P 4 MON. FEB. 2, 1948 Dist. 383 mi. Day 24 Hrs. 30 min. Ave. Sp. 15.64 knots To S.F. 1081 To Samoa 3059 4 1/2° OF SOUTHING - 5° OF WESTING AT 3:P.M. WIND E FORCE 5 TEMP. 64 OVERCAST MOST OF DAY - LIGHT RAIN SQUALLS - SEA FRESHENING ON DECK ABOUT 8:15. I ALBATROSS (D.N.). BUT THE EXCITEMENT OF THE A.M. WAS THE SIGHTING OF 6 TROPIC-BIRDS. THEY ARE, I GUESS, PHAETHON A. RATHEREUS (RED-BILLED T.B.) RATHER THAN P. LEPTURUS. THE BILL WAS SURELY RED, BUT FINE BARRING OF UPPER PARTS WITH BLACK WAS BEYOND RESOLVING POWER OF GLASS. P.A.A. BREEDS ON ISLANDS OFF W. COAST OF MEXICO + GALÁPAGOS. FLIGHT, OF COURSE, VERY CHARACTERISTIC. REMINDS ONE OF PIGEONS AT DISTANCE - CHALKY WHITE - STRONG FLIGHT. VERY OFTEN CLIMB INTO STALL - FLAP VIGOROUSLY, THEN SHORT GLIDE & RESUMPTION OF STEADY FLAP. 3 NEW(?) INDIVIDUALS SHOWED UP LATER IN A.M. SINGLE ALBATROSS UNTIL EARLY P.M. MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SAME INDIVIDUAL. FIRST PETREL AT 11:30 A.M.; ANOTHER AT 3:30 P.M. - DARK DORSAL + VENTRAL - (DID NOT SEEM Δ) WHITE RUMP, LIGHTER 2° COVERTS, TAIL NEARLY SQUARE OR WITH SLIGHT FORK, FLIGHT VERY SWALLOW-LIKE, WIND FORCE 5, NO FOOT PADDLING. ONE OF STORM-PETRELS - FITS DESCRIPTION OF OCEANODROMA CASTRO CRYPTO - LEUCURA (MADEIRAN S.P.) - BREEDS IN HAWAIIAN IS. AT 2:P.M. GEOFF AND I MADE USE OF CAPT.'S INVITATION TO BRIDGE. THE 3RD OFFICER WAS ON WATCH - HERMAN GOEBEL. YOUNG, WELL READ, SELF EDUCATED TO A DEGREE, KNOWS SHIPS, INTERESTED IN ELECTRICAL ENGR. AS APPLIED TO SHIPS - RADAR, LORAN, FIRE DETECTION APPARATUS. SHOWED US EVERYTHING ON BRIDGE & EXPLAINED WELL. SENT DETAILED WEATHER RE- PORT TO SAN FR. AT 6 BELLS (2:P.M.). TELLS ME CAPT. JOHANSEN HAS WONDERFUL REPUTATION WITH WEATHER BUREAU + HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE. SENDS FULL, ACCURATE, ON-TIME (EVERY 6 HRS.) REPORTS. CAPT. THROWS BOTTLES OVER TONIGHT 10:P.M. HAS CREW COLLECT BOTTLES - ASKS WHERE FROM - INVARIABLY REPLY "FROM PASSENGERS' QUARTERS"! 3RD GAVE ME RUN OF FORWARD GUN PLATFORMS FOR BIRD OBSERVATION - SAID THE MURPHYS ALSO USED. HE SERVED WITH BOB ALLEN IN ARMY MINE LAYERS DURING WAR (FOR 1 YEAR)! BOB INTERESTED HIM IN BIRDS TO SOME EXTENT. LENT ME 2 BOOKS (MUST BUY): "THE RAFT BOOK" - HAROLD GATTY - ON PRACTICAL PRIMITIVE NAVIGATION - SOME EXCITING NEW INFORMATION - ALSO SOMETHING BY MURPHY ON BIRDS, DRAWINGS - JACQUES, FISH, NICHOLS, "PACIFIC OCEAN HANDBOOK" - E.G. MEARS - COMPENDIUM TYPE - ALL INFO. ON BOARD 5/S MARINE PHOENIX LAT. 25-13 N LONG. 137-53 W COURSE 223-42