SOUTHERN GRID 
PRELIMINARY REPORT AT-SEA SURVEY MO. 8 
12-22 July 1966 
This report is based upon the observations and collections made within the 
Southern Grid area during the period 12-22 July inclusive. The cruise track 
followed during the present survey was considerably different from any to 
date (figure l). The pattern was designed to allow portions of the grid to be 
run each day with subsequent return of the ship to Howland each morning to 
change a portion of the crew, replentish island supplies, and bring sera and 
bird specimens to the ship. A portion of the survey crew was retained on 
Howland during the entire period for the primary objective of banding and 
streamering Sooty Terns. By splitting the crew to perform both island and At-Sea 
work simultaneously, the maximum amount of work was performed in both areas. 
This results from the fact that throughout most of the At-Sea area, there is 
insufficient work for the full 9 man crew and also because the Sooty Tern colony 
on Howland was too small to allow the full crew to band efficiently. 
The Smithsonian P.O.B.S.P. party included Richard Crossin (Biologist in Charge) 
Roger Clapp, Kenneth Balcomb, ¥alter Bulmer, Ralph Schreiber, David Hoff, Larry 
Huber, Richard Chandler, and David Pearson. The grid cruise was made aboard the 
U.S.N.S. SHEARWATER (T-AG 177). Excellent cooperation and assistance were 
received from the officers and crew members. 
A total of 1006 miles and 110.3 hours of diurnal observations were completed 
during the grid period (table l.)« During this time a total of 10,U5U birds of 
