P10 SUN. FEB. 8, 1948. DAY 24 HR. 30 MIN. ON BOARD S/S MARINE PHOENIX DIST. 405 DECK NOON REPORT LAT. 5° 33' S Av. SPEED 16.54 LONG. 163° 28' W 3465 TO S.F.; 675 TO SAMOA. COURSE 216.42 (Prob. Sooty) ON DECK ABOUT 6: A.M. - SEA VERY CALM - FLYING FISH. 2 TERNS SEEN AT 6:15 (FAR OFF). A FEW PEOPLE ON DECK, INCLUDING NUNS. ONE OF WHOM WAS ENJOYING HER CHEWING GUM JUST LIKE A GOOD SUBWAY SLIDER. THE DAY ENDS WITH A TERN, TOO! HAD JUST COME ON DECK TONIGHT AFTER DINNER WHEN ONE OF THE GIRLS CAME TO TELL ME SHE HAD JUST CAUGHT A BIRD THAT HAD FLOWN AGAINST RIGGING - IT IS A SOOTY T. SHE VOLUNTEERED TO GIVE ME A RAYON STOCKING (WITH A HOLE IN IT), SO THAT I COULD TUCK BIRD INSIDE FOR THE NIGHT. THE FALCONERS ON ASSATEAGUE IS. SHOWED ME THAT TRICK. DECIDED NOT TO CHANCE ANOTHER TERN LANDING IN THE DRINK - NOTHING BROKEN - HOPE NO INTERNAL BLEEDING - WILL THROW OFF IN DAYLIGHT - SHOULD TAME WING THEN. GIRLS INSIST ON SEEING THE SHOW - 8:30 A.M. - PORT BOAT DECK. AT 8: A.M. - WELL OFF - (1) APPARENTLY ALL-WHITE TERN - TOO FAR FOR ANY FURTHER NOTES. AT 12:30 P.M. ANOTHER - SAME COND. ALSO AT SAME TIME 3 FRIGATE BIRDS, TOGETHER, LOW OVER WATER - FAR OUT. SPENT PART OF A.M. + MOST OF P.M. COPYING WEATHER CODE RND WITH H.G. (3RD MATE) BONEING-UP ON COMPASS POINTS, CORRECTIONS FROM COMPASS COURSES TO TRUE COURSES, TERM- INOLOGY, SHIP TONNAGES DEFINED, MIDDLE LATITUDE + BOWDITCH TABLES. (1) WHEN CORRECTING FROM A COMPASS COURSE TO A TRUE COURSE APPLY E'LY COMPASS ERROR CLOCKWISE, "Why" "Counter"; (2) COMPASS BEST, ERROR WEST; COMPASS LEAST, ERROR EAST. RAINSQUALLS ABOUT 5: P.M. - CLEARED AIR CONSIDERABLY. DR. HILLEY & I STOOD AT TAIL WATCHING FOR PETRELS: AT 5:15, 3 - WHOLLY DARK EXCEPT FOR SMALL WHITE MARKINGS ON UPPER SURFACE OF WING, ABOUT 1/2 WAY OUT, MODERATELY LONG TAIL, COULD NOT SEE TAIL SHAPE - ALL IN NNE DIRECTION (ACTUAL ?) AT 5:20, 1 PETREL ENTIRELY BLACK EXCEPT BREAST & UNDERPARTS, (UNDER TAIL COV.?) WHITE SCATTERED ON UNDER WING COVERS. LENGTH - ABOUT 13-14", MODERATELY LONG TAIL - SEEMED SQUARE CUT.