U. S. Navy divers take movies of underside of slick and bot- 

 tom. No visible oil on bottom. 



Delaware II completes cruise DE 76-13. 



Forecast of onshore wind condition. USCG contractors notified 

 of possible beach cleanup operation at 1600. Overflight on 

 which "pancake 1" is identified. 



Forecasting of onshore winds continued. 3000 drift cards 

 deployed as early warning system at 0940 between slick and 

 shore. "Pancake 1" located again by USCG overflight. 



Another 3000 drift cards deployed between spill and Nantucket 

 at 0912. First attempt to burn oil. Evergreen cruise ends. 

 Oceanus cruise 20 begins. 



USCGC B-ittersweet replaces Vigilant as on-scene vessel. En- 

 deavor cruise EN002 begins. On-Scene Coordinator's status 

 meeting and press conference at 1000. 



Bow section starts to move under the influence of current. 



Endeavor cruise EN002 ends. 



Argo Merchant bow section holed by 20-mm cannon fire to pre- 

 vent drifting and remove navigational hazard. Second experi- 

 ment to burn oil from the Spar. 



Coordination meeting at WHOI. Bow section observed moving 

 again. 



Coordination meeting at WHOI continued. Delaware II cruise 

 DE77-01 begins. 



Bow section totally underwater. 



Delaware II cruise DE 77-01 ends. 



Endeavor cruise EN003 begins. 



Endeavor cruise EN003 terminated because of weather. 



Bow section of Argo Merchant relocated 1 mile to the southeast 

 of stern and found empty of oil. Endeavor cruise EN004 begins. 



Oil found in bottom sediments near now section. 



Endeavor cruise EN004 ends after completing initial benthic 

 survey. 



"Tar balls" up to a foot in diameter reported washing ashore 

 on Nantucket Island's southwest coast. Samples sent to WHOI 

 to determine whether original is crude or refined petroleum; 

 analysis will not be able to establish whether the material 

 came from the Argo Merchant spill or from another spill of No. 

 6 fuel oil. 



