The last time that Harvard beat Yale in swimming. "Johnny Angel" was the number-one song on the Billboard Top 40. Today in New Haven the Crimson will try to stop that losing streak, but its efforts will almost surely be in vain.

At last count, Yale had won 65 dual meets in a row, which is 64 more than Harvard's current streak. The Elis have downed both, Dartmouth and Princeton-teams that have beaten the Crimson-without too much strain, and their thoughts now are on the AAU Championships.

"We'll try to score as many points as we can." Harvard coach Bill Brooks said yesterday before he and his team departed for New Haven, "but it's hard to score down there." On the bright side, the tough competition could push some Crimson swimmers to records and should help prepare them for next weekend's Eastern Championships at Dartmouth.

Yale has two outstanding freestylers-John Nelson and Mike Cadden-and excellent men in each of the specialty strokes, as well as great back-up strength. Harvard's ability to score will depend on how much Yale coach Phil Moriarty uses his best men.

The Crimson's best chances for victory are undoubtedly in the diving, where Dave Silver, Tom Wallace, and Dick Eisenberg should have little trouble with Mike Donahue, Mike Cahalan is a possible winner in the 50-free even though Rich May has done 21.5, 0.4 seconds faster than Cahalan. And Steve Krause may well be the victor in the individual medley.

New Harvard records could be set by Krause in the distance freestyles, Dan Kobick in the backstroke, and by Cahalan or Al Ackerman in the shorter freestyles. Butterflyer John Munk and breaststroker Steve Baumgart may also considerably improve their recent times.

The Crimson's patient hopes for a win over Yale may be fulfilled next year. The Elis will lose Nelson, Phil Long, and Ed Bettendorf, while Harvard loses only Eric Hanson. Another indication of chances for such an upset could come from today's freshman meet, which the Yardlings may win.

Yale freshman coach Jim Barton has never lost a meet at home, nor to Harvard, but his team has lost to Princeton and Williston, both of which lost to the Crimson.