James received a Magikarp on the S.S. Anne. Scammed, he tried to find the Magikarp Salesman but was unsuccessful in his search.
After the S.S. Anne sunk James tried to use Magikarp to get out. Unfortunately, Magikarp couldn't make it past the strong force of the water, and Team Rocket was sucked under the waves. Later Ash's Pidgeotto was sent to find land but instead found Team Rocket attached to Magikarp out at sea. When they got back to there raft Team Rocket got up and stayed there with them.
After being lost at sea without anything to eat or drink Team Rocket, Ash, and Brock decided to eat Magikarp. But when Meowth tried to eat it, all his teeth got broken because Magikarp is nothing but scale and bone. After this James kicked Magikarp into the water. suddenly Magikarp evolved into Gyarados and created a tornado of water that blasted everyone to Pokémon Land.