The poor old cook got into trouble today with his fire and his steam cooker, so that the plum duff was dough and our Sunday dinner lacked an important item of the menu and there was nothing to take its place. As Charlie said, the prunes in it were good, anyhow. 20 December. Monday. Clear, cloudless, calm. Temp. min - 7°; 9 a.-7°; 6 p.-6° On board all day. Writing most of time. Wrote to Captain Pickets giving him official notice of my intention to have all my party leave the "Clueett" during January, 1916, on account of the shortness of food which he reported to me on 5 November. Also asked ed for statement of his plans for the vessel next summer. He replied that he proposed to start for a port where repairs can be made as early in the season as he could get out.