P 2 SAT. JAN. 31, 1948 COURSE 228-11 [DECK NOON REPORT] ON BOARD S/S MARINE PHOENIX LAT. 34-32 N (Voyage 10) DIST. 289 MILES 5TH DAY 17 HRS. 15 MIN. (AV. SPEED 16.78 KNOTS) LONG. 127-07 W 289 MILES FROM SAN FRANCISCO 3851 " TO PAGO PAGO WE ARE SAILING A SMOOTH SEA TONIGHT - HARDLY A TRACE OF ROLL - NO PITCHING. NIGHT OVERCAST. VERY SLIGHT DRIZZLE. WHERE ARE THE GULLS AND ALBATROSSES THAT FOLLOWED US TODAY? BE- TWEEN 11-12 HRS. OF DARKNESS X S AVER. SPEED 17 KNOTS EQUALS APPROX. 200 NAUTICAL MILES. DO THEY FOLLOW WAKE AT NIGHT? DO THE GULLS EVER TAME TO RIGGING? DO G.S + A.S BED DOWN WHEN DARK FALLS, OR DO THEY RETRACE PART OF DAY'S FLIGHT. ONE OF GULLS IN FLIGHT TODAY HAD BROKEN LEFT 10'S ; 1 OF A'S (AD.) HAD WHITE SPOT BASE OF 20'S DORSAL. COUNTS AT VARIOUS TIMES: 8: A.M. - 9 DIOMEDER NIGRIPES, 6 LARUS CALIFORNICUS 10: A.M. - 4 D. N., 5 L.C. 11:30 A.M. - 4 D.N., 9 L.C. 12: M. - 6 D.N., 12 L.C. 4: P.M. - 4 D.N., 8 L.C. (2 BAND-TAILED - 1 BROWN) 4:30 P.M. - 4 D.N., 23 L.C.!, 2 RISSA TRIDACTYLA 5:00 P.M. - 6 D.N., 22 L.C. SAW MY FIRST D.N. OUT OF PORTHOLE AT 7: A.M. - REMINDS ONE IMMEDIATELY OF SHEARWATERS. I'M. HAVE WHITE BASE TAIL (COVERTS). DORSAL & VENTRAL - MARKED WHITE BASE 10'S. AD. COMPLETELY DART BUT UNEVEN SHADDED AREAS. WHITE AT BASE TILL + EYE LINE VERY CONSPICUOUS AS IS SHAPE OF BILL. KITTIWAKES VERY STRIKINGLY PATTERNED. DID NOT STAY NEAR SHIP MORE THAN 1/2 HOUR. WHERE DID INFLUX OF L.C. COME FROM? A WINTER-WANDERING GROUP? FOOD OR "MIGRATION" WANDERING? HAVE SEEN NO OTHER VESSEL SINCE LEAVING SAN FRANCISCO. I WISH OUR .410 HAD DYE PELLETS TO FIRE. WE COULD SOON SETTLE SOME OF THE SHIP-FOLLOWING PROBLEMS. GEOFF AND I ARE PRACTICALLY ALONE IN CABIN 101 - ONLY 4 OTHER PASSENGERS: ONE - DAVID FRIEZE HAS BEEN SICK SINCE BOARDING STARBOARD V.D. LOWER "E" SHIP. ANOTHER, SLEEPS ALL DAY - AS DOES FORE AFT GEOFF UPPER "D" STILL ANOTHER. MY BUNK MATE - A SCOTS- MEN'S ROOM (RETIRED) IS UP & ABOUT. HE IS HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME SEEING THE WORLD. IN (41. 6 MONTHS, WILL SPEND 6 MO. IN SYDNEY.