SNAKES!! – Robert Lowery FNMM, and Life Member has a story to share from 1969. Inspecting the strainers which are part of the evaporators seems like a routine matter. Lowery writes “We were on the 1969 cruise. I think the port for R&R was Subic Bay, Philippines. We were cold iron. After taking the bolts off the inspection cover. I remember seeing one sea snake. We were not supposed to pick up the snakes with our hands. (Good idea – Among this group of snakes, also know as Coral Reef Snakes, are species with some of the most potent venoms of all snakes. ED) Lowery continues “Using tong type instruments we removed it (the snake) and other things like plastic, etc., inspected and cleaned the tubes, put the inspection cover back on, just big enough to crawl through.” [ To the right is the Editor’s interpretation of the incident since no pictures of the episode exist. ED] Robert also lists his favorite foods, all grouped under “breakfast”. He rates the worst job as “taking on ammo all night or supplies at 
sea. Or fueling, unless you have the watch.”