A port side view, taken from ahead of the beam, of the Anchor Line cruise ship California (1923) anchored at an unknown location. Her starboard anchor is deployed and she is dressed overall. An accommodation ladder is rigged at a midships shell door with two boats alongside. A small boat is close under the port quarter. The Code P Blue Peter flag which means 'All persons should report on board as the vessel is about to proceed to sea' is at the starboard yardarm and the ship is emitting an unnecessary of smoke from the funnel. The horizon is not quite level and the negative is slightly out of focus.