26 MON. 23 FEB. 1953 LAT. 5°-24'S ; LONG 103°-23'W. COURSE 244T DIST. 376 MI. ST. TIME 24 HR. Av. Sp. 15.67 K. WIND S.E. 4 SEA SLIGHT S.E. SWELLS TOT.T. 4 D 14 H. 35 M. TO BRISBANE 5999 BALBOA 1706 ANOTHER QUIET DAY BROKEN ONLY BY LIGHT RAIN SQUALLS. ONE STORM PETREL. AT 3 LONG-WING- ED, LONG-TAILED, SLIGHT BIRDS APPROACHED SHIP BUT TURNED AND PARALLELED SHIP FOR A FEW MINUTES ABOUT 1/4 MI. OFF. TAIL APPEARED TO BE DEEPLY FORMED. FLEW LIGHTLY WITH WING BEAT HESITATION OF TURNS BUT DID NOT SEEM QUITE RIGHT. NOT TROPIC BIRDS - DID NOT HAVE STRONG PURPOSEFUL FLIGHT. READ "TALES OF SOUTH PACIFIC" A SECOND TIME. JUST AS ENGROSSING AS FIRST TIME. ALSO READING BOOK BY JOHN CALDWELL "DESPERATE VOYAGE". HE WAS IN CREW UNDER CAPT. ERIKSEN DURING WAR. SAILED 29' CUTTER ALONE TO FIJI ISLANDS. MET A PORTO RICAN MEMBER OF CREW THIS A.M. HOBBY IS FISHING - SHOWED ME ALL HIS GEAR. CLOCKS RETARDED ONE HOUR TONIGHT.