JOHN STEINBECK’S SIGNED BOAT CHARTER FOR THE WESTERN FLYER, THE FISHING VESSEL THAT TOOK HIM AND ED RICKETTS ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST AND THE SEA OF CORTEZ.  THERE ARE ALSO A DOZEN RECEIPTS FROM THE PIONEERING ENVIRONMENTAL MISSION

JOHN STEINBECK (1902-1968).  An American writer, Steinbeck is best remembered for The Grapes Of Wrath, East Of Eden, Of Mice And Men, Cannery Row and Travels With Charley.

An archive of materials related to Steinbeck’s chartering the Western Flyer for his environmental mission along the California coast and the Sea of Cortez.  He was accompanied by the pioneering ecologist Ed Ricketts.  The trip was captured in John Steinbeck’s nonfiction classic The Log from the Sea of Cortez.  Steinbeck and Ricketts left on the Western Flyer on March 11, 1940, from Monterey; the cruise ended on April 16, 1940 in San Diego.

• Document Signed. 3pg. March 5th, 1940. Monterey, California.  A lengthy typed document signed “John E Steinbeck”, “Anthony Berry” twice and “Martin Petrich” (Petrich signature done by Berry).  This contract is the rental agreement for the Western Flyer that took Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts on their innovative ecological mission.  The contract states in part: “CHARTER PARTY THIS AGREEMENT AND CHARTER PARTY, entered into this 5^th day of March, 1940 by and between JOHN STEINBECK, hereinafter called the Charterer, and ANTHONY J. BERRY and M.A. PETRICH, hereinafter called the Owners, WITNESSETH: That in consideration of the sum of One Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy Dollars ($1,470.00), payable at the times and in the manner hereinafter specified, the owners do hereby charter unto the Charterer the purse seine fishing vessel “WESTERN FLYER’ for a period of six (6) weeks, commencing on Monday, the 11th day of March, 1940 and ending Monday, April 22, 1940, said vessel to be ready and in all respects seaworthy, at Monterey, California, and they are to be returned at the risk of the owners on the said 22nd day of April, 1940. And it is further agreed as follows: 1. That 1/2 of the said charter money, to-wit, the sum of Seven Hundred and Thirty-Five Dollars ($735.00) shall be paid by the Charterer to the Owners of the 11th day of March, 1940, provided said vessel is in all respects seaworthy and ready to sail; That one half of the said charter money, to-wit, $735.00, shall be payable to the Owners on the said 22nd day of April, 1940, or upon the vessel’s return to Monterey. 2. That all expenses necessary for the victualing of said vessel for the intended voyage and all expenses for fuel oil and lubricating oil cost of dockage, wharfage, pilotage, and water shall be paid by the Charterer; that all expenses incurred on behalf of the vessel for repairs, insurance premiums and other expenses, except as hereinabove promised to be paid by the Charterer, shall be paid for by the Owners.  3. That the Owners shall man a said vessel with a compliment of master engineer, and that the sole option of the owners, one additional crew member; that the said Anthony J. Berry shall act as said master during the term of this charter party; That said master, engineer and crew members shall have the sole management and control of the operation of the vessel at all times, provided, however, that the course of the vessel shall be under the exclusive direction of the Charterer; that nothing herein contained shall be construed to constitute the Charterer as an employer of the said master and engineer or crew member. 4. It is expressly understood and agreed that the said vessel ‘Western Flyer’ shall be engaged at the direction of the Charterer upon a voyage and the nature of a scientific exploration in the waters of the Pacific Ocean in the vicinity of the western coast of Mexico and the Gulf of California, and that said vessel during the intended voyage shall touch at all or at some of the following name ports and places at the option of the charterer, which said ports and places are as follows: Cape Colnett, San Quintin Bay, Black Warrior and Scammon Lagoon, Various Lagoons to Magdalena Bay and Cape San Lucas, La Paz and its environs, Muleje and Santa Rosalia, Angel de la Guarda Island, San Felipe Bay, Guaymas and its environs, Lagoons in the regions of Guaymas, Topolobampo and Agiabampo, Mazatlan and environs; and in connection with the said voyage, the Charterer shall, at his option, direct the vessel to any one or more of said ports or places, and at his option shall direct the said vessel to remain at any of said ports and places for such length of time there shall be necessary or convenient to carry out the intention of the said scientific exploration. 5. Should the said vessel be delayed in returning to the Port of Monterey at the request of the Charterer or because of unfavorable weather conditions rendering the operation of the said vessel hazardous, the Charterer shall pay to the Owners for any such delay the sum of Thirty-Five Dollars ($35.00) per day as charter hire from and after the 22nd of April, 1940 until such time as said vessel arrives at Monterey; Provided, however, that any delay caused by breakdown of engine or peril of the sea necessitating the vessels repair or delay in a port of refuge for a period of seventy-two (72) hours, the charterer shall be entitled to deduct from the charter money he ran promised to be paid a sum equal to $35.00 per day for each day of such delay. 6. The master shall execute all documents necessary to clear the vessel to Mexican territorial waters, but all expenses in connection therewith shall be borne by the Charterer.  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The parties have hereunto set their hands on the day and year first above written.”

