Tuesday 3 March 1953 (cont) Lat 25°35'S; Long 150°23'W; course various; Dist 364 St.T. 24 hr Av sp 15.16 K Wind var 1-2 Sea--low swells S T.T. 12d 17 hr 35 Min. Brisbane 3088; Balboa 4647 2:15 P.M. 6 tropic birds (wh. T. ?) 11:15 A.M. Wh. bellied, dark headed & upper parts Petrel (med to large).. Off Tubuai: 2 tropic birds; 3 long winged & tailed birds, slow graceful flyers-- could be Frigate birds--low over water part of time--some sailing (not terms). Several large flying fish broke off bow (10-12") brilliant deep blue, whitish wings. 2:45 P.M. Another Petrel (as above) wh. stripe extends far out on under surface of wings. Wednesday 4 March 1953 Lat 23°57'S; Long 157°02'W; course 267° T. Dist 368 mi. ST.T. 25 hr. Av sp 14.72 K. Wind SE 4-5 Sea moderate SE T.T. 13 d 18 hr 35 min To Brisbane: 2720; from Balboa 5015. About 11:15 Chief mate reported white-tailed tropic bird passing ship. A following sea, choppy. Overcast most of day. No sunset. Read & studied. In navigation (chart) room to read sailing directions on Goodenough Is. & eastern N. G. Thursday 5 March Lat 24°17' S; Long 163°39' W; course 267°T. Dist 365 mi. St. T. 24 hr. Av sp 15.21 K. Wind E 4-5 Sea E moderate T.T. 14 d 18 hr 35 min. To Brisbane 2355; from Balboa 5380. "Shorty" (Porto Rican crew member whose hobby is fishing) woke us up at 6:00 A.M. He had found a flying fish on deck. Says it may have come aboard about 2:00 A.M. (dead reckoning position at that time--Lat 24°05'S; Long 160°45' W) Fish about 8" long, blue. Preserved in Formaldehyde 12:1, in plastic bag. First day of trip that no birds seen. Rain squalls blowing down on ship most of day. Friday 6 March Lat 24°44' S; Long 170°13' W; course 266°T; dist 362 St. T. 25 hr. Av sp 14.48 K. Wind NW 4 (up to 6 in P.M.) Sea NW moderate T.T. 15 d 19 hr 35 min. To Brisbane 1993; from Balboa 5742 Another flying fish (#2) on forward well deck this A.M. D.R. position at 2:00 A.M. Lat 24°36'S; Long 167°15' W. A♀ with pinkish roe. About 12" long. Breeze stiffening all day up to 6:00 P.M. moderating at 7:00 P.M. Storm to S. of us near Kermadec Islands . We are S. of the Tonga Islands. More birds today since passing Galápagos Is. At least 1 wh.-t. tropic bird. 2 or 3 other white birds far out--may have been same. 2 types of Petrels: (A) large dark bird with dull brown upper parts & somewhat lighter underpts. --long narrow wings with perfect control of air--vertical bank as they catch wind & then swoop into trough; (B) smaller black dorsal & white ventral bird (10")--could not see if entire head black (think not). (A) 3 in 1 group at 12 M. At least 6 more singles during P.M. (B) 4 or 5. Sun out most of day. Short, colorful rose sunset on mackerel sky. Chief mate