ard of the passage between Seymour and Indefatigable Islands. 
The President accompanied by Pa Watson and Dan Callaghan embarked 
about 1130 in a motor whaleboat for a fishing expedition around the Daphne 
Islands some miles to westward of the Houston’s anchorage. Indifferent 
fishing was found there, only one Tuna and several Groupers being hooked. 
On the President’s suggestion this fishing party proceeded thence to the 
windward (eastward) side of Seymour Island where, despite the rough seas, 
an hour and a half was spent in trying to land Tuna from the several 
schools sighted. A number of heavy strikes were encountered but no success 
was had in landing any of the fish. During the return to the ship innumer- 
able Groupers were caught but consigned again to the deep. 
About 1230 the remainder of the Presidential Party took to the boats. 
Besides Groupers (few of which were brought back) these boat expeditions 
landed a small number of Tuna, Bonita and a sprinkling of Barracuda. By a 
remarkable coincidence, Ross Mclntire and Fred Adams each landed Tuna of 
the identical weight - 35 pounds - so honors were evenly divided as to 
single fish poundage. The boat carrying Steve Early and Fred Adams cap- 
tured the day's honors for the largest catch (exclusive of Groupers, which 
species did not count) bringing back, between them, some eleven fish of 
varied types. 
During the movies this evening (”In Old Chicago” - a very spectacular 
film!) the overcast skies broke and a beautiful crescent moon, flanked by 
a bright planet, shed its effulgence on the waters of the anchorage. 
Coupled with the vivid running lights of the planes as they hurtled through 
the skies while engaged in night flying exercises, the evening heavens dis- 
tracted the onlooker’s attention from the dramatic spectacle being displayed 
on the screen. 
The Presidential Detachment remained at anchor overnight off Seymour 
Island . 
Saturday 30 July 
The President decided that a profitable forenoon might be spent on 
San Salvador (James) Island in search of the grave of Lieutenant Cowan, USN, 
attached to the Essex (Commodore David Porter, USN) and who, in 1813, as a 
result of a duel, was killed and buried in the vicinity of James Bay. 
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Steve Early Has One Hooked! 
Accordingly, at 0530 today the Houston and McDougal got underway from Sey- 
mour Island and proceeded to an anchorage in James Bay which they reached 
about 0905. 
A landing party of some fifty officers and men disembarked on the 
beach about 0905, and forming a skirmish line normal to the beach, swept 
the interior area from north to south for a distance of approximately one 
and a half miles and three hundred yards in depth in search of Lieutenant 
Cowan’s grave. No conclusive evidence of its location was found although 
Ensign Johnson, USS Houston, located a peculiar and uniform assemblage of 
rocks at the foot of a thirty-five foot spire of volcanic rock which might 
possibly heve indicated a grave. Further investigation of this area re- 
vealed nothing, so, at 1150, the search was abandoned and the party re- 
turned to the ship. 
While the searching operations were in progress, the President accom- 
panied by "Doc” O’Connor and by Ross Mclntire and Steve Early, in a second 
boat, engaged in a bit of fishing which yielded a small number of Tuna, 
some Groupers and sundry smaller fishes, but which yielded large, uncom- 
fortable dividends in the matter of wet clothing. Pa Watson proved very 
’’cagey” this forenoon (for which he later paid in full measure) for, after 
casting his weather eye on the choppy weather in the Bay he decided that 
exploration on the beach held more allure for him and for his running mate, 
Fred Adams. 
At 1250, all parties having returned to the ship and boats having 
been hoisted, the Presidential Detachment departed for Sulivan Bay on the 
east coast of James Island, where the vessels anchored at 1500 for their 
second visit in a week to this area. 
• Allusion has been made above to Pa’s ’’caginess”! On arrival at Sulivan 
Bay the President indicated that the two explorers of the morning should 
try their luck with rod and reel. With dragging footsteps and evident re- 
luctance they (Pa and Fred) finally betook themselves to boat. Their fish- 
ing ’’zeal” was rewarded however, with a fair catch of Tuna — in fact, one 
landed by Pa, topped, at fifty pounds, any other Tuna landed during the 
cruise . 
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