"All Well"

When Franklin Roosevelt started to plan his customary spring vacation, first necessity was to find a seaworthy substitute for Vincent Astor's Nourmahal, the "million dollar yacht" which sounded too plutocratic in the ears of ordinary voters in an election year. That problem was solved by the Coast Guard which converted for the President's use a cutter rechristened the Potomac. Second necessity was to find substitutes for Mr. Astor and the socialite group of Long Islanders and Wall Streeters who in other years had been the Presidential fishing companions.

Neither idle rich, idle Brain Trusters nor idle politicians would be inoffensive to 1936 public taste. Therefore as the President fished from his modest yacht in the Bahamas last week he had with him only his military and naval aides, his physician and two relatives. One was his firstborn, James. The other was his 72-year-old Uncle Frederic Adrian Delano, onetime president of the Wabash R. R., onetime (1914-18) member of the Federal Reserve Board, one of whose current hobbies is Washington's Park & Planning Commission and whose most recent job, given him fortnight ago, is the honorary (payless) chairmanship of the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank.

Sole news of the President which reached the waiting world were the brief bulletins flashed to shore, first by the destroyers Monaghan and Dale acting as convoys, later by the Potomac. Sole piscatorial feat was credited to "Uncle Fred." Sum total of the world's knowledge of Franklin Roosevelt at sea:

Both ships spending day at anchor near Cat Island and fifty miles from San Salvador, the landfall of Columbus. Fished this morning, catching enough for slipper. Proceeding tonight to Great Inagua Island. Rendezvous there tomorrow morning with Potomac. All well. F. D. R.

We are now anchored near Mathew Town, Great Inagua Island. Potomac met us this morning and we have transferred to her from the Monaghan. Bottom fishing this afternoon. Mr. Delano made the catch of the day, getting a fine specimen of blue bone porgy.* F. D. R.

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We have had particularly fine fishing at Caicos. Large kingfish, groupers, mackerel and barracuda. We are now proceeding on Potomac to Mariguana Island and will try the fishing there before sunset. Having fine weather and pleasant seas. F. D. R.

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Potomac and destroyers arrived Mariguana Island yesterday afternoon and had more fine fishing. We will proceed to the westward tonight to rendezvous with mail planes tomorrow morning. F. D. R.

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Good fishing at Mariguana yesterday. We are spending a quiet Sunday off Crooked Island and proceed to Cat Cay tomorrow. All well. F. D. R.

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After pleasant run last night we are anchored off Little San Salvador where we will fish and swim this afternoon. Leaving tonight and expect to arrive Nassau about 10 tomorrow morning. F. D. R.

*Good to eat, easy to catch.

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