-2- bird populations and numbers occur from area to area; however, with the single exception of the concentration of fulmars mentioned previously, distribution of birds was fairly even within grid. Eastern Grid Species Accounts Black-footed Albatross 66 + 3 nocturnal (Diomedea nigripes) This Hawaiian Island breeder was present in all three sections of the grid, although the density was significantly lower in the northern tthird than in the southern two-thirds. Two banded birds (Nos. 757-26257 and 767-42423) were collected on January 21, and two more with bands were seen the following day. Gonad size and conditions on those collected indicated that both birds were sub-adults, which would be expected as breeders are presently nesting. The Black-foot almost always follows ships for undetermined lengths of time. An effort was made to learn how long they follow; evidence suggests that the period is variable. Some birds apparently follow only a few minutes, while others may follow all day and possibly through the night. During nocturnal watches it was established that Black-feet were following the ship, but no individuals could be identified. Laysan Albatross 12 (Diomedea immutabilis) Like the Black-foot, this species breeds in the Hawaiian Islands. Those birds present in the eastern Pacific are probably also sub-adults, although none were collected to verify this. The Laysan was not prone to following ships. However, some individuals followed for several hours, meandering considerable distances from the ship and then returning. Density within the grid was highest in the northern two-thirds; while individuals were rarely seen in the southern portion. Fulmar 139 (Fulmaris glacialis) This was the most abundant procellariform in the grid. Dark- phase birds out numbered other phases (light and intermediate) by 5:1, suggesting that these birds are from the more southern of the north Pacific populations, i.e. the Aleutians as opposed to the Bering Sea populations. Highest density occurred in the northern portions of the grid and dropped to only one sighting in the southern portion. Figures in Table 2 are somewhat misleading as most of those recorded for both the northern and central portions were in an apparently favored feeding area on the eastern end of the legs connected by points D and E (see map 2). Throughout the remainder of the grid, sightings were relatively sparse. Occasionally a fulmar was noted to follow the ship for five or ten minutes. One dark-phase bird was collected.