GENERAL INFORMATION 



RV Melville (34-foot converted fishing boat) 



U.S. Department of Commerce 



NMFS 



Hydrographic Cruise Miami. Florida to Flamingo, Florida 



28-31 January 1973 



2 observers (G.E. Lingle and G.M. Mohr) 



Eye level of observers: 16 feet above water 



Average ship speed: 8.0 knots during continuous watch 



Continuous watch information I refer to Fig. Bl ): 



Start End Start End 



Leg Date time time position position 



1-2 2/28 1200 1730 



3-4 2/29 0800 1500 



5-6 2/30 0700 1630 



7-8 2/31 0700 0900 



U. Miami Dock 

 Va. Key 



24-26N 

 80-04E 



25-12N 

 80-46W 



25-00 

 80-45W 



25-42N 

 80-02W 



25-OON 

 81-04W 



25-12N 

 81- low 



Flamingo 



Weather— Visibility 



Beaufort II Visibility 

 3 miles 



Beaufort I Visibility 

 3.5 miles 



3.5 miles 



3.5 miles 



Cetacean observations (refer to Fig. Bl): 



A -2/28 1048 16 bottlenosed dolphins, Turstops truwcaiMs. 6 miles outside 

 our course, headed west— rode bow briefly. 

 Large concentrations of sea birds in area. 

 One porpoise freeze branded N- 1 on dorsal fin. 



B- 2/29 1100 2 right whales directly ahead of vessle headed NE— 40-foot 

 female? with calf. 2 bottlenosed dolphins accompanying the 

 whales were riding pressure wave off whale's head. 



C-2/29 1400 25-30 spotted porpoises, Stenella plagiodon, 1.25 miles 

 outside our course, heading 240° mag. 

 Did not ride bow wave. 



D-2/30 1300 8 bottlenosed dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, 200-300 yards 

 inshore of our course, milling in area of concentrations of 

 mullet and other small schooling fishes, dolphins (porpoises) 

 and birds feeding on fish. 



161 



