In 1757, being at sea in a fleet of ninety-six sail bound

1757年我身处一支从路易斯伯格出航
against Louisbourg,

由96艘帆船所组成的舰队
I observed the wakes of two of the ships to be remarkably smooth,

我发现其中两艘船的航迹显得格外平稳
while all the others were ruffled by the wind, which blew fresh.

而其他的船由于风势太猛而摇晃不已
Being puzzled with the differing appearance,

我对这奇怪的现象感到疑惑
I at last pointed it out to our captain

我最后向船长指出
and asked him the meaning of it.

并且问他为何会这样
'The cooks,' said he, 'have I suppose

'是厨师' 他说道 '我想他们刚刚
just been emptying their greasy water through the scuppers,

通过排水口将油腻的废水排入了海中
which has greased the sides of those ships a little.'"

使得船舷被油略微润滑了'"
So there is an experimental evidence for what Pliny said.

所以这是支持普林尼看法的一个实验证据
"Recollecting what I had formerly read in Pliny,

"当我回忆起之前读过的普林尼的想法