I 
Wirt a, W, 
1963 - Feb. 
ATF 
-13- 
I 
We are lucky that Binion apparently has a better stomach than the rest of us. 
The wind has increased, with gusts up to 30 knots, and white caps are now 
scattered all over the seas. We are cutting directly into the seas, so that 
the bow is going under the big waves, sending water streaming back amidships 
and out over the fantail. All the hatches and port holes are closed on the 
first two levels and the ship is hot and stuffy and reeks of diesel fumes. 
This is definitely not the way to cure seasickness. 
We arrived at French Frigate Shoal about 1700 today, but the sea is much 
too rough for a landing so we have decided to go on to Laysan. We expect to 
arrive there about 0600 on the 11th. The weather report today was for the 
weather to deteriorate more in the next 48 hours so I do not know what to 
expect. The landings on all of these islands are designed for use with the 
normal NE trades so it is not known whether we will be able to get in any of 
them with the present SW winds. We hope to go ashore at Laysan and Lisianski 
for a couple of days before going on to Pearl and Hemes. 
The number of black-footed albatross around the ship increased today, 
and about a dozen Laysan*s were recorded during the course of the day, I 
think that we have seen more fairy and gra>-backed terns than in previous days. 
One frigate bird was noted this afternoon and we recorded our first HBSked booby 
about 1540. 
A large whale surfaced and blew about 500 yards offthe starboard bow 
shortly before noon, and 5 porpoises raced beside the ship for a shea't time 
this afternoon. I got a good look at them .and I am reasonableure that they 
