9 February 19 63 
Only two members of the party were up this morning, bird watch 
begun 0730. Southwesterly wind has Increased this day, .^estimated 
speed presently 15 to 20 knots with gusts up to 30. White-caps 
are quite prominent today whereas there were very few yesterday. 
We are cutting almost directly into the seas so that the ship 
is pitching considerably and taking water over the bow which then 
runs down amidships and out over the fantail to the stern. Weather 
has been opened and shut most of the day with a few scattered showers. 
Four members of the party are still seasick and we are lucky that 
Blnlon has fe better stomach than the rest of us apparently have. 
Arrived French Frigate Shoals about 1700 this date. The bird records 
were relatively sparse today until we got within 12 to 15 miles of 
the islands. The Captain advised me at 1730 that the swells were 
so deep and the wind so strong that it will not even be possible for 
him to anchor the ship here; that we might wait Sntil morning to see 
if we get some better weather so that we might go ashore. The present 
sea is much too rough for our little rubber boat. We thus decided to 
by-pass this group for this trip and go on to Laysan this night, rather 
than have to steam around, and around in the night hoping for the weather 
to ease. At 2000 we set a course for Laysan Island, ETA about 0600, 
11 February. Hie weather report for this day is for the height of the 
seas to increase to 10 to 15 feet in the next 24 hours and 15 to 20 feet 
in the following 24 hours, the velocity of the wind is expected to 
increase also in the next 48 hours. All of the landings on these islands 
are designed for use with the normal trade winds which blow from the HE 
22 
