After pulling in the dredge that was deployed last night and spreading the rocks out to dry we had to prepare, identify, and catalog them.  We cut them into slabs which were then used to identify the rock type and composition and chiseled off some of the glassy surface of some of the samples for further analysis.  We redeployed the dredge around four in the morning and it was brought back in before 11 AM. 

We continued to map the seafloor on our way to the port of Pago Pago, surrounding to survey it for possible dredge sites.  Dredging is much more of a hit and miss affair now that we don't have a pinger to use.  Relying on solely the experience of the chief scientists, the last few dredges have brought up some rocks, but they were far from full. 

Headed towards the harbor, the people the Alia expedition had hired to get supplies that we requested to the dock before we got there, contacted us and said that they could get what we needed, but they didn't want to go to the store today, and proposed going there at 8AM tomorrow.  This would delay our planned departure time by two hours (costing over 2,000 dollars) and was clearly unacceptable and we were forced to get the supply's ourselves.  The pinger that we had shipped from Boston was not here, and would not arrive for another week.  We did get, however, the power supply for the shallow water multi-beam sonar array.

With that problem out of the way we sailed into the port of Pago Pago, trailing a hand line most of the way.  Almost all of the crew are avid fishers and do not waist any opportunities to fish that present themselves.  I am grateful for their persistence, as what they catch is served in the galley, and the tuna we had a few meals ago was outstanding.

We entered the Pago Pago without any problems, and tied up to the dock, where we were greeted, and filmed by people related to the local school, to whom we gave volcanic rocks for study by the students.  Grateful for the contribution, they offered to drive us to Tisa’s barefoot bar, and we all piled in (cabin and bed) to one of their pickup trucks for the ride.  Tisa’s was wonderful as usual.  For dinner we had extraordinary fish steaks with shrimp and breadfruit.  The “Big Eye” fish that was used to create these awesome dishes was caught earlier that day, and when we were done, Candy Mann brought out its head which was about a 1 foot tall, and 1.5 feet long.  The fish when whole, took for people to carry, and was estimated at 200 lbs. 

Before dinner, though, we had the opportunity to go snorkeling in the reef just offshore.  Swimming in a channel, we were able to make it through the breaking waves and were greeted with spectacular schools of fish.  We even saw a sea turtle, which turned out to be capable of incredible underwater speeds.  After dinner, we headed back to the boat.  Daniel, Ryan, and I walked, but most of the people caught taxies, especially since our route back passed through the particularly smelly fish cannery, and a car would provide some protection.

Blake English onboard the R/V Kilo Moana.