96 
David S. Lee and William M. Palmer 
Dermochelys coriacea coriacea (Linnaeus). Atlantic Leatherback 
Ernst and Gilroy (1979) summarized the 25 known occurrences of 
Dermochelys from the central Atlantic states (VA-4 records, MD-4, DE- 
3, NJ-14) and concluded that, although these reptiles were generally 
believed to make long, open ocean journeys and are rare along the middle 
Atlantic coast, many remain close to shore during migrations and are 
seasonally common along the central Atlantic states. Lazell (1980) docu- 
mented regular occurrences in New England waters. Schwartz (1977) 
noted that in North Carolina this species is known from only seven 
adults, and juveniles from one presumed nesting at Cape Lookout, Car- 
teret County, reported to him in June 1966. There apparently are only 
three published records for the species in South Carolina waters (De Sola 
and Abrams 1933; Schwartz 1954; Pritchard 1976). Our 33 additional 
records (Table 1) seem significant when compared to the total number of 
leatherbacks reported from New Jersey south to South Carolina, and 
especially when compared to the modest number of loggerheads observed 
from boats offshore during the same survey period. Also, many of the 36 
previous New Jersey to South Carolina records represent animals found 
dead on beaches or possibly unhealthy individuals, and may not reflect 
normal seasonal movements for the western North Atlantic Dermochelys 
“population.” Therefore, our observations may be of importance in even- 
tually understanding such movements. 
Four live individuals observed by DSL were floating just below the 
surface with only their heads protruding. When breathing, the entire head 
was exposed for 5 to 10 seconds. The animals were not as easily fright- 
ened as were most of the loggerheads observed, and we were able to keep 
the boat within 10 to 15 m of them for several minutes. Even then, turtles 
could not be seen until we were extremely close to them. Sightings were 
made only on days when the water surface was calm. Consequently, even 
on relatively calm days, leatherbacks would be much more difficult to 
census from a boat than would loggerheads, which float with part of the 
carapace above the surface. Several Oregon Inlet boat captains and mates 
insisted that leatherbacks were as common or more common offshore 
than loggerheads, but they could be seen only on calm days. Captain 
John Booth saw five in one day during the summer of 1976. 
At sea, observations and trawler catches of leatherbacks are from the 
relatively shallow waters over the continental shelf (>100 fathoms). Even 
though most of Lee’s observation time was spent along the edge of the 
continental shelf at or near the inner edge of the Gulf Stream, leather- 
backs were not seen there. Boat captains confirmed that turtles they saw 
were well inshore (10-30 miles) of the edge of the shelf. Atlantic trawler 
fishing also takes place in shallow (normally 20 to 30 m) shelf water. The 
