P.14 WED. FEB. 11, 1948 (Day Katherines' Father died) WE DROP THIS DAY - I. DATE LINE - WESTWARD BOUND THURS. FEB. 12, 1948 DIST. (BY OBSERVATION) 369 ON BOARD 3/5 MARINE PHOENIX LGT. DAY 21 HRS. 57 MIN. AV. SPEED 16.81 KNOTS LAT. 16.07 S LONG. 176.45 W 369 TO PAGO PAGO; 322 TO SUVA COURSE - VARIOUS UP AT ABOUT 8: A.M. - SURPRISED TO SEE AN ISLAND OFF THE STARBOARD QUARTER - 4 MILES OFF. LEARNED LATER THAT THIS IS NIUAFOU - OR "TIN CAN ISLAND" - THE NORTHERN- MOST ISLAND OF THE TONGA GROUP. THIS BIT OF LAND IS NOW UNINHABITED DUE TO FEAR OF VOLCANIC ACTION. IT IS COVERED WITH COCONUT PALMS, BUT ONE CAN SEE A SMALL CONE IN THE S.W. PART. THE 3RD. MATE SAYS THAT THE LAVA FIELD IS GRADUALLY EXPANDING. THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LAKE IN THE LARGE CENTRAL CRATER. ONCE BELONGED TO GERMANY. POSTMASTER BUILT UP A LUCRATIVE STAMP COLLECTORS TRADE. SHIPS SEALED LETTERS IN CAN + TIED TO BUOY OFF SHORE; NATIVE SWAM OUT + BROUGHT LETTERS ASHORE; POST- MARKED + RETURNED SAME WAY. BUSINESS IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ENDED WHEN THE SHARKS CAUGHT ON TO THE POSTMAN'S ROUTE! THERE WERE 200-300 (OR MORE I AM SURE) BETWEEN US AND THE SHORE LINE: SOOTY TERNS, MANY DARK COLORED PETRELS (THE TIPS OF 1'S + SOME 2'S BLACKISH - NO VISIBLE WHITE - THE REST OF PLUMAGE BROWNISH IN THE SUNLIGHT - RATHER HIGHER AT BASE OF 1'S. - WEDGE? SHAPED TAIL), A FEW GANNETS (ONE WITH BROWN HEAD + THROAT + WHITE UNDERPTS. - BROWNISH UPPERPARTS). CONTINUED SEEING TERNS + PETRELS AFTER ISLAND BELOW HORIZON. HAVE SEEN NO RED-TAILED TROPIC- BIRDS FOR 2 DAYS NOW FOR FUTURE REFERENCE: RE: THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE ① AT 0° (I.E. GREENWICH) AT THE INSTANT OF NOON - IT IS THE SAME DATE ALL OVER THE WORLD (MIDNIGHT AT 180°). ② HOWEVER, AS SOON AS THE SUN MOVES WEST OF LONG. 0° AT GREENWICH, ENGLAND IT IS NOW AFTER MIDNIGHT AT THE 180° MERIDIAN - IN OTHER WORDS, A NEW DAY HAS BEGUN. THIS (E.G.) IS FEB. 12; HOWEVER, IT IS STILL FEB. 11 (IN THE P.M.) AT GREENWICH. FEB. 11 COMES TO AN END AT MIDNIGHT.