Upon returning from an Allied conference in Malta on mining the Mediterranean, Rear Admiral Strauss came out with the squadron, on the seventh excursion, 26 August, hoisting his flag in the _San Francisco_. This was the first time our program was interfered with by fog, which shut in thick soon after assembly. Incidentally, our tug _Patuxent_, going out ahead with her sister _Patapsco_ to observe, found herself in the midst of a large convoy from Norway that night and had a collision, which fortunately was not serious to either vessel. After four hours’ delay by fog, we made our departure buoy and steered for the end of the 5th minefield, 13 miles distant. Fog shut in again when we were half way, but fortunately lifted just before we should have had to turn back, and minelaying began, although the weather was still far from settled. Twice during the schedule, dense fog enveloped us, but the planting went on without interruption. It was rather ghostly to hear and feel the explosions of the defective mines, yet see nothing—not even the neighboring ship. Several times Admiral Strauss expressed admiration for the steady alignment of the formation, and upon leaving the _San Francisco_ when we had returned to port, he signalled, “The Commander Mine Force congratulates Mine Squadron One on the seamanlike manner in which the seventh excursion was accomplished by all ships.” On this occasion, for the first and only time, one ship had to drop out from an excursion, the _Saranac_ having a smash inside the cylinder of her main circulating pump shortly after the squadron had assembled. Temporary repairs being impossible soon enough, she returned to base. The absence of her 580 mines left the 7th minefield incomplete, and to make good the defect a special excursion was ordered for the _Shawmut_, Captain Cluverius, and _Aroostook_, Captain Tomb, the two fast minelayers.