Thursday 19 February 1953 (cont) Met 1 freighter bound in to canal — "Condesa"—London—white maltese cross and red band. Strong following wind. Clear, some cirrus in sky. Boat and fire drill at 10:20. Napped after lunch from 1:30 to 4:00. No ship motion. Lat 6°22'N; Long 81°2'W. Dist 201 mi. St. Time 12 hr 35 min. Av Sp 15.96 K. Wind N 4; Sea N moderate. Light airs and slight sea in P.M. To Brisbane 7504 mi; to Balboa 201 mi. 6:15 P.M. Ran through school of 150-200 small tuna. A great whirl of Gannets (Boobies?), Frigate birds, shearwaters, petrels feeding in same area. At least 3 or 4 different kinds petrels (large bl and wh; med and small bl & wh, small dark). Only 2 laughing gulls left; had disappeared by 7:00. Ice cream for dinner. Slop chest open. Bought package of life savers for N.G. Talked with various crew. All have read articles on natural history and have some interest but all have a stock of misinformation. Friday 20 February 1953 Course 236° Clear, some altocumulus, low cumulus, and later in A.M. a rain squall or two. See glassy with an occasional moderate swell & a few wind paws. Just before breakfast 7:50 a giant ray or manta swam by our starboard side 15' off; could see tips of flippers breaking water & shape as he went by. Passed large school of tuna jumping 2-3 times length. 30 + boobies & shearwaters & small bl & wh petrels. Boobies seem immature—pale blue bill (1 dark brown, pale bill, yell.? legs). Another school of tuna at 10:00. Also small turtle resting at surface. The tuna are quite spectacular leaping; some do barrel rolls in mid-air. Various small petrels at distance. 2 had white rumps (shape?) Lat 05°15'N; Long 87°16'W. Course 242°T. Dist by obs. 402 St. Time 25 hrs. Av Sp 16.08K. Wind var. 2-3 Sea slight N. Total time 1-13-35 To Brisbane 7102 mi. From Balboa 603. Saturday 21 February 1953 Lat 00°14'N; Long 92°35'W. Course 240°T. Dist 367 mi. St. Time 25 hrs. Av SP 14.68 K. Wind N 2 Sea smooth,Total t. 2 d 14 hr 35 min. To Brisbane 6735; from Balboa 970 mi. Today we crossed the equator at 1:55 P.M. At 7:30 A.M. we passed a few miles north of Isabella Island of the Galápagos Arch. Height over 5000' so in sight most of A.M.—table top shape. No detail. Birds were in sight all day today; also tuna shhools and a few porpoises and small whales. Sea flat with a swell now and then. Storm petrels (1 every 2-3 min) all about ship—white rump triangular. Shearwater type not common (4-5 per hour)—black above, wh below— no good observations. One frigate bird in P.M. Several whirls of boobies (up to 85 mi from ship). Not many bl & wh (ratio about 1-5). Bl & wh—1° & 2° s black. Most of brown indiv. had blue bills. Most at long dist from ship. Small petrels (few I could see) had Δ white rumps; tails square or slightly forked. One whale leaped ½ to 2/3s out of water. Some tuna making tremendous leaps. Isabella—Albemarle Island Geoff & chief mate had small cocktail party in P.M. Dancing on bridge deck aft from 7 to 10. Ship fairly stable. All passengers & a few officers. Read and slept in afternoon.