Eastern Area Cruise No. 31 - 15-24 November 1967 Cruise Itinerary: 15 November 1000 Depart San Francisco 16 November 0720 Begin Grid Observations 23 November 0930 End Grid Observations 24 November 1130 Arrive Long Beach Survey Personnel: Richard D. Chandler (Biologist in Charge) T. James Lewis Methods One-man diurnal observations were made from the wings of the bridge except for the afternoon of the 18th when observations were made from the skiff, concurrent with collections. No non-Grid nor nocturnal ob- servations were taken on this cruise. No BT soundings were taken. Other methods and procedures followed those established on previous cruises. Cruise Track (See Figure 1) Very dense fog on the non-Grid leg from San Francisco to the Grid prohibited observations on the 15th. Due to the work required prior to offloading equipment in Long Beach, no observations were made outside the Grid on the 23rd and 24th. A number of departures were made from the nominal Grid cruise track. The departures made it possible to cover all sections of the Grid in the allotted time period which was necessarily foreshortened due to ship scheduling. Excellent cooperation was received from Captain Kaiser, the deck force, weather personnel, quartermasters, and all concerned with the operation. Conditions A complex low-pressure system developed over the Grid area, moved eastward over the coast, retrograded back to the Grid area, and moved to the south, all during the week of the survey. The weather was extremely variable with markedly shifting winds that at times came from the south and southeast instead of the much more regular direction of north and northwest. A steady rain on the 17th was followed with briefer showers almost daily during the rest of the time in the Grid. Water spouts were seen on the 22nd. Heavy rainfall over adjacent land may have contributed to the fact that no stray landbirds were seen. Slicks and floating kelp patches were noted in the eastern third, particularly in Section W. Collections Nineteen Red Phalaropes, two Leach's Storm Petrels, one Sooty