FRIDAY 30 JAN. 1953 LAT. 27° 26' N, LONG. 75° 15' W. DIST. 196 MI. STEAMING TIME 12 HR. 40 MIN. AV. SP. 15.47 KT. WIND N.W. 3 SEA SMOOTH. PASSED WINTER QUARTERS LIGHTSHIP AT ABOUT 10: A.M. OUR COURSE 215° (S.W.) 6 MI. OFF LIGHT, 25 MILES OFF SHORE. MANY GANNETS IN AREA. 30-40 H. GULLS FOLLOWING SHIP, AT 11:15 A.M. 2 SMALL WHALES ON A N.E. COURSE - PARALLEL (5) TO SHIP (TO STARBOARD), BLOWING 3-4 X 5 / MINUTE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, SLOW SHALLOW ROLL (NOTHING LIKE THE ARCHED ROLL OF PORPOISES) COLOR - A BROWNISH-BLACK WITH ALMOST A LAVENDER TINGE (NOT A BLUE TONE). ROLL ALMOST COMPLETED BEFORE DORSAL FIN APPEARED. NOT LARGE, LONGER THAN BROAD IN RATIO OF ABOUT 2:1, ANGLE OF RAKE 35°-40°, SHAPE OF BLOW SPRAY NOT WELL DEFINED (NO WIND) BUT BLOW STARTED BEFORE BLOW HOLE CLEAR OF WATER, LOW + ROUNDED. SIZE, DIFFICULT TO JUDGE, BUT CERTAINLY IN NEIGHBORHOOD OF 40'. NO GANNETS AT 11:30; HOWEVER 6. OFF + ON FOR REST OF DAY. DOCKED AT NEWPORT NEWS, VA. AT 6 P.M. CUT PATH OF THE CAPE CHARLES - CAPE HENRY FERRY: BONEDAPARTES GULLS, MITTIWAKES, GANNETS 10-12 LARGE FLOCTS OF RED-BREASED MERGANSERS FLYING N.W. OVER ROADS, GR. BLACK-B. GULLS, PASSED VERY NARROW OPENING IN HARBOR PROTECTIVE NET. AIRCRAFT CARRIER "CORAL SEA" AT DOCK, "LIVERPOOL ROVER, TOULON, PYSINGA MARU PASSED US IN ROADS. BEAUTIFUL SUNSET OF DULL FLAME ORANGE SEGMENTED BY LOW DARK CLOUDS. WENT UPTOWN, SENT OFF POSTCARDS TO K, MOTHER, DOT, + DORY. WALKED AS FAR AS N.N. SHIPBUILDING + DRY DOCK CO. WATCHED BASKETBALL GAME IN RECREATION HALL. THE "UNITED STATES" BUILT AT N.N. SHIP LOADING SPECIAL PAPER FOR SHELLS. MUCH LEAF TOBACCO IN WOODEN DRUMS ON WHARF. SUPPOSED TO SAIL AT 1: A.M. BUT DIDN'T.