WED. 11 MAR. 1953 LAT. 26°35'S; LONG. 165°00'E COURSE 267°T DIST. 347 MILES; ST.T. 24H.; Av.Sp. 14.46 KT WIND SE 4-5; SEA MODERATE S.E.; T.T. 19D 20H. 35M TO BRISBANE 653 MI. FROM BALBOA 7093 MI. AT 3:1 P.M. (LAT. 26°36'S; LONG. 164°12'E) OBSERVED A CLOUD SHADOW WHIRL OF PETRELS. AREA OF SHADOW ABOUT 10 ACRES - NO. OF BIRDS 25-30. WE ARE N.W. OF NORFOLK ISLAND AND DUE SOUTH OF NEW CALEDONIA. 2 TYPES OF PETREL: LARGE, BLACKISH-BROWN DORSAL + VENTRI (12"-15"); SMALLER (10"-12") DARK-DORSAL WHITE-VENTRAL; BL.+WH."MIXED" ON HEAD (ONLY 2 OR 3 OF THESE). LARGE PETREL COASTING BY SHIP ALL DAY ON THE FOLLOWING WIND. 1 PET. STILL FLYING AT DUSK (7: P.M.) TEMP. WET 71° DRY 75° BRIGHT DAY, COOL IN SHADE. SHIP ON EVEN KEEL. EVERYONE COUNTING CIGARETTES + FILLING OUT CUSTOMS DECLARATIONS. VISITED ENGINE ROOM FROM 8:-9: A.M. STEAM TURBINE SINGLE PROPELLER PLANT. SIMPLE IN THEORY BUT A COMPLEX MAZE TO THE UNINITIATED. CAPT. ERIKSEN GIVING HYPNOSIS DEMONSTRATION TONIGHT. SUBJECT FAIR. NOT TOO DEEPLY UNDER. USUAL ROUTINE OF HOLDING ARMS OUT-RIGID, FORGET NAME, TOLD CUP TOO HEAVY TO PICK UP, COULD NOT BRING MATCH TO TIP OF CIGARETTE, COULD NOT OPEN FIST OR SHUT MOUTH.