1 ■ 
PRELIMINARY REPORT 
AT-SEA 
SURVEY 
s 
MAY - 1965 
This report summarizes the results of the At-Sea Survey in May, 19^5• 
Smithsonian personnel aboard the USNS Shearwater included Kenneth Amerman 
0 
(Biologist in charge), Paul DuMont, Dayle Husted, Richard Merrill and 
Paul Woodward. 
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A total of 2,390 miles was traveled during 250.3 hours of daylight 
observations. Of this total, 759 miles were in the Smithsonian Grid. The 
cruise followed the general course traveled during April, with the exception 
that the return to Oahu from the Grid was altered in order to sample the 
area between Johnston Island and French Frigate Shoals. 
A total of 157 birds of 19 species was collected. These included the 
first New Zealand Shearwater collected by the Pacific Project and the first 
Christmas Island Shearwater and Gray-backed Tern collected at sea. Only 
about 20 out of the 157 were collected from the small skiff, which proved 
so successful last trip, due to generally rougher seas and mechanical diffi¬ 
culties. 
Only 582 birds were observed within the Smithsonian study area, less 
than half the number seen in April. All species groups within the Grid 
showed a drop in numbers, but the reduction was most marked in Sooty Terns. 
This scarcity of birds was possibly due to a two-day storm which passed 
through the study area May l6 and 17. 
