DOI: 10.25549/hancock-ouc17562211
title: Velero III (launch, drydock maintenance, 7th expedition), etc., 1931-1938?

description: Velero III launching, Craig Shipbuilding, Long Beach, California, USA, 1931 April 2 (audio only). Velero III in dry dock for maintenance. Velero III departs from Los Angeles Harbor with contingent of scientists on board for its seventh expedition, 1938 January 3. Personnel include: first officer Charles Swett, Captain Allan Hancock, Anker Petersen, Hugh Merrick, Dr. Edwin O. Palmer, Dr. Hubert Lyman Clark, Dr. George S. Myers, John S. Garth, Fred Ziesenhenne. Busy South American or Central American coastal town and Bird Islands off coast of Peru. Charts showing Pacific Ocean off west coast of Central and South America, also of Gulf of California. Views of microscopic animal specimens, sea horse, whales breaching. Title frames only from educational film “Sea-Borne Treasures”. Seals on island. “ Marine treasures” -- container. 24 frames per second (some portions may be 18 FPS, but rendered at 24 FPS due to sound section at beginning). 609 feet. 8 rolls of film, spliced into one.(1) "Sound test NG" Rendered at 24-frames per second. A partially speed corrected audio file is available at a slower speed totaling 00:02:39 in length.[00:00:01-00:02:06] (2) Reel. Silent. In black-and-white.[00:02:06-00:02:59] Tiny single-celled(?) animals (viewed under microscope) and a seahorse.(3) "Trinada orig[inal] reel 2" Silent. In color.[00:00:55-00:05:50] Velero III in dry dock for maintenance and repairs. Captain Allen Hancock is present. Also passengers boarding and on Velero III in Los Angeles Harbor prior to departure. Signs passed during departure: “E.K. Wood…”, “Fishermen’s Warf, Berth 73, Tel. #392”. Lighthouse at end of breakwater. Spinning governor on log. World globe. Velero III at sea. “27-A-130 No. 3” – motor launch on Velero III.(4) "Sea borne treasures". Silent. In black-and-white.[00:05:50-00:06:40] “Title Dept. Rancho… B…” – film slate. “G. Allan Hancock presents Sea-Borne Treasures, photographed by W. Chas. Swett” – title credit. “Each year scientists of the Hancock Pacific Expeditions are transported to eguatorial [sic] waters aboard the Velero III. They return laden with strange creatures of sea and shore to enhance the collections of our leading museums and universities.” – intertitle. “The end” – end title.(5) "E/c Seals". Silent. Color.[00:06:40-00:07:52] Seals on shore and in surf and men from Velero III on shore with them.(6) Negative, not on reel. Silent. Black-and-white.[00:07:52-00:12:03] Busy South American or Central American coastal town. Ships and boats on water. Men arrive on shore via dinghy. Pelicans in trees and flying overhead. Cacti and throny tree. Using water box to look for underwater specimens. Beached rowboats. Chart of Pacific coast of South America and Central America with Bird Islands off Peru pointed out. Coastlines. Velero III anchored off shore. 100s of thousands of birds on island.(7) Not on reel. Silent. Black-and-white.[00:08:24-00:13:03] Chart showing route of Velero III around Baja California up the Gulf of California. Velero III at sea with Captain Allan Hancock. Whales breach off shore. Motor launch (“27-A-127[?]”) speeds toward whale.(8) Not on reel, assorted trims. Silent. Black-and-white.[00:13:03-00:16:54] Captain Allan Hancock and first officer Charles Swett welcome scientists on board Velero III. Hancock uses sextant and binoculars. Group photo of Velero III seventh expedition, Los Angeles Harbor, 1938 January 3 (left to right): first officer Charles Swett, unidentified, Captain Allan Hancock, Anker Petersen, unidentified, Hugh Merrick, Dr. Edwin O. Palmer, unidentified, Dr. Hubert Lyman Clark, Dr. George S. Myers, unidentified, John S. Garth. Also Fred Ziesenhenne. Velero IV underway in Los Angeles Harbor.