• Document Signed. 1pg. March 5, 1940. Monterey, California.  A typed document signed “Anthony J. Berry” regarding the hiring of the Western Flyer: “RECEIPT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT WHEREAS, on the 5th day of March, 1940, John E Steinbeck entered into a certain Charter Party in writing with Anthony J. Barry [sic] and M. A. Petrich charting the purse seine fishing vessel ‘Western Flyer’ for term commencing March 11th, 1940, and ending April 22nd, 1940, reference to which said charter parties hereby made for further particulars, I, Anthony J. Berry, do on behalf of myself and the said M. A. Petrich hereby acknowledge receipt of payment of the sum of One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty Four and Forty-two One Hundredths Dollars ($1,254.42) in full settlement of all accounts and demands for money and claims of every kind in nature arising under the said charter party or otherwise, which I or the said M. A. Petrich have or may have against the said John E Steinbeck, under the said Charter Party or otherwise, from the beginning of the world to the date of these presents.  Dated at Monterey, California on April 25th, 1940.”

There is a collection of a dozen receipts and invoices related to the voyage.  They include:

• Document Signed. 1pg. March 11, 1940. Monterey Wharf.  A partly-printed document signed “Hall Travis” and completed in pencil; it is on “Standard Oil Company of California” invoice paper.  It states that the Western Flyer purchased $37.83 of fuel.  Travis was an engineer aboard the Western Flyer.

• Document Signed. 1pg. March 11, 1940. Monterey Wharf.  A partly printed document signed “Hall Travis”.  It is a “Credit Identification Card” and acknowledged that the Western Flyer would $70.60 of Shell fuel. 

• Document. 1pg. March 14, 1940. San Diego.  A partly printed document from Standard Oil.  The Western Flyer purchased $49.49 of diesel fuel. 

• Document. 1pg. March 14, 1940. San Diego.  A partly printed document headed “Account of Navigation Fees, Deceased Passengers, And Tonnage Tax”.  It showed that the crew paid $1.50 in clearance fees.

• Document. 1pg. March 14, 1940. San Diego.  A partly printed document from “M. Martinez & Co Custom House Brokers”.  It shows that the boat Western Flyer paid $106.65 for customs fees, Camel cigarettes and notes that “Price of Cigarettes & Whiskey included brokerage”.  There is also a mention “Mr. Steinbeck’s $11.00”.

• Typed document signed. 1pg. March 18, 1940. Cabo San Lucas.  A Spanish language typed document signed by the customs agent.  There is a bill for 46 pesos for “expenses incurred by the American motor ‘WESTERN FLYER’ that this anchor in port from San Diego, Cal. Having been released with this same date with destiny with that of La Paz…”.  It comes with an English translation.  There is a second similar document.

• Document Signed. 1pg. April 16, 1940. San Diego.  A document signed “Anthony Berry” as master; the document is headed “Statement of Quarantine Services Rendered by the United States Public Health Service.”  It billed the Western Flyer $30 for a nighttime inspection.  This was the date Steinbeck’s voyage concluded.

• Document. 1pg. April 16, 1940. San Diego. A partly-printed document addressed to Captain Anthony J. Berry from the United States Customs Service.  He was billed $2.92 for a vessel inspection at night.

• Document. 1pg. April 17, 1940. San Diego.  A partly-printed document from “M. Martinez & Co. Custom House Brokers.”  The Western Flyer was billed $92.17 for brokerage fees, a fine and other sundry expenses.  There is a note “Steinbeck’s share $53.67”.

• Document. 1pg. April 17, 1940. San Diego.  A partly-printed Department of Commerce invoice for $1.50.  It billed the Western Flyer for entry fees.

• Document. 1pg. April 17, 1940. San Diego. A partly-printed grocery receipt from India Street Public Market for $9.88.  Purchases include break, eggs, crackers and beer.

• Document signed. 1pg. April 18, 1940. San Diego.  A partly-printed receipt signed “Hall Travis” from Standard Oil.  It billed the Western Flyer $43.26 for diesel fuel.

• Document signed. 1pg. April 22, 1940. Monterey Wharf.  A partly-printed receipt signed “Anthony J. Berry” from Standard Oil.  It billed the Western Flyer $208.69 for diesel fuel.