The film starts with a view of Santa Catalina Island, "Magic Isle of the Pacific," whose wonderful mountain grandeur is far-famed, but seldom seen by the average American. Here is the clearest water in the world and many sights to amuse and interest even the most jaded traveler. An extraordinary view of seals basking on the rocks off the island is next seen. Then follows a visualization of more than fifty feet of the ocean's bed, showing the remarkable submarine growth, a kelp, octopus, many varieties of coral and fish. This scenic also contains an exceptionally fine view of the Pacific fleet in annual maneuvering off Los Angeles. The fleet contains the battle-scarred cruiser Raleigh, the cruiser Colorado, the flagship California, the South Dakota, the gunship Vicksburg, the Oregon, the cruiser Cincinnati, several war tugs, supply boats and finally the entire torpedo fleet. -Moving Picture World, December 9, 1911, p. 836.
The foreign release did not include the fleet footage.
Chicago Man Achieves What Has Been Hitherto Considered Impossible by Camera Men
Avalon, October 20 – S. S. Hutchinson of Chicago while in a glass-bottom boat, was successful in taking pictures on over 50 feet of film while the boat passed over the marine gardens. Although many attempts have been made by local photographers and others possessing extensive outfits, no one had before taken pictures of the marine growth under the water. The feat had been given up as an impossibility.
Said Mr. Hutchinson today, “We have been making a special study of marine work for some time. There have been many optical obstructions to overcome before the camera could be focused to take the pictures through the glasses of the boat and of the objects in the water. Our special apparatus took the objects almost as clear as they would appear on an ordinary photograph. Of course, our method is a secret. One of your local photographers developed our film. The film will be shown in the local schools of the Pacific Coast. Light is a great factor to be studied when taking pictures through water.”
When nearing a suitable portion of the gardens, under water 15 feet, the machine was set to work. The camera resembled an ordinary instrument but had several attachments on both sides of the machine. Small magnifying glasses and mirrors were set at various angles near the lenses. Two of the shell divers who were under the boat could be plainly seen on the film. – Los Angeles Times, October 31, 1911