Mon. 9 Feb. 1953 8:15 A.M. Course 317° (N.W.) Running along coast from Beaumont To Houston. In narrow dredged channel. Miles of shallow water on all sides. In sight of land: Many Laughing Gulls - nearly all with dark breeding season heads; a few H. Gulls; 1 cormorant An occasional oil-well rig in water. 8:45 Course 330° Meeting outgoing tankers - passing very close! (At full speed) One fishing smack Cut across bows & we had to reduce speed - the bridge was mad. Just passed Sand bar with 200+ white pelicans, 15-20 brown. Get into air very easily. 10:00 A.M. Passing old Battleship "Texas" + San Jacinto monument. Approaching Shell refinery - smells like a burned breakfast. Another 100+ WH. pelicans on a bar. Pintails & other ducks in air.