I . INTRODUCTION 



The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) conducted an oceanographic 

 survey in the Channel Islands area aboard USNS DAVIS (T-AGOR 5) during 

 September and October 1965. The. survey area encompassed the San 

 Nicolas Basin, San Nicolas Island, and Santa Barbara Island (Fig. 1). 



1 1 9° 30' 



II9°W 



FIGURE 1 . TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF THE SURVEY AREA 



The survey was a detailed environmental study with major emphasis 

 on currents, sound velocity structure, and bottom composition. In 

 addition, fluctuations of various oceanographic parameters were studied 

 in relation to the effects of the phases of the moon on the daily tides. 



The submerged shelves of continents typically are gentle in slope, 

 but the continental shelf off southern California is one of the few 